HIBS manager Alex McLeish was last night basking in his side's remarkable 6-2 derby win but at the same time playing down their chances of staying with the Old Firm in the championship race.
Despite the fact the Easter Road side sit second in the table behind Celtic and are six points ahead of third-placed Kilmarnock and seven ahead of Rangers, McLeish still believes the Old Firm's strength in depth will prove too great.
''Celtic may be top and Rangers in fourth just now but the Old Firm in the marathon league race will probably prove to be too strong for everybody else,'' said McLeish.
''If we can take care of our home games we will have a good chance of finishing in the top three.''
Despite his canny approach to his side's league challenge, their form will be making people sit up and take notice, a fact acknowledged by McLeish.
''We can't have any complaints about the way we have started the season. I realised in the second half some of my players were a bit tired and maybe that's why we lost the late goal which made it 6-2 but I wanted them all to stay on the park and milk the applause because that is what they deserved.
It was a phenomenal performance after what I thought was a dodgy first 15 minutes by us.''
McLeish confirmed he had opened negotiations to extend his contract beyond 2002 and he could not have chosen a better day to state his intentions.
''I know it is a special day for us to beat our big rivals and I'm sure Jim Jefferies would be saying the same if they had won. However, I won't be making any stupid remarks about the results because we will have Hearts to play again but I'm sure the fans will have the mickey-taking going but we'll be keeping our feet on the ground.''
Keeping his feet on the ground wasn't something hat-trick hero Mixu Paatelainen can be accused of as after every one of his three goals he did a cartwheel in celebration.
''I was a bit tired by the third cartwheel,'' he joked.
Hearts coach Jim Jefferies admitted the 6-2 scoreline didn't flatter his side and it had been the worst moment of his career.
''If it hadn't been for Antti Niemi we could have lost by more. We went in front then sat back too deep . . . We went into a shell and didn't show the determination and passion Hibs showed.''
Match report Page 2
How they stand
PWDLFAPt
Celtic12111028934
Hibernian1292126729
Kilmarnock12723161223
Rangers11713221522
Dundee12444151216
Hearts12444191716
St Johnstone12354111814
Aberdeen11263111312
Motherwell12327111611
Dunfermline1224681710
St Mirren12219718 7
Dundee Utd120210727 2
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