Nick Montgomery admitted the one comfort following Hibernian’s 2-1 house defeat by St Johnstone was that their top-six bid was not fully extinguished.
The Easter Street aspect would have been assured to be enjoying the season out within the backside six if sixth-placed Dundee had held on to beat Motherwell, however the Darkish Blues misplaced 3-2 regardless of main 2-0 till the 79th minute.
“I clearly wasn’t that throughout the recreation, I heard afterwards,” mentioned Montgomery of occasions at Dens Park. “If we are able to take any optimistic out of in the present day – which is troublesome – then we take that as one, however we don’t need to be counting on different individuals.
“There are two groups we may have caught (St Mirren and Dundee) if we obtained most factors.
“Now it’s one crew (Dundee) and we have now to depend on their outcomes. It’s not very best.”
Dundee stay a degree forward of Hibs with a recreation in hand. The Darkish Blues host Rangers after which journey to Aberdeen on Saturday, whereas Hibs’ solely remaining pre-split fixture is away to a Motherwell aspect who may squeeze into the highest six themselves in the event that they beat Montgomery’s aspect and the Darkish Blues lose each of their matches.
“Now we have to be optimistic and we have now to imagine that outcomes go our approach,” mentioned Montgomery.
“All we are able to do is go to Motherwell subsequent weekend realizing that we have now to win the sport to present ourselves an opportunity of nonetheless making the highest six.
“Till that’s mathematically inconceivable, we have now to imagine. We’ve been on a great run. We misplaced at Rangers final week and I’m actually disillusioned to lose to St Johnstone as a result of we wanted to win.
“We may have put massive strain on the groups above us nevertheless it’s out of our fingers now.”
St Johnstone claimed their win when Tony Gallacher scored within the 81st minute after Hibs right-back Chris Cadden had cancelled out Adama Sidibeh’s opener.
The outcome moved Saints 5 factors away from second backside Ross County within the battle to keep away from the relegation play-off spot, however boss Craig Levein is adamant they don’t seem to be secure but.
“I believe we’re nonetheless concerned in the meanwhile,” he mentioned.
“However we have to try to construct on this, we are able to’t get forward of ourselves. Hopefully we are able to go on a run now.”
