Nick Montgomery admitted finishing in the bottom six is unacceptable for Hibernian after seeing his side surrender a late lead against Motherwell at Fir Park.
Hibs’ prospects looked optimistic as they were set to move one point ahead of Dundee into sixth in the Scottish Premiership as they led Motherwell 1-0 courtesy of Myziane Maolida’s 64th-minute penalty.
But Shane Blaney fired home a thunderous equaliser in the last minute of added time with Motherwell’s first shot on target as both teams saw their top-six hopes came to an end.
The travelling supporters were furious and vented their anger towards the Hibs players and staff at full-time and Montgomery understands their frustrations.
“It’s not good enough for Hibs,” he said.
“You have to earn the right to get anywhere in football. You have to earn the right to get into the top six. As a club we have failed to hit one of our targets and that was the top six.
“The other two were progress in the cups, which we did to a good level. But the big target was to try and get into the top six. I’ve tried everything I can to get there.
“We’ve had stuff that’s probably been challenging for us, but as a club, yeah, we have to look back at the start of the season, before pre-season, and how we’ve ended up in this position where we’re going into the last game 20 seconds away from the top six.
“It’s 20 seconds away from not being good enough and unfortunately the results – last week as well – have gone against us and it’s really hard to explain how that’s happened.”
Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell praised the mentality of his side after another late goal salvaged a draw.
And they could even have won it at the death but Oli Shaw fired wide from a few yards out.
“I thought we snatched it at the end,” said Kettlewell. “It’s probably no surprise to myself or anyone in the room as we’ve become renowned this season for playing to the last whistle.
“We want to be ahead in games but we always rally and we have four strikers and two attackers on the pitch at the end – it was all out attack.
“I thought Oli had put the ball in the net, that was my gut instinct, when he got across the front post. But we left it late over the course for the top six but I can only credit my players.
“People had written us off for the top six and looked at us more towards the bottom of the table but we’ve shown brilliant personality and picked up points.”
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim and striker Rasmus Højlund: two people with uncertain futures next season. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)BILBAO, Spain -- Tottenham Hotspur have won their first trophy since 2008 after beating Manchester United 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League final on a tight and tense night in Bilbao.The game was decided by a scruffy goal from Brenn...
Alejandro Garnacho seemed visibly annoyed after being relegated to the bench for Manchester United's Europa League final showdown with Tottenham.Manager Ruben Amorim decided to leave the Argentine winger out of his starting XI, and the player was noticeably late in joining his fellow subs for the pre-match warm-up. Garnacho spent a good 15 minutes on the pitch, still suited up, having a chat with ...
Ruben Amorim spoke out about his future (Image: Getty)Ruben Amorim has offered to forgo any copensation he would be owed if Manchester United bosses decide to sack him this summer. The Red Devils lost the Europa League final 1-0 against Tottenham on Wednesday night.A trophyless season, coupled with United's 16th-place in the Premier League table, has left huge question marks hanging over Amorim's ...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today.Liverpool v Crystal Palace next game Tottenham Europa league Champions Winner Arsenal🤝Man City🤝Man Utd 17th-place Spurs took the back door to the Champions League Manchester United's season: Just GOAT Things! "He let Tottenham win a trophy." Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, BleacherReportFootball, originalt...
Liverpool are set to part ways with Darwin Nunez this summer, and the Uruguay striker could be set for a move to Spain, where he previously played with Almeria. And despite interest from a number of clubs, including Serie A leaders Napoli, the likelihood is that La Liga is his most likely destination.Nunez is keen to leave Anfield this summer having had a difficult season under Arne Slot. Liverpoo...
Manchester United were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham in the Europa League final.The Red Devils, who were heavily relying on the Europa League to save their season, suffered defeat against Ange Postecoglou’s side in Bilbao.This defeat makes matters worse for Ruben Amorim and his players next season.They have failed to qualify for the Champions League next season. Not only that, they are not going t...
Arsenal have emerged as contenders to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid after GOAL reported Chelsea are lining up an offer for the Brazilian.Arsenal exploring options to sign RodrygoChelsea also considering a bid for BrazilianMadrid reportedly demanding £85m for wingerWHAT HAPPENED?Arsenal are already holding talks about a possible bid for the winger, Sky Sport in Germany reports, with the Gunner...
Revealed: Conte's long list of demands to stay on at NapoliAntonio Conte has issued a list of demands to the Napoli board if he is to stay on as coach next season.Bayern could lose two key coaching staff membersBayern Munich and head coach Vincent Kompany could lose two key members of the coaching staff just days after reclaiming their Bundesliga throne.Chelsea in talks over move for €100m-r...
HE TOLD us so. Big Ange Postecoglou told us that he always wins a trophy in his second season. And even though it was a statement of fact, we laughed at him, we sneered and we wondered why he’d made such a bold statement when he was the manager of Tottenham Hotspur, London’s long-running comedy club. But after a terrible match, between two terrible teams, settled by a terrible goal, Po...
ENGLAND fans heading to next summer’s World Cup could be fleeced for THOUSANDS per match under Fifa plans to use a "dynamic pricing" strategy.Average costs of around £305 per match had previously been reported.But now Fifa chiefs are looking at the same demand-based pricing arrangements that saw this summer’s Oasis reunion concerts plunged into controversy.And that could see ticke...
- 1 We will see – no Unai Emery assurances over future of tearful Emiliano Martinez
- 2 Mikel Arteta ready to give his life to deliver silverware for Arsenal
- 3 Man City withdraw and Liverpool could steal
- 4 Chelsea beat Manchester United in FA Cup final to seal domestic treble
- 5 Mikel Arteta apologises for failing to deliver Arsenal a Premier League title
- 6 Liverpool cleared to complete signing
- 7 Marc Guehi to land transfer to Real or Barca
- 8 Real Madrid agree deal for Dean Huijsen
- 9 Dele Alli’s girlfriend Cindy sets pulses racing in barely
- 10 3 EPL giants have advantage in Osimhen race