Nick Montgomery spoke to the media after Hibs' 3-0 defeat to Rangers. Here's everything the manager had to say.

Your overall thoughts on the game?

“It’s a disappointing result against quality opposition, and what you can’t do is gave away poor goals. The first goal is totally avoidable, and the second is a good strike. But, before that, Elie has a great chance, and we could possibly have had a penalty. Dylan Vente is getting pulled, and it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other. It hits the defender on the hand, and those are the moments that change the game. We come out in the second-half and have two massive moments. Myziane has a chance from six yards and the goalkeeper makes a great save. If that goes in, it’s 2-1, the crowd gets up and we probably get back into the game. Emiliano has a great chance and another great save, but if you don’t take your chances you end up chasing the game, and you can’t do that against Rangers.

Was that start of the second half the moment to get yourselves back into it?
 

“The boys were disappointed at half-time. The first 20 minutes was probably sloppy from both teams and the game lacked a little bit of quality. There’s been a two week break without competitive games. Also, we’ve got four players away on international duty and five injured, Rangers had one player away on international duty. It tells you where we’re at right now. Kanayo Megwa made his debut at right-back, a massive game for him, and unfortunately Paul Hanlon pulled out sick. For me, Jordan Obita is one of the best full-backs in the league but we had to move him to centre-back, and he did a really good job. But, yeah that moment early in the second-half, it’s a great save from Myziane by the goalkeeper. If that goes in we’d have been right in it, but it doesn’t go in and we’re still chasing the game.

With the players you’ve brought in, are you that far away from having the players who make the difference in those moments?

“We’re in a rebuilding phase. I knew that coming into the club, and that this January transfer window wasn’t going to be easy. We’ve brought three quality players in but they need to get up to speed. In January, you don’t bring in players who have been playing every week. The only way to get fit is work hard in training and get minutes in games. The game is very quick when you’ve been out for a while, but I thought Myziane had some great moments, almost scored. Emiliano comes on and you can see his quality. He’s a top level player – some of the passes he made, and the way the game slows down when he gets the ball. He had a chance and I know he’ll be disappointed, because those are the type he normally scores. Luke Amos, another quality player but he’s only trained with Tottenham U-23s this season and you cannot compare it to a game of that magnitude tonight. Right now, we’re in a bit of a difficult period but I see the big picture, and I know when we get boys back we’ll be in a good position. We have to dust ourselves down from today and get ready for Saturday.

Are there going to be any more coming in?

“I knew January was going to be a difficult window. I mentioned this week that we were close to a good centre-back but the club decided they needed to keep him. We’ve definitely been looking but we will have Paul coming back from sickness and Rocky from international duty. We’ll keep trying to look for re-enforcements, but it’s very hard. But I know where we’re going, and right now it’s a bit of short-term pain.

Two wins in seven, are you optimistic that will turn?

“I know results are what people look at, and that’s easy because everybody wants the right result. I want to win games of football, and we have won some good games. We’ve also been unlucky with results where we deserved more. But the facts are the facts and right now we’re in a difficult period. I’m can’t make excuses, but it’s facts that we have 10 first-team players out. But I also see that as an opportunity for the likes of Kanayo Megwa and Rory Whittaker. These experiences will make them better players, and when they’re older they’ll be good players for the first team. But right now I’m asking them to do a lot. I’m not going to sit and blame anyone for the goals, the fans were great with him and he’s one of ours. Rory is 16 and played at the weekend, so asking a 16-year-old to back up two games in four days is not easy. We have to get ready for Kilmarnock at the weekend to get a result.