Bushiri backs hardened competitors to start cranking out Hibs victories

Hibs favourite Rocky Bushiri has insisted that Hearts topping the Scottish Premiership has zero impact on how the Easter Road side are judging their season to date.

- by John Greechan

Rocky Bushiri goes to ground under challenge from Rangers's Youssef Chermiti in the biggest game of the Wednesday evening Premiership fixtures.

(Jane Barlow / PA Wire)

And he's backed his team's misfiring forwards to start banging in the goals soon, as a battle-hardened squad draw on the mentality that got them through a genuine crisis at this stage last year.

Bushiri returned to the starting lineup for the first time since last month as Hibs battled Rangers to a standstill on Wednesday night, only to lose 1-0 in a game where the home side created plenty of chances - including a Jamie McGrath penalty saved by Jack Butland four minutes from time.

Defeat meant David Gray's men dropped to fourth behind Rangers, Celtic and leaders Hearts.

But starting captain Bushiri referenced last season's horrific start by Hibs - then in the earliest days of Gray's run as permanent manager, who caught and overtook early title contenders Aberdeen with something to spare after kickstarting their campaign in November of 2024 - as evidence of what could happen when asked if Hearts sitting at the summit had put more pressure on their Capital rivals.