Kerr: We Can End Hoodoo

Feb 3 2008 By Gordon Waddell

BRIAN KERR insists he can help end Hibs' Scottish Cup jinx - but just hopes he doesn't have to get crocked against Rangers today to do it!

Hibs have the longest-running hoodoo in Scottish football having last won the Cup in 1902.

But Kerr reckons his own calamitous Cup jinx could cancel out his club's lousy luck and guarantee Hibees a shot at Hampden glory.

However if the Easter Road side are to finally get their hands on their Holy Grail the midfielder admits he may well end up having to be his side's sacrificial lamb.

He explained: "When Livingston got to the CIS Cup Final and won it in 2004 I was on loan there but I had a broken ankle and missed out.

"Then when Motherwell got to the same final when I was at Fir Park I missed that with a knee injury as well. So if I get hurt against Rangers then we'd definitely have a great chance of finally going the distance!"

Hibs have already beaten Rangers this season - their 1-0 win at Ibrox in October putting them top of the SPL.

But they've battered their head off every rung of the ladder on the way down from there, winning only one of the next 13 league games.

And among those results was Kerr's biggest disappointment, a 2-1 defeat at home to Gers where Hibs weren't even in the hunt.

He sighed: "We just didn't play as we can against the Old Firm.

"Usually at Easter Road they get a right good game and if they get three points they're delighted. More often than not they don't.

"But 2-1 flattered us that day. Rangers were well on top. The scoreline suggests it was tight but it wasn't.

"We let the fans down and it's time to repay them."

To do that Kerr knows the Hibs midfield will have to be on top of their game.

Not just to get the better of in-form Ibrox skipper Barry Ferguson but also to break past the guy he reckons is their unsung hero - Brahim Hemdani. He said: "Hemdani does exceptionally well for them.

"It's a similar role to what Neil Lennon did for Celtic.

"These guys get a lot of stick and fans feel they don't produce so much. But playing against them is tough.

"You go by two men in midfield and Hemdani always seems to be sweeping up everything in behind.

"That gives a licence to other players to get forward and do the creative stuff.

"It's Hemdani who does the donkey work and the fans often don't appreciate players like that."

Kerr may have his work cut out in midfield today if Mixu Paatelainen goes with his preferred formation.

The Finn prefers an aggressive 4-3-3 and has hinted he could well go for it against Rangers - until they go a goal up!

Mixu said: "Whether we go 4-3-3 remains to be seen.

"One thing is certain, we will be positive. Hopefully we'll go 1-0 up and close the shop, do the Catenaccio and pray there's no injury time!"