Premiership preview

Mark Atkinson at East Mains ahead of Hibs’ match against Rangers.

Transcript

00:00Hello from the Hibbs Training Centre, Mark Huggins, Rhythm of the Scotsman.

00:05Speaking ahead of a big game between the Hibbs and Rangers in the William Hill Premiership.

00:10Hibbs 15 games unbeaten in this competition, up against a Rangers side who have got second place,

00:16all sewn up and are looking ahead to their game against Celtic Bilbao in the Europa League next week.

00:24Some would argue that Hibbs are playing the Rangers there for just the right time.

00:28Hibbs 15 in third place, looking to secure that spot and with such good form behind them,

00:34many are fancying them for a win at Ibrox.

00:37It'll be one of the sternest tests of David Gray's recent spell as Hibbs manager.

00:43In that 15 game run they drew with the Rangers at Ibrox and of course have beaten Celtic Iceland.

00:49Going to Glasgow, the place where they lost last time in the league when they were beaten 3-0 by Celtic in December,

00:55certainly will make things tough for them.

00:57Hibbs likely to move out the Hecaten once more but there are some other parts of this team playing really well.

01:04David Gray, the manager, has won his third manager of the month award in four,

01:10which is quite some achievement for a boss outside of the old firm.

01:15It'll be fascinating to see how Rangers approach the match against a Hibbs team that caused them many problems,

01:21not only at Easter Road when they lost but also at Ibrox when they narrowly won 1-0.

01:26Hibbs missed a penalty through Mikola Kukarevic and also some good chances in the second half,

01:31so that will give Hibbs plenty of confidence as they head along.

01:35If Hibbs do lose, there are teams behind them in the race for third place looking for them to slip up,

01:41Aberdeen in particular going well, they're at Ross County on Saturday,

01:44while Dundee United who are nestled behind them in fifth, three points off Hibbs,

01:49are at Tyne Castle on Sunday to take on Hearts in what is a really big game in the league.

01:54Hearts need the points to secure their place in the top six.

01:57United, on the other hand, want to make sure that they are in the European discussion come the split.

02:03Should Hearts slip up in that game, St Mirren who are at Dundee and Motherwell who are at Kilmarnock

02:08are a point behind and will look to capitalise going into the last regular round of the fixtures.

02:14On Sunday we also have top against Boston at MacDermott Park, St Johnstone,

02:19desperate need of points, taking on Celtic who are looking to strengthen their vision

02:23as they hope to have the title wrapped up.

02:27Certainly by the time the split comes around, if we're not in first position afterwards,

02:32and many would not, I think if Celtic are winning, Evelyn Dyson, my daughter,

02:36would be there with one of her currently on 30 goals,

02:38and it would be a fall-off as the currently-competitory Kiwibullvera-Hashys top-tally for Celtic of 34th.

02:44It'll be a fascinating set of approbations,

02:46and we'll just have to wait and see where the interest rates are going to be.

02:49So if they agree, we can hopefully go to that direction on Sunday.