Ross insists there's no added pressure for Hibs as cup favourites

Hibs boss Jack Ross has shrugged off talk that his side are favourites to win the League Cup, saying that silverware has been a clear aim for this season.

Ross’ team are preparing to face St Johnstone in the semi-final of the Betfred Cup on Saturday, with Livingston and St Mirren battling for the other place in the final a day later.

Bookmakers have the Edinburgh side as clear favourites to lift the trophy but Ross says the pecking order is meaningless to him.

“I’ve never really thought about it to be honest,” he said. “It’s about us being as well prepared as we can to win the game. And about us making sure that we’re clear in what we want to do and achieving an ambition that was set out from day one.

“It’s completely irrelevant to me if we’re seen as favourites, second favourites or outsiders or whatever it may be. It’s about us affecting what we can, which is our performance, to be on the right side of the result.”

The head coach said that the absence of big hitters Rangers and Celtic in the final four didn’t add to expectations for Hibs, or add pressure, because the team had made their own goals clear before a ball had been kicked.

“It’s okay for us because one of the clear ambitions that we’ve had from day one of pre-season is to win silverware in this campaign,” Ross said.

“So we have put expectancy, or pressure, upon ourselves from that first moment as players and staff. We’ve had this constant drive towards it.

“It’s not easy: it’s tiring, relentless in terms of the work needed to do it.

“Now we are in the semi-finals of a cup it wouldn’t matter what teams were involved at this stage. That expectancy and ambition to win silverware has been there and will continue to be there.”