'I can't accept that': Shaun Maloney reacts to Hibs crashing out of top six after defeat by Hearts

Hibs manager Shaun Maloney watched his side throw away an early lead against derby rivals Hearts to crash into the bottom six, then issued a stark warning to his under-performing players, who face a capital rematch next weekend in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

The Gorgie outfit prevailed 3-1 at Tynecastle, with other results condemning Hibs to the bottom half of the cinch Premiership after the split.

“The performance in the second half I can’t accept and I won’t,” said Maloney.

“We can’t accept that, we can’t think that is going to be good enough to make the top four, to challenge for Europe.

“I understand we have some young players but they have to learn very quickly that it matters – to them, to the club and to their careers.”

Seventh when Maloney took over from Jack Ross in December, the Leith club will be unable to improve on that now, losing goals either side of half-time and then a third in the 58th minute to lose the first in a derby double-header 3-1.

“I can understand at this time of the season results are magnified and when I came in and we were seventh, the traits that I saw we have at times eradicated, but in the big moments, under the biggest pressure those traits come out. That is why we are seventh again,” Maloney said, blaming the players’ ability and mentality.

“In the second half we were below the level required for both.

“I know we have some young players who have to learn but they have to learn very quickly.

“What was most disappointing was there were two big moments just before half time and straight after which had too big an impact on how we played.

“Hearts were very good but we can’t allow a set play goal in the second half after a couple of minutes to completely alter how we play and the momentum