Lee Johnson believes Hibs CAN finish third this season - but Hearts remain favourites.
The Easter Road side are on an excellent unbeaten run of form and responded from going behind to an early Joel Nouble goal at the Tony Macaroni Arena to run out big 4-1 winners at the weekend. That kept them within five points of their city rivals but the Hibees gaffer insists nailing down a top six spot and Rangers tomorrow night are are the main focus for now.
The games don't come any more diffcult for Hibs, who then face Ange Postecoglou's rampant Celtic side following their clash under the lights in Leith with Michael Beale and his troops. The last meeting ended in a five-goal Ibrox thriller and with the visitors unbeaten in the league under their new boss and Hibs on-form it has the makings of a hugely exciting game.
READ MORE: Lee Johnson on special Hibs moment after Livingston win as he calls on similar scenes vs Rangers
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On the prospect of finishing best of the rest, Johnson said: "I think it’s possible. Obviously we are not favourites for it, because Hearts are five points ahead of us but we have got to be thinking about the fact we have got them to play again and we have then got the opportunity to nail down a top-six spot and play them again. So that becomes absolutely key.
“We’re going to have to beat them and probably we are going to have to go undefeated against them if we do add the extra game post-split, but we are not looking that far ahead at the moment. We are literally just looking at, can we do everything we can to beat Rangers, and then we take the next obstacle which is Celtic and we go from there.”
On Wednesday night and Rangers, he added: “It would be a statement win if we got the victory. We have to aim to get closer to the Old Firm.
"Celtic are way out ahead, then there’s Rangers, and then there are clubs like ourselves. Performances and consistency are key and I feel we are on a steady trajectory.
"If we can bridge that gap in a one-off game that shows it can be done. We have a lot to do and individuals have to perform but it is looking good.”
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