THE disappointment of a woeful display was etched on the face of James McPake and heard in the downbeat tone of his words.
The 28-year-old Hibernian captain knew his side did not compete at Celtic Park and that a league season that offered promise has ended with a place in the bottom six. A William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final with Falkirk offers hope of redemption but also carries a substantial risk of further pain.
"Our aim at the start of the season was to finish in the top six," said the Northern Ireland internationalist. "We're a big club, so the top six should be a minimum for us."
Saturday's semi-final at Hampden now assumes alarming proportions. Asked if the failure to make the top six added to the pressure to succeed in the cup, McPake said: "At our club, I don't think anything can add to the importance of the Scottish Cup but we've still got a lot to play for in the bottom six. We want to finish top of that mini-league. We've got another derby, which we'll be desperate to win, as well.
He was brutal in his assessment of an afternoon when Hibs, who have a good record in the league against Celtic this season with a victory and a draw, never looked like posing a problem.
"It's easy saying we're going to get the ball down and cause them problems. We didn't do enough, not just to win the game but to play a part in the game," he said.
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