Hibs youngster Chisholm tells moaning Rangers stars to blame themselves

Hibs youngster Ross Chisholm told moaning Rangers stars they can only blame themselves for blowing the title, not under fire assistant referee Martin Cryans. The Hibs player hit back at the bleating Ibrox players and their fans following the goal that never-was on Wednesday night.

Chisholm who cleared Nacho Novo’s effort off the line, feels that Water Smith’s men should be pointing the finger at themselves and their team mates, including the Spaniard who missed two sitters - and not focusing their anger on the official.

He said, “That is not going to lose Rangers the league. They had chances before that. Novo had two open goals and if he had taken them then they could have won the match - but they didn’t.”

The 21-year-old from Irvine said, “I have been getting a bit of stick as some of my friends are Rangers supporters. But that is my job on the back post to clear the ball. If it happens again against Celtic tomorrow I’ll do the same.”

Meanwhile Chisholm had a pop at gaffer Mixu Paatelainen after talks over a new contract have not materialised. The player is out of contract at the end of the campaign but he is raging that nobody has even spoken to him about extending his stay. Chisholm reckons he was promised a conversation with Paatelainen after the team had guaranteed a top-six position but he has been kept waiting. That has prompted him to fire an ultimatum to the club to make a decision before next weekend’s final games.

He said, “I am disappointed that it hasn’t been sorted. The manager said he wanted to see what happened with the top six. That happened and I feel I have waited long enough. I have told him I am happy to play here butthere are only 10 days left of the season and I go on holiday soon so Iwould like to have something sorted before that.”

Chisholm was one of Hibs’ star performers in their win over Hearts and draw with Rangers and he doesn’t think there is much more he can do to impress his Finnish gaffer. But Paatelainen hinted that he would sit down with him soon to put his mind at rest. The Finn said, “We are hoping to sort that sooner rather than later but we still have matches to play.”