St Mirren clash carries 'bit more magnitude' for Hibs - O'Hora
Hibs defender Warren O'Hora admits Wednesday's Premiership trip to St Mirren carries a "little bit more magnitude" as they attempt to secure a third-place league finish.The Easter Road outfit have only achieved that feat three times in the 21st century, under Alex McLeish in 2001, Tony Mowbray in 2005 and Jack Ross in 2021.David Gray's side are three points clear of Aberdeen in fourth with a vastly superior goal difference, meaning a win in Paisley would effectively secure third spot."It is an exciting game for us to be involved in, it will definitely be a tough game as St Mirren have it all to play for as well," O'Hora said."These are the types of games that players want to play in, especially in this league and at this club."St Mirren have done very well against us this season and have taken a lot of points off us, so we are using that as an incentive."If we were to go over there and beat them then that would be a big moment for us this season. It would mean we have beaten every team in the league this season, I don't know the last time that has happened for Hibs."The end goal is to achieve European football next season so the incentive is there for us. You always want to win every game, but this game definitely has that little bit more magnitude."Even if they fail to finish the job against St Mirren, Hibs will have another opportunity to secure third place against Rangers on Saturday given their goal-difference advantage. "It is all in our hands," said O'Hora. "We are in control of our destiny and our own outcome, that is what every player wants. We will be going into the game knowing that if we win this game, it will put us in a really strong position."We want to finish this season as strongly as possible with two wins. We owe the fans that for the way they have stuck with us this season."To get the job done and secure third would be a big moment for us. We are going into the game with the right mentality."
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Powys County Times
an hour ago
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BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
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Cieran Slicker flashed a quick smile at head coach Steve Clarke as he bounded on to the Hampden pitch six minutes and 37 seconds into Scotland's friendly with Iceland to replace stricken starter Angus 64 seconds later, the debutant took a panicked slash at a Kieran Tierney pass back and the ball eventually found its way to Andri Gudjohnsen, who arced a fine finish high over the stranded smile was gone. The misery was just beginning. Indeed, the next hour might be among the worst Slicker will endure in his career. How did the nightmare unfold? Slicker didn't really have any time to acclimatise to international mistake - and a relatively small one at that - one goal. confidence was visibly shaken and he rushed his next couple of kicks before unconvincingly clinging on to a shot from Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson at the second attempt. 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He also spent time on loan at Rochdale before his Ipswich move, but failed to make a league was part of the Tractor Boys squad that recorded back-to-back promotions to the Premier League, making a few appearances in domestic cup competitions along the way and filling in as the back-up keeper on occasion too. But Slicker played just 10 minutes for Ipswich last season - in the FA Cup - and is still to make his senior league has 17 caps at under-21 level for Scotland - with three clean sheets - and was first called up for the senior squad in November 2024. What did Clarke say about it? "It's difficult for Cieran, I really feel for him," the Scotland head coach told BBC Sport Scotland. "He got thrown into a situation that he wasn't quite ready for but Craig Gordon's injured, Liam Kelly's injured, Zander Clark is injured."It's something I thought might come back to bite us [the lack of goalkeeping options]. The only good thing is it came in a friendly match."I'd imagine [Angus Gunn] won't play the next game."I've had young Callan McKenna in the squad so he'll travel then we'll have a look and see if we can find another goalkeeper in Scotland who's not on holiday." What happens now? Not only are Gordon, Kelly and Clark out at present, Robby McCrorie went down in the warm-up. It all likelihood, he's the one who would have come on against Gunn and McCrorie likely out of Monday's friendly against Liechtenstein, too, and Slicker's confidence through the floor, will Clarke turn to someone else?"You have to find out what's in the player's mind as well, how he's feeling about it," former Scotland defender Willie Miller said of Slicker."What you're looking for is honesty from him. Does he feel like he can take on the challenge in the next game, or that he doesn't want to?"Does the manager want to take him out of the firing line?"McKenna, 18, has more senior experience than Slicker, but not by much. He played nine matches for Queen's Park in the Scottish Championship before signing for Bournemouth in 2024. He's been in their development squad since and has been with the Scotland group as a training player for the past the lack of options, Clarke's first phone call might be to Jon two-time Scotland cap, 37, only played one FA Cup game for Swansea City last season and is now out of contract. But he was a squad regular, is experienced, and would likely be considered one of the safest options. Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken was in Scotland squads during the season just gone, but was replaced between at Dens Park by Trevor Carson midway through the Scottish-based options would be Scott Bain - recently released by Celtic - or Ross Doohan - recently signed by Dons keeper Craig MacGillivray has previously been called up by Clarke, too, but would appear to be a long way down the pecking order these days. 'Frustration bordering on anger at situation' Clarke was much more candid about Slicker's night than many thought he might spoke about this was too early for him, him not being ready for it. It's clear that the lad is suffering after being thrown in to a also sounds like he was always going to be third choice - and therefore there for experience rather than game time - until McCrorie's injury in the warm-up. It's an unforgiving thing is clear though, Clarke's manner over the goalkeeping situation was frustration bordering on anger.
