The Easter Road side saw a 15-game unbeaten run ended by Celtic in Sunday's Scottish Cup quarter-final clash at Parkhead.
But David Gray's men are still right where they want to be in the race for Europe.
Without a league loss in 13 matches, Hibs have climbed to third place with nine games remaining.
It's a far cry from the picture only back at the start of December when a defeat at Celtic Park left them propping up the table after a nightmare run. Keeper Smith - handed a new three-year deal after playing a key role in that turnaround - said: "We were accused of having a soft underbelly at the start of the season.
"Our character has probably been questioned an awful lot of times since. But we've come up with the answers and that's testament to the boys and how much we get on and get around each other.
"We've really got each other's backs and I hope that shows. You have to take the criticism personally. If you don't you're in the wrong profession.
"It's going to happen, that's par for the course in football.
...
But David Gray's men are still right where they want to be in the race for Europe.
Without a league loss in 13 matches, Hibs have climbed to third place with nine games remaining.
It's a far cry from the picture only back at the start of December when a defeat at Celtic Park left them propping up the table after a nightmare run. Keeper Smith - handed a new three-year deal after playing a key role in that turnaround - said: "We were accused of having a soft underbelly at the start of the season.
"Our character has probably been questioned an awful lot of times since. But we've come up with the answers and that's testament to the boys and how much we get on and get around each other.
"We've really got each other's backs and I hope that shows. You have to take the criticism personally. If you don't you're in the wrong profession.
"It's going to happen, that's par for the course in football.
...
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 11, 2025