SHAUN Maloney today backed Kevin Nisbet to bounce back from his shocking miss against Celtic when Hibernian play Cove Rangers in the Scottish Cup on Thursday night.

Scotland striker Nisbet had a chance to put his side in front in the third minute of the cinch Premiership match against Celtic at Parkhead last night.

The 24-year-old just had to stroke the ball into an empty net from a few yards out to put the visitors in front – but he hit the right post.

Ange Postecoglou’s team went in front just a minute later and ended up winning the first game after the winter break 2-0.

Maloney, the former Celtic winger who took over in Leith last month, felt the game could have turned out differently if his forward had netted.

But he is confident that Nisbet will be unaffected by his howler and can fire Hibs into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup at Easter Road on Thursday evening.

“That was a big moment,” he said. “Sometimes in these games those are the fine margins which have an impact.

“But I can’t say too much about Kevin because he’s been excellent since I’ve been here. He was probably the difference for us against Dundee United.“In those moments sometimes strikers take them and sometimes they don’t.

“I’m pretty sure in the next game against Cove he’ll be in exactly the same position and he has the quality to take it.”

Maloney was pleased with how Hibs performed against Celtic defensively and in midfield – but he thinks his team must do better up front in future.

Maloney said: “I can take a lot of positives from the game. For one thing, the mentality was good, to go 2-0 down and still try and play like we did.

“I actually thought some of our play in the first two thirds was pretty good. Moving forward we have to try and use that to create more chances.

“It was just that final bit where we had to be more aggressive to take the one v ones. That was maybe the difference tonight.

“It wasn’t about bravery because it’s hard to play under that pressure. We’re at Celtic Park against a team that’s been on really good form before the break.

“I just think that when we get to the final third we’re more aggressive. But I can’t ask the boys to be more brave. There were lots of really good things from us up until the final part. No team has done that to Celtic domestically. 

“We just need to create more chances are score goals. But it’s only the third game. I can’t be unhappy with the players. Considering we were down 2-0 early in the game I can’t be anything but really proud of them.”