Derek Riordan has rarely had to contend with so much competition in the goal-scoring stakes at Easter Road - but while the striker might still bemoan his own form when he fails to score in a game, there is now a maturity in the player that shines through. Riordan is these days more concerned that Hibernian continue to progress - and if that means his own target of finishing the season as the club's leading scorer does not come to pass then it will be fine with Derek, just so long as the goals have been scored and Hibernian have done well.

The arrival of Alan Gow has provided even more options for John Hughes, and while some might see that also as more competition for Derek Riordan then they should not be over-concerned - certainly Derek is not: "I'm playing a more defensive role these days but I'm still getting up there and scoring so I must be doing something right! The goals are being spread around a bit now - Alan Gow did really well to come on and get himself off the mark before the end, I was impressed with him - he is very good with the ball at his feet which we all saw with that goal."

Riordan did get back amongst the scorers at the weekend with a goal that was the pick of the bunch, finally beating former team-mate Andy McNeil with a 25-yard effort that the Montrose goalkeeper could do nothing about. McNeil had however impressed his former team-mates by that time, with skipper Chris Hogg commenting that it was one of the best goalkeeper performances he had ever seen. Riordan was in no mood to disagree: "I had a few shots on Saturday and Andy did really well - not just with shots either, he seemed to collect every ball in the air, but his shot-stopping was tremendous though.

"It is quite harsh for a goalkeeper to be playing for the first team at Hibernian then just a wee while later to be playing in the third division, football is really harsh these days - he is a better goalkeeper than that. Andy did well with Hibernian to play as many games as he did while he was still so young, but I'm sure if he keeps playing as well as he did on Saturday then he'll get a move back up the leagues again.

"He had a great save from Nishy from three or four yards out and another from me when he tipped it over the bar. But I was happy enough to get the goal though, I would have been pretty mad if I had not managed to score! Nishy could have had a hat-trick but he's never bothered about scoring so long as we win - that said he'll be delighted with his two against Montrose."   Derek will be looking closely at the Active Nation Scottish Cup quarter-final draw tomorrow, hoping for another home tie but at this stage not really concerned at what the draw throws in his path.

And looking back at the competition for places in the side, Derek is just delighted at what is happening around the squad this season: "We've got good competition for places in every position just now and that is no bad thing - Paul Hanlon has shown in a few games how good he can be in central defence and of course he can still slot in at left back, it's great to have that sort of competition going on throughout the side."

Next up will be Aberdeen at Easter Road tomorrow evening, Hibernian going into that game with confidence high: "That's four wins in a row since we lost to Dundee United, so we are in good shape - we will concentrate on each game as it comes along so next we have Aberdeen. Again it is about playing well and winning, keeping the pressure on the teams around us in the league and ensuring that we keep looking upwards."