Daryl Horgan reckons a perfect end to the season will see Hibs clinch fourth spot after blowing the chance to put pressure on Kilmarnock with their derby draw.
And the Irishman insists the fact they are still in the hunt for Europe shows how far they’ve come under Paul Heckingbottom after fearing they were closer to relegation before his arrival.
Hibs are unbeaten in 10 league games under Heckingbottom after yesterday’s 1-1 draw against the Jambos at Easter Road and trail fourth-placed Killie by four points with Aberdeen a further three points clear.
Heckingbottom’s side still have to play the two sides above them after a trip to Ibrox to face Rangers
on Sunday.
Horgan admitted it was a missed opportunity against Hearts after recovering from Marc McNulty’s spot kick to take the lead when the Irish winger’s cross was deflected in off Hearts defender Christophe Berra.
But Uche Ikpeazu rescued a point for Craig Levein’s men and Horgan said: “It’s a kick in the teeth. But we’ll dust ourselves down and be ready for the trip to Ibrox.
“When the manager came in we were eighth and people were probably thinking more along the lines of relegation than Europe.
“So to be in a position where we have a strong possibility of getting to Europe is unbelievable and we just have to go out and play as we have been playing.
“It’s two points dropped for us but thankfully we still have to play Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.
“We go to Ibrox next so the aim is to pick up nine points.
“It won’t be easy because every top six game is a battle but if we can pick up the nine points I’d be confident we would be in fourth place given we have still to play Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.”
Horgan refused to point the finger at McNulty for his missed spot kick and said: “Everyone misses penalties. He has scored three already this season and has been unbelievable for us with the way he has led the line.
“He started in a slightly different position today but was unbelievable. It happens and I won’t lambast him for it. We’ve all missed big opportunities.
“We still went 1-0 up, created chances and should have seen the game out but we showed with the way we played that we were right up for it.
“We played really well for long stretches of the game, probably right up to their goal. We were a team in the ascendancy.
Craig Levein admits with Uche Ikpeazu he doesn't know what Hearts are going to get
“So we’re disappointed by the way we reacted to them changing the game.
“Once we scored they went hell for leather, they had nothing to lose at that point and we didn’t play like we had been.
“We didn’t pass the ball the way we should have and we didn’t create any more opportunities.”
