COLL HAS A BALL

JUBILANT John Collins last night heaped praise on his Hibs players after watching them deliver a cup semi-final place in only the second game of his managerial career.

And with Rangers joining Celtic on the CIS Cup scrapheap, Collins acknowledged that his side and the other three semi-finalists - St Johnstone, Falkirk and Kilmarnock - will all fancy their chances of lifting the first piece of silverware of the season at Hampden on Sunday March 18 next year.

Collins was absolutely thrilled with his side's 1-0 victory over city rivals Hearts in front of 15,825 fans at Easter Road.

He said: "I was proud of them. They played fantastic stuff and stuck to the game plan we worked on in training.

"They got their rewards and kept their discipline. Sometimes you get carried away and let your emotions take over. That can cost you but they kept their cool while still showing their aggression and the passion to win the tackles.

"Who would have thought two nights ago that Celtic and Rangers would be out the Cup?

"There's a great opportunity for one of the four us to go and win the cup.

"Everyone will fancy their chances."

He admitted that failing to add to Rob Jones' 31st-minute goal concerned him the longer the game went on.

He said: "You are always worried that missing chances will come back to haunt you.

"But deep down we didn't look in any danger and the defence was terrific all night.

"The goalkeeper (Zibi Malkowski) played ever so well but we defended well as a team.

"Our first defenders were the strikers and they ensured that the back four's job easy."

No member of the Hearts coaching staff appeared after the match to explain how their team could have played in an Edinburgh derby without having a shot on or off target for the entire 90 minutes.

But Collins believes that was down to the excellence of Hibs' performance rather than any shortcomings of their opponents.

He added: "I think that we made it very difficult for them as soon as they got possession.

"We were hunting in packs, pressing them and making it tough.

"When you press teams as a unit, inevitably they give the ball back to you."

Eduard Malofeev continued in charge of Hearts as head coach Valdas Ivanauskas remains on sick leave but his 4-5-1 formation with Robbie Neilson in midfield seemed to have his players confused.

Fans' favourite Julien Brellier was said to have left in a taxi before kick-off after being told he was not in the 16.

Taken from the Daily Record