Hughes's surrendered a 2-1 lead against Celtic to lose 3-2

Hibernian manager John Hughes insists his players need to defend harder to avoid defeats like the one by Celtic in the Scottish Premier League.

"Having been 2-1 up with 10 minutes to go, not to take something from the match is disappointing," Hughes told BBC Scotland after the 3-2 loss.

"But, once again, we seem to be conceding goals. We have to score two or three goals to win a football match.

"We'll always score a goal, but we need to keep that back door shut."

Derek Riordan's blistering long-range shot cancelled out a Robbie Keane fourth-minute opener at Celtic Park then Anthony Stokes converted a second-half penalty to give Hibs a 2-1 lead.

The boys have been great, but there's a real frustration and exasperation that we've come so far over the last few week and it's not been great. Hibernian manager John Hughes

However, Marc-Antoine Fortune and Morten Rasmussen completed Celtic's comeback in the final 10 minutes of the match and sent the visitors home without a point.

Hughes was unhappy not to take something from the match but urged his players to work harder in pursuit of a Europa League qualification slot.

"We can't defend crosses - we let two come in far too easy, there's no pride and desire to put their bodies on the line," said Hughes.

"Throughout the team, everybody has to play their part - and it starts from the front.

"We had to ride our luck a little bit throughout the game, but my disappointment is that we never took anything from the match.

"There's plenty of positives in there, but we need to pass the ball with a little bit of urgency.

"Every time we gave the ball away, Celtic got at us and the boys have to learn from that.

"The boys have been great, but there's a real frustration and exasperation that we've come so far over the last few week and it's not been great.

"We've not shown the form we had in the earlier part of the season.

"But we want to be playing Celtic and Rangers and playing Edinburgh derbies - and that's a credit to the boys.

"We've put so much hard work in, so let's make sure if that European slot is up for grabs that we go and get it."

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