PAUL Heckingbottom last night praised the character of his Hibernian team after they booked a Betfred Cup semi-final spot with a nail-biting penalty shoot-out victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
The Easter Road club, who had been reduced to 10 men when Ryan Porteous was shown a straight red card by Willie Collum for a foul on Liam Millar in extra-time, fell behind when Oli Shaw had his spot kick saved.
However, Kilmarnock right back Stephen O’Donnell hooked his attempt wide and then Hibs keeper Chris Maxwell denied Niko Hamalainen to set up a meeting with defending champions Celtic at Hampden in November.
Heckingbottom had faced calls to be sacked following the Ladbrokes Premiership defeat to Hearts at home on Sunday and he admitted he had felt under pressure going into the match in Ayrshire.
However, the Englishman, whose team take on Celtic in the league in Leith on Saturday, feels Hibs answered their critics and is hoping the triumph is the start of an improved run of form.
“We showed a lot of character to go all the way to the end,” he said. “It is never easy when you go behind in a shoot-out, but we found a way to get through it. It means a lot because if it goes the other way after putting all that effort in then you’re are totally sick.
“It says a lot we managed to held our nerve. People are always going to question you and there is only one way to answer them. We proved how together we were in the shoot-out.
“Shoot-outs aren’t nice when you go behind. It’s obviously a sickener. You get more anxious. The next miss when it happens is usually the one that turns the tide. If it’s us, it’s over. If it’s them, it’s a momentum shifter. But Maxi makes a good save and wins it for us
“It’s a big game with a big prize at the end of it, a semi-final. All we were stressed about was getting through, winning, getting to the semi-final. It’s no good being good for 70 minutes and losing or being good for 90 minutes and losing.”
Heckingbottom admitted he had exchanged words with Porteous after the match. “The sending off could have cost us,” he said. “I have spoken to Ryan, but I don’t want to say too much about that. There’s no doubt it was a red card.
READ MORE: Kilmarnock boss Angelo Alessio claims Tom James took an illegal penalty in Hibs' shoot-out triumph
Hibs had squandered a one goal lead to lose 2-1 against Hearts at Easter Road at the weekend – increasing the pressure on Heckingbottom greatly.
Asked if the past few days had been difficult to deal with, he said: “You have to cope with it, it’s part of it, it’s what it is. It’s not the nice part of the job, but you know when you’re in the game that’s what comes with the territory.
“We have to use this going forward. We have got two huge games coming up now against two teams who were above us in the league last year. So we know what we’re fighting against.
“It’s easy for me to sit here and say we’re confident, I know we’ll do it. We have to do it. I’m just pleased tonight that the players have got their rewards, the fans have got their rewards and there’s been a battling performance because that’s the question that’s been put to the team. We understand that, it’s been justified.”
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