Liam Craig says he could not argue if some Hibernian supporters never forgave him for last season's 'disastrous' relegation, but he hopes he is now winning the majority round with his current displays.

Liam Craig says he could not argue if some Hibernian supporters never forgave him for last season's 'disastrous' relegation, but he hopes he is now winning the majority round with his current displays.

Alan Stubbs, the head coach, said this week that he was pleased with the way his captain Craig, who wore the armband as Terry Butcher's outfit lost calamitously in the play-off against Hamilton Academical in May, had come through a 'difficult time'.

Having opted to stay at Easter Road intent on making amends for the team's descent to the Championship, Craig found himself being blamed by supporters again following his penalty miss in August's Edinburgh derby defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle.

The 27-year-old dropped to the bench soon after, was restored to the team in a new 3-5-2 formation and then lost his starting berth again. However, with Dylan McGeouch having suffered an ankle injury, Craig has won back his place in the side and celebrated a fifth consecutive start with his first goal of the season in last Saturday's 2-1 win over Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Cup.

Although he insists he is still short of being back to his best, the former St Johnstone midfielder admits he is relishing Hibs' run of eight league games unbeaten and hopes he is on the 'right track' to redemption in the eyes of the fans.

Ahead of today's return to his former club Falkirk, he said: "I think my own form could be better. I had a spell last year when I was scoring goals and playing well, but this is probably the best it's been for a long time here.

"When we're winning and getting good results it makes everyone else's job easier and you see the reaction from the fans as well.

"It's not going to happen overnight, but we're getting there. We're definitely on the right track.

"I've still got a sense [I need to win back the fans]. I was as much to blame as anyone else; I'd never put the blame on anyone else.

"I said at the end of last season some fans will never forgive you for what happened last year, and rightly so. It was a disaster. But all I can do is try and play well every week and score goals and win games for Hibs. As long as I can do that I'm on the right track."

Craig has many happy memories from the two and a half years he spent at Falkirk - not least meeting wife Laura - before moving on to his subsequent five-year stint at St Johnstone. He said: "My wife still works there part time; I met her there. She wants a [Hibs] win as well, because she won't get a bonus if Falkirk win! I still live in the area, and I meet a lot of the fans and hold them in high regard."

Falkirk's key to preventing Hibernian from securing a seventh consecutive away win and stopping Craig from earning that win payment may come in how they handle the talents of Scott Allan. He is thriving as a first choice at Hibs every week and Craig reckons the former Dundee United and West Bromwich Albion playmaker, and on-loan Celtic youngster McGeouch, who is currently out injured, are as good as any he has played with in his career.

He said: "The manager has probably had a few quiet words with Scotty and told him how good a player he is and how good he can be. I think we're seeing that now. Look at Dylan as well. They're two of the best midfielders that I've played with. I see day-in, day-out in training that they're top, top players.

"That's what the manager has done: he wants those players to show how good they are, and he gives them the licence and freedom to do that. You see that especially in Scott's game in the last few weeks."