HIBS head coach Jack Ross insists he plans to add to Aberdeen counterpart Stephen Glass’ troubles as a by-product of making sure his own team get back on track this weekend.

Ross’ sole focus is on masterminding a vastly improved performance after the Leith side collapsed to a 3-0 defeat to Dundee United at home last Saturday, a display described as ‘lazy, slow and selfish’ by the Easter Road boss.

However, Ross is also well aware of the pressure and criticism that Glass finds himself under at Pittodrie following a ten game winless run - eight of which have ended in defeat.

Despite rookie manager Glass, who replaced Derek McInnes in March, feeling the heat, Ross only has one thing on his mind.

“I know the focus will be on Stephen and his team's position and where their mindset is at," said Ross. "But for us, on the back of last week's game, it made no difference who we were playing this weekend. 

“It hurt us to come out of the top four for the first time in 18 months. But the challenge is to get back there as quickly as we can and we have a chance to do that at the weekend.

“It's just about a performance that's much more in keeping with what we've done recently. Irrespective of the state of mind of the opposition, it's important we do that.

“I want to add to his challenges at the moment by winning the game on Saturday.

“But in terms of everything else I’ve got the utmost respect for Stephen being prepared to do the job he is in at the moment. 

“Football management has always been a tough job, particularly nowadays when the want for change is frequent.  

“Opinion can vary so much on the back of one or two disappointing results. 

“Stephen has my full respect, he is someone I know well.” 

In a spiky radio interview on Monday, Dons chairman Dave Cormack offered Glass his support and also claimed that being Aberdeen manager was the toughest position outside the Old Firm.

Asked about those comments, Ross replied: “He should try walking in my shoes then.”

When pressed on whether he was surprised that Aberdeen languish down in ninth place with only eight points from nine games, Ross said: “Expectation for Aberdeen is always to be challenging at the top part of the table and they've obviously done so for a number of years. 

“I think that was the expectation on them again, as it usually is, for us as well. 

“It's still relatively early in the season and there are a huge number of games to go.  

“It's a highly-competitive league this season and a positive run of results can change the league position dramatically. 

“The flip side of that is the same can happen with a negative one as well. Stephen will obviously believe he has the necessary quality to improve on the position they're in at the moment.”