Hibernians seek early goal to revive hopes

A 2-0 home defeat to FK Mogren last week has left Hibernians with a mountain to climb in the return leg of their Champions League first qualifying round in Montenegro tonight.

Hibs must score three goals, at least, to keep FK Mogren at bay and advance to the second round of Europe's premier competition to set up a meeting with Danish side FC Copenhagen.

In light of their lacklustre showing at the Centenary Stadium last week, it would take a very brave punter to bet on Hibs achieving 'mission impossible' but there is nothing to impede the Malta champions from turning in a fine performance and make amends for their poor display in the home leg.

Mark Miller, the Hibs coach, knows that his side's chances are very remote but he believes that an early goal would revive the Paolites' hopes.

"We will try to score an early goal to give ourselves a chance and to build on our second half performance in Malta which gave us a little hope," Miller told The Times from Montenegro.

"Nothing's lost yet, it is still possible."

In the first leg, defensive lapses by Hibs gifted FK Mogren their two goals but the Paolites were also undone by their lack of bite up front.

The absence of Terrence Scerri, the Premier League top scorer last season, didn't help Hibs' cause. Scerri is also unavailable for tonight's match at the Pod Goricom Stadium in Podgorica. An ankle problem was cited as the reason for his no-show against FK Mogren last week but it has emerged that the Malta forward is at loggerheads with the club.

Hibs left Malta for Montenegro on Sunday night but Scerri was not in the travelling party.

Bulgarian midfielder Rumen Galabov is also out of the equation for Hibs after failing to recover from the thigh injury that kept him out of the first-leg defeat.

Miller is also concerned about the fitness of winger Ben Camilleri who fell sick.

Despite the absences, Miller is not downhearted.

"We are depleted and we know it will require a brave effort from us but we will try to go for it," the former Malta U-21 coach said.

Referee: Huw Jones (Wales).

Kick-off: 8.30 p.m.