Chris Hogg numb over failed Euro bid

THE pain was etched deep into the face of Chris Hogg.

The stitches holding together a lip gashed by the flailing elbow of Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink hurt badly enough but it was finally seeing Hibs' UEFA Cup dream come to an end which was causing him the greatest distress.

"Numb," was the word Hogg used to sum up how he felt in the wake of a defeat at Celtic Park which, combined with Motherwell's win against Aberdeen the previous day, put third place in the SPL table outwith the reach of Mixu Paatelainen's players.

It was, perhaps, the inevitable outcome given that Hibs had been playing "catch up" with both Motherwell and Dundee United for the past few weeks following that disastrous spell last autumn which put a huge question mark against even a place in the top six.

But, nevertheless, that thought did little to comfort defender Hogg, who had been looking forward to a "winner takes all" showdown with the Fir Park outfit at Easter Road on the final day of the season.

And, instead of UEFA Cup football to look forward to, Hogg and his team-mates will now enjoy barely a month off before they return to prepare for an InterToto Cup clash with Torshavn of the Faroe Islands or, much more likely, Swedish side Elfsborgs, on the first weekend in July.

Even so, that brief period of respite will allow Paatelainen's players to reflect on just why they came up short in a season which appeared to promise so much – an unbeaten run of nine games seeing them briefly top the SPL.

That run may have caught everyone by surprise but what happened next shocked everyone at Easter Road, a miserable seven points out of a possible 36 sending Hibs spiralling down to eighth place, that dismal record compounded by the shock departure of boss John Collins.

The arrival of Paatelainen, however, coincided with a revival which brought renewed hope as Hibs again began to climb the table to the extent their UEFA Cup dream was rekindled only to be finally extinguished.

Today, however, Hogg admitted he and his team-mates had no-one to blame but themselves, saying: "At the moment it is really a feeling of numbness. We had a bit of light but now it is gone.

"We feel we are more than capable of finishing third and it just shows you about the league this season that we could hardly take a point for 12 or 13 games and yet we were still right in there.

"It's good we pulled ourselves back in to it, but if only we had been a bit more consistent."

"If only" are the two words which will probably be uttered repeatedly in the days to come but for the pragmatic Hogg it's the future which counts not what has already been consigned to the history books. Hogg, of course, was sidelined through injury as he watched Paatelainen's players surrender leads against both Dundee United and Aberdeen, leaking points which would have proved so valuable to their cause.

But, as he pointed out, those two results cannot be allowed to stand in isolation when reasons are sought. He said: "It was very frustrating to sit out those games and the match against Rangers. I'm not the greatest watcher of football when I am not in the team because I want to play in every game.

"I feel the boys did well but we were disappointed against Dundee United and then Aberdeen when we were ahead and should have seen the games out.

"We have had our chances but if you do not take them then you do not deserve third place.

"That run of games back in October, November and December killed our season even if we played ourselves back into things.

"A football club such as this cannot afford not to win for however long it was.

"I think we'd all regard the InterToto Cup as second prize but we have to take it, forget what we have not achieved and focus on what we want to achieve next season.

"I believe that every year you want to get better both on and off the field as a football club, but more importantly on it. It's all about improving.

"It's up to the manager to do what he wants during the summer but then we have to come back pre-season and prepare hard."

Those preparations will begin before June is out, Paatelainen convinced, as was former Hibs boss Tony Mowbray, that playing competitive games is more productive than a round of friendlies.

And if it means a shortened holiday, Hogg conceded that the thought of European football, although perhaps not on such a grand scale as the UEFA Cup, was something to look forward to.

He said: "It's a positive thing. I am sure the manager and the directors have looked into it and feel it is the right thing for the football club.

"It will provide us with two tough games and, if we get through, two more hard matches with the hope we can progress and make it into the UEFA Cup in any case."

Paatelainen also believes early competitive football will help the new signings he intends making – St Mirren's David Van Zanten (above left) is already committed to joining Hibs on a three year deal – settle in quickly at Easter Road.

He said: "It won't be our normal pre-season as we have to start early.

"The boys will have to look after themselves and come back fit but I am sure new players coming would want to start tomorrow or the day after they sign so there won't be any problems."

• HIBS' reserve side will complete their season by facing St Mirren at Love Street tomorrow with kick-off at 1pm.