ROCKY ON ROAD TO IMPROVEMENT AS HE DEFENDS HIBS BACK FOUR

Hibs defender Rocky Bushiri believes it’s unfair to blame just the back four for goals conceded ina season of late collapses and mental lapses. And he says the Easter Roadcoaching staff agree that the entire team have to take responsibility forthrowing away so many points.

Only Livingston, Ross County – today’s opponents in Dingwall – and Dundee have conceded more thanHibs in the Scottish Premiership season to date. Manager Nick Montgomery hasregularly bemoaned the loss of late sickeners and soft counters since his arrivalin September.

Bushiri said: “In football every goal comes from a mistake. It’s not fair to say it’s justbecause of the defenders. If you see the actions before it can come fromanywhere on the pitch. It’s something we need to improve on, late goals but I’msure we will work on it for the future.

“The coaching staff also try to take the pressure of the defence.Okay we are defenders but we’re also the first attackers for the way the gafferwants to play. The responsibilities on the pitch are shared.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo international, a member of his country’s squad at this season’sAfrica Cup of Nation, believes he’s improved thanks to the efforts ofMontgomery and his assistants, revealing: “The coaching staff have been verygood and I’m grateful towards them. They have put loads of attention ondefensive details, I’m talking for me in specific meetings.

WATCH THE LATEST EPISODE OF FITBAW TALK HERE

“They’ve been like: ‘Don’t be happy too early, play one game but you need to repeat to be a good player atthis level.’  It needs to be a habit.

“When I talk about details it means about giving penalties away, your body position in differentsituations, game management, when you need to go and take a card being a nastyplayer or when you need to slow down. I’ve had games where I’ve taken early cards,Hearts away, last weekend I took a yellow after ten minutes, but I managed tofinish the game without any problems.

“It’s all repetition of things you do through the week and the psychology work you do with thegaffer and his staff. I’m betweenyoung and experienced because I have nearly played 50 games now and also indifferent leagues and in different positions.”

GET THE LATEST HIBS NEWS DIRECTLY TO YOUR EMAIL INBOX DAILY WITH OUR FREE NEWSLETTER SERVICE

Commenting on this weeks admissions of error in VAR decisions against Hibs, Bushiri said simply: “Youknow it when you rewatch it but it’s too late. “What do you want us to do? Youcan’t cry, we have a game on Saturday.”

2024-05-04T07:09:02Z dg43tfdfdgfd