Hughes backs goalkeeper Ferguson

Hughes refused to blame his blundering goalkeeper

Falkirk head coach John Hughes absolved goalkeeper Allan Ferguson of any blame after crashing to a 5-1 defeat to Hibs in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.

He said: "There is no blame on any of my players. In fact, I'm proud of the way they went about their business.

"The reason I feel for Allan Ferguson is because I know how hard he works at his game. He is a fantastic goalkeeper.

"He has kept us in so many games in the past and, no doubt, in the future, he will keep us in games."

Ferguson spilled a Derek Riordan free-kick for the ninth-minute opener, before another blunder allowed Garry O'Connor to double the advantage in the second period.

Report: Falkirk 1-5 Hibernian

The visitors went on to win 5-1 but Hughes was didn't think the scoreline was a true reflection of the game, saying: "Everything Hibs hit went in today.

"I've never seen a season like it, everything just seems to be going against us, but, to turn it around, we just have to keep working hard."