'Anyone can win it' - Hibs have designs on catching Hearts, Celtic and Rangers

Now midfielder Josh Campbell hopes Saturday’s victory over their rivals can spark a similar series of wins. Such a consistent spell of results is what their season has been badly lacking, along with statement victories.

Hibs began rectifying the latter omission at the weekend as they held on against the league leaders for 3-2. It was the first time they had beaten a side above them in the league all season. The fact these opponents were Hearts and it dealt a blow to their ambitions of winning the league made everything all the sweeter.

Hibs’ ambitions go beyond being mere disruptors. Although they might appear too far back to force their way into the title equation. Campbell can’t see why Hibs should not have designs on overhauling Hearts, who are currently 13 points ahead.

“There has to be opportunity for everyone,” said the midfielder, who headed Hibs into a 2-0 lead shortly after coming off the bench at the weekend. “You look at Hearts, how well they've started. And Celtic and Rangers are not at their best, anyone can win it. That was a statement win from us and we need to build on this. Hopefully we can climb up that table. I feel that in this league, anything can happen.”

He referred again to the run of wins at the same stage last season. While many will still reflect on that memorable 3-3 draw with Aberdeen in late November, when Hibs equalised deep in injury time having fallen behind a minute earlier, as being when their fortunes changed course, it wasn’t until they picked up 12 points from 12, against Ross County, Aberdeen, Hearts and Kilmarnock, that they really started to climb away from relegation danger.

"That probably shot us up to the table and this could be the start of something like we started last year,” pondered Campbell. "I do think we should be higher up the table. We need to fight and beat the teams around us."

They have a quick opportunity to start doing that. Aberdeen are just one place below their hosts on Tuesday night and have produced only one statement win themselves this season, also against Hearts. They have struggled slightly to build on it although Jimmy Thelin's side have won four of their last five away games in the league, which is impressive in anyone's book.

Campbell’s goal-scoring cameo on Saturday was his ninth appearance off the bench since he last started a game, which was the previous Edinburgh derby in October. He has seen his opportunities restricted due to the arrival of Jamie McGrath from Aberdeen. He agreed a pre-contract last January and has hit the ground running since signing on for active duty with seven goals, including the opener in the weekend win over Hearts. He also provided the excellent assist for Campbell’s header on the stroke of half time. Hibs will score few better goals this season. McGrath beat opposite man Oisin McEntee all ends up before finding Campbell with a cross from the left.

There was still a lot for the substitute, who replaced Nicky Cadden 15 minutes earlier, to do. Campbell glanced a header towards the back post and judged his angles perfectly. It hit the far upright before nestling in the back of the net. It was Campbell’s first goal of what’s proved a frustrating season to date for him personally. As a Hibs supporter, it was undeniably extra special. He is philosophical about his own place in manager David Gray’s current plans and the struggle he’s having to earn a starting berth.

“The manager's been out and brought players in, especially McGrath - who's been exceptional,” he said. “He's been a great signing for us. He showed his quality again.

"I've just been patient and you have to be. You have to train and go to work as if you're about to play every game. Then you get moments like that (an injury) and if you're called upon, you have to deliver."

He provided some insight into the difficulties for a substitute trying to adapt to the pace of a game, particularly a frenetic derby. He came on after half an hour, when the match was still being played at a furious pace. "I had a slight inkling as I was spoken to before the game about Nicky's calf,” he explained. “So I prepared for the game as if I was starting the game.

"He went down injured because he was struggling during the week. But trying to get up to the speed of a derby when I came on, about 30 or so minutes in, that's one of the worst feelings in the world, hands down! I just stuck to what I know and managed to score as well."

When Kieron Bowie added a third soon after half time, Hibs ought to have been out of sight. However, things got very sweaty indeed towards the end, with Hearts having brought it back to 3-2. "I don't know how that all started, I thought we had total control in the game, especially when we were 3-0 up,” said Campbell. “But big Raphael (Sallinger) pulled off some big saves. The (Lawrence) Shankland effort at the front post, that was an incredible save. We worked hard, everyone dug in together and we got across the line.

"The gaffer used the word 'statement' before the game,” he added. “He was saying we've not had a statement win the whole season. He said we needed to use that as fuel to win the derby. He then said to the boys after the game, 'We need to build on this'.”

The onus is on Campbell to do that as well, albeit it's not so easy when restricted to substitute appearances. Whether his efforts on Saturday have earned him an overdue start remains to be seen.