Lee Johnson admits if any side in the top flight are able to get points off Celtic or Rangers that they deserve a 'Brucie bonus point'.
The Hibs manager knows the task of getting a result against either side of the Old Firm is tough, but that his sole focus is closing the gap on rivals Hearts who will be without boss Robbie Neilson this week. Johnson's men have not beaten their rivals this season and are winless in the last eight attempts against the Jambos with interim boss Steven Naismith taking to the dugout on Saturday.
But Johnson admits he will reach out to former team-mate Neilson when reaction from his sacking 'dies down', but that he must put all his energy in to a crucial derby at Easter Road.
Sign up to Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
He said: "Robbie is a friend from my playing days. I haven’t messaged him yet but I will – when it dies down in a week, ten days or two weeks. When the phone goes quiet, knowing from my own experience, that’s the time when you can some real depth to the conversation.
"I found out the same as everyone else. Bad news travels fast. Robbie knows that football management is precarious. But our focus stays on Hibs, and a chance to close the gap.
“Our reaching for the stars, for us, is third. We can’t make second, we can’t win the league. Given the fact we have to play these teams, if we reach the top six, that turns the tide very quickly.
"Particularly with two super-strong teams in the division, it becomes a league within a league. And whoever manages to steal points off the Old Firm, that’s a Brucie bonus point. But drawing it back in, our sole focus is to win this game."
READ NEXT:
- Robbie Neilson 'knee-jerk' Hearts sacking claims rejected as club chief reveals reason for axe
- Joe Newell fires Hearts warning as Hibs star sees 'perfect game' to end 'horrendous' derby record
- Lee Johnson slams 'naive' Hibs as Dundee United defeat has boss talking 'cup final' Hearts derby
