Top line summary

  • 'Proud' of players' effort in defeat
  • Confirms Martin Boyle stable in hospital
  • Can't comment on Obita red, felt Moriah-Welsh incident could have gone to VAR

How is Martin Boyle?

“I’ve just had a report that Martin is stable and that’s the most important thing. Football is just a game and while Martin’s an important player for us, he’s a human being too. I think it’s a bit of concussion and and maybe a little bit of neck pain. Fingers crossed he makes a speedy recovery because he was in a bit of pain."

It was a lively game...

“It was lively, a lot of drama - unnecessary drama. I thought we were on the end of some tough decisions.  For big periods of the game we were more than at it, especially that 20-minute period after half-time. How we didn’t score I don’t know.  We had so much momentum and had Rangers on the back foot. They were camped in their box but we just needed a goal. The breakaway with Myziane and Elie Youan just needed a final pass. Had that goal gone in we’d have been right in the game."

What was your view on the red cards?

“I haven’t seen Jordan’s incident to be honest. I know he was on a yellow. He tried to hold [Rabbi] Matondo off but apparently he’s caught him on the back of the head with his arm. I haven’t seen it so can’t really comment. But going down to ten men we had them on the back foot for good periods. They are a top team but when you are down to ten it's hard. When you go down to nine… But I’m proud of the boys' efforts, even down to nine we limited them to little. On another night we get some incidents that go for us."

Would you expect Nathan Moriah-Welsh to show more control in that instance?

“Yeah, of course, and we just spoke about it in the dressing room after the game. Jordan is an experienced player so, if he has done something that is deemed a yellow card, you don’t want that. Nathan is just 21 years old, he’s new to first-team football. And, to be honest, it was right in front of me. I’ve got a lot of respect for John Lundstram. He’s a top, top player. But I thought the way he went down... Nathan didn’t catch him. I’ve seen that one back and he’s gone across him to try to block him playing a ball down the line, probably knock it out for a throw-in. But John has gone down. And the referee was very quick to give the card. To be honest, I was really surprised he didn’t go to the VAR monitor to have a look, considering it was three metres from where the incident happened. There’s just sometimes a bit of inconsistency, looking at decisions.

READ MORE: Hibs instant analysis - Two red cards, Boyle injury, no lack of fight

“We can talk about whether it’s a penalty or whether it’s not a penalty. A couple of weeks ago, against Celtic, we had the exact same incident with Martin Boyle – a quick winger running inside, the fullback chasing, any contact … but Martin gets a yellow card and we get a penalty given against us today. You see incidents like that - and it does just baffle you at times. Obviously he’s slowed down to initiate the contact from Jordan. I can’t say whether it was or wasn’t a penalty – but it wasn’t a penalty for us a few weeks ago and it was a penalty tonight. That’s disappointing. But I can’t take anything away from the boys’ effort today. Some of the football we played was very good. We’re disappointed not to get to a semi-final. But I thought the fans appreciated the effort. They probably deserved a better cup tie. The officials probably had a bit of a bad day today, to be honest. But we all have bad days. Unfortunately that today, it’s just disappointing.

Did you speak to the officials afterwards?

“No. There’s no point in speaking to them. I think we’ve had a lot of calls go against us the last couple of weeks, and one or two apologies, but there’s no point in speaking to them today. It’s not going to change anything. I’ll need to look at the incidents again, but I’m focusing on the positives, the fact we played really good football, created good chances – and could have scored a couple of goals. It wasn’t to be.”