Nick Montgomery admitted the one comfort following Hibernian’s 2-1 house defeat by St Johnstone was that their top-six bid was not utterly extinguished.
The Easter Highway facet would have been assured to be taking part in the season out within the backside six if sixth-placed Dundee had held on to beat Motherwell, however the Darkish Blues misplaced 3-2 regardless of main 2-0 till the 79th minute.
“I clearly wasn’t that through the sport, I heard afterwards,” mentioned Montgomery of occasions at Dens Park. “If we are able to take any optimistic out of at the moment – which is tough – then we take that as one, however we don’t need to be counting on different individuals.
“There are two groups we might have caught (St Mirren and Dundee) if we received most factors.
“Now it’s one group (Dundee) and we have now to depend on their outcomes. It’s not ultimate.”
Dundee stay a degree forward of Hibs with a sport in hand. The Darkish Blues host Rangers after which journey to Aberdeen on Saturday, whereas Hibs’ solely remaining pre-split fixture is away to a Motherwell facet who might squeeze into the highest six themselves in the event that they beat Montgomery’s facet and the Darkish Blues lose each of their matches.
“We have now to be optimistic and we have now to consider that outcomes go our means,” mentioned Montgomery.
“All we are able to do is go to Motherwell subsequent weekend realizing that we have now to win the sport to present ourselves an opportunity of nonetheless making the highest six.
“Till that’s mathematically not possible, we have now to consider. We’ve been on a great run. We misplaced at Rangers final week and I’m actually dissatisfied to lose to St Johnstone as a result of we wanted to win.
“We might have put massive strain on the groups above us however it’s out of our palms now.”
St Johnstone claimed their win when Tony Gallacher scored within the 81st minute after Hibs right-back Chris Cadden had cancelled out Adama Sidibeh’s opener.
The end result moved Saints 5 factors away from second backside Ross County within the battle to keep away from the relegation play-off spot, however boss Craig Levein is adamant they aren’t protected but.
“I believe we’re nonetheless concerned for the time being,” he mentioned.
“However we have to attempt to construct on this, we are able to’t get forward of ourselves. Hopefully we are able to go on a run now.”
