BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
Hibernian head coach Alan Stubbs insists his side proved a point with their hard fought triumph over Raith Rovers.
The capital club fell well below their fluent best against the Fifers, who ended the contest with ten men following the dismissal of Grant Anderson, but managed to claim a 1-0 win thanks to Jason Cummings’ 16th goal of the season.
Stubbs believes it was the perfect response to seeing their 17-match unbeaten run fall against Rangers last Monday.
“I think a lot of people will have been looking at our game to see how we responded to last week’s defeat,” he said. “I think we have answered those questions.
“All credit to Raith, they made it really difficult for us. But I don’t think anyone could deny us the victory.
“We probably rushed things and made a couple of wrong decisions, but the most important thing is that we won.
“After the first half, there were words in the dressing room at the break – but not harsh words. I posed a question to them and they have answered me, so I’m really pleased.”
Cummings netted the winner after being felled inside the box by Kyle Benedictus early in the second half.
He dusted himself off to take the spot-kick, only to see his effort saved by Kevin Cuthbert. However, Cummings was sharp enough to convert the rebound.
Improving
While not Cummings’ most effective all-round performance, Stubbs knows another match-winning strike on the day the transfer window opened will only serve to cement his status as “hot property”.
“It probably wasn’t Jason’s best afternoon,” added Stubbs. “But if you look at his movement and awareness for the goal – that’s why he is hot property.
“We’ll see what happens with Jason in January. He is good and is learning all the time.
“He is improving and I still think he has a bit to go – but he could be very good.”
