Hughes thought his side had the better first-half chances

Hibernian manager John Hughes defended his decision to play an attacking formation in Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Rangers at Ibrox.

"You don't win a boxing match if you don't throw any punches," Hughes told BBC Scotland. "So I am not going to be too critical of the team.

"I have come to places like this and shut up shop and taken no points.

"I think we had the better chances of the first half, had a go and it was a good advert for Scottish football."

Hughes' side would have moved to within two points of Celtic had they won in Glasgow, but Rangers instead stretched their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to 10 points.

"It's a massive disappointment," said Hughes. "I don't think my goalkeeper had too many saves to make in the first half and I thought it was quite even at half-time.

We had the star performer in Liam Miller Hibernian manager John Hughes

"We said to the boys at half time to keep it tight for the first 20 minutes, but we lost a goal within five.

"The first goal knocked us flat, we were hanging in there, but it was one-way traffic.

"We had a go and I'm proud of the players - we had nothing to lose. Sometimes you just have to take it on the chin."

Hughes took heart from some of his side's performances and thought the best player was in Hibs' midfield.

"We had the star performer in Liam Miller," said Hughes. "I thought he was outstanding."

The Hibs manager steered clear of any controversy about the decision to award Rangers a penalty, when Sol Bamba challenged Kenny Miller, from which Kris Boyd put the home side 2-0 ahead.

"I've not really seen it so I can't really comment," said Hughes. "It would be stupid of me to comment."

Hughes was also keeping tight-lipped over Rangers' chances of retaining the title.

"Let me take care of Hibs and look after my own team and let someone else comment on Celtic and Rangers," he added.

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