Vital Hibs clash on back burner while Saints match looms

Aaron Muirhead was like all the Bairns players this week, singing from the same hymn sheet and taking it “one game at a time”. That’s music to the ears of the coaching staff who are happy to be the ones looking slightly longer term.

McDonaugh said: “People keep talking - ‘what about Hibs, what about the Hibs game?’ but have a look at Leicester this season – they’re massive on their one game at a time philosophy and the players say they’re not thinking about the title. It is vital to stay focussed. When you start thinking about other things you take your eye off the ball a bit.

“What we have to bear in mind is when you have games Saturday then Tuesday, and games as big as they are – against St Mirren and Hibs – as a coaching staff we have to consider Tuesday to plan for it.

“We’ll be looking at whatever scenario happens on Saturday, and it’s effect on Tuesday.

“But in terms of preparation with the players you have to have them focussed on one game and that is Saturday.

“We’ll be the ones to weigh it up and have ‘what if’ in mind. What we won’t do is panic – we’ll be ready.

“We know the players, know what they can do, we know their limitations too and it’s just a case of dragging that final four or five percent from them to finish as strongly as we can.”