Will Fish insists Hibs sickener at Fir Park story of season as Easter Road star admits 'I feel like I've failed'

Nine months and 45 games summed up in less than a minute.

Will Fish reckons the elation to devastation that Hibs felt in a matter of seconds at Fir Park on Saturday encapsulated a campaign that
promised so much but has ultimately delivered nothing. And the Manchester United loanee admits that means just one thing –that the season has been a failure.

With 93 minutes on the clock and just 60 seconds remaining in Motherwell, the 2300 travelling Hibees were in full voice with their side leading 1-0 thanks to Myziane Maolida’s penalty and ready to jump Dundee into the final top-six slot ahead of the split. But one swipe of Shane Blaney’s left foot saw those cheers turn to jeers as Hibs crashed back into the bottom half of the table.And they are there to stay. Fish admits it has been the story of the season. He said: “It’s a sickener. It’s going to take a while to digest.

“We’ve thrown away too many good opportunities this season. This was just another prime example of that. And that’s on us. We have to take responsibility for that.

“Yeah, it probably sums up our season. We’ve had so many times when we’ve been in front in games, only to concede in the last minute, the last 10 minutes, for whatever reason.

“That’s on the players. And it hurts. It’s just naive. And ultimately it has cost us a place in the top six.

“It will take a few days to digest. Everyone needs to go away, and we need to have a look at ourselves, at what’s gone wrong this season. My focus this season was to come back here and do the best for the club. And I feel like I’ve failed.

“The team are in the bottom six and I’ve played in a lot of the games, so I need to have a look at myself. And that hurts, as well. Everyone in that changing room will learn from it.”

Nick Montgomery knows the pressure is building at Easter Road. He might not have been at the wheel when the first three league games were lost and a European campaign that had brought the high of a victory over Swiss cracks Luzern came crashing down to earth in an 8-0 aggregate defeat to Aston Villa.

But with 29 games to salvage the Premiership season, the Hibs boss – by his own admission on Saturday – has come up short. Fish admits third place was the target. Instead they’ve had to watch capital rivals Hearts romp clear in the best of the rest spot.

But the Old Trafford youngster is convinced the Easter Road club are heading in the right direction under Montgomery. He said: “It’s never crossed my mind that they [Monty and his team] can’t be successful at this club because we see it day in, day out.

“They’re tactical in their thought and in their training and put a lot of effort into making us better. Everyone can see that. We’ve had a few bad results this season that is on the players, nothing to do with the management.

“Success for this club? It’s obviously third place. I do believe the squad we had this season was good enough to do that. For whatever reason results have gone against us.”

Both sides still had the carrot of a top-six slot dangling in front of their eyes ahead of kick-off. Dundee’s draw at Aberdeen ultimately meant both needed a victory. Blaney’s last-gasp goal meant neither got it.

After a tension-packed first half ruined by the wind Hibs got their noses in front from the spot after 65 minutes. Fish won the penalty when he had his ankles swiped after turning Stephen O’Donnell inside the box.

Maolida held his nerve to slot home. Chris Cadden blew a great chance to cement the victory. And it proved costly as Well took the wind from Hibs’ sails in injury time.

Dan Casey’s long throw was only half cleared and fell perfectly for Blaney, 16 yards out, to slam a half volley high past David Marshall. Oli Shaw came within inches of winning it just after but both had to settle for a draw.