Turkish Green
23-03-2016, 08:53 AM
With the Huns running away with the title and with Raith's victory last night over St Mirren, it looks certain that the play-offs will be contested by Hibs, Falkirk & Raith.
Last season Hibs finished 2nd and even having home advantage were eliminated by Rangers in the Play-off semi-final despite beating them convincingly 3 times in the regular season.
As I have said on other threads, I am still confident that if Hibs get to the final they will progress against either Hamilton or Killie, the worry is that if they do not finish 2nd that they will trip up due to having to play both Raith and Falkirk in 2 leg contests.
Since the end of Feb it has been poor results for the club. 4 losses in the league against lower opposition with only the Cup win at ICT The present momentum is certainly with Falkirk and Raith.
The current form is:
Falkirk WDWD
Hibs L L L L
Raith WWDW
Regardless, Hibs will best Raith if they meet in the 3/4 play-off but I am not so sure about them overcoming Falkirk on current form. IF Hibs win their outstanding 2 games then they will be level on points with Falkirk, however Falkirk has a better GF. Comparing Hibs with Falkirk shows that in 50/50 games the Bairns tend to grind out draws while Hibs lose. Hibs have lost 7 games in the league so far while Falkirk only 3. Defensively, Hibs have not kept a clean sheet since beating Alloa 3-0 and Hanlon got injured. All this does not bode well for playing Falkirk over 2 legs.
It must be difficult for Stubbs and the players to concentrate on the league when they are still involved in the Cup but getting to the Cup final will likely distract the players from the Play-off final.
Has leeann given Stubbs a priority League v Cup? Or is it take one game at a time as Ranieri is doing.
Last season Hibs finished 2nd and even having home advantage were eliminated by Rangers in the Play-off semi-final despite beating them convincingly 3 times in the regular season.
As I have said on other threads, I am still confident that if Hibs get to the final they will progress against either Hamilton or Killie, the worry is that if they do not finish 2nd that they will trip up due to having to play both Raith and Falkirk in 2 leg contests.
Since the end of Feb it has been poor results for the club. 4 losses in the league against lower opposition with only the Cup win at ICT The present momentum is certainly with Falkirk and Raith.
The current form is:
Falkirk WDWD
Hibs L L L L
Raith WWDW
Regardless, Hibs will best Raith if they meet in the 3/4 play-off but I am not so sure about them overcoming Falkirk on current form. IF Hibs win their outstanding 2 games then they will be level on points with Falkirk, however Falkirk has a better GF. Comparing Hibs with Falkirk shows that in 50/50 games the Bairns tend to grind out draws while Hibs lose. Hibs have lost 7 games in the league so far while Falkirk only 3. Defensively, Hibs have not kept a clean sheet since beating Alloa 3-0 and Hanlon got injured. All this does not bode well for playing Falkirk over 2 legs.
It must be difficult for Stubbs and the players to concentrate on the league when they are still involved in the Cup but getting to the Cup final will likely distract the players from the Play-off final.
Has leeann given Stubbs a priority League v Cup? Or is it take one game at a time as Ranieri is doing.