Alan Stubbs says the criticism Hibernian received during their poor run of results earlier in the year has made them a better side.

The Easter Road outfit have gone from two wins in eleven games to unbeaten in five.

The Championship season draws to a close on Sunday with Hibs requiring an unlikely set of results to pip Falkirk to a second place finish.

Stubbs told STV that the amount of games they've been involved in may have had an effect on performances, saying: "The biggest thing for us was that on Tuesday night that was game 48 for us and that's more games than anybody in the league.

"I think you have to look at that, we've had a busy couple of months now and I think that March maybe took its toll on the players with the amount of games.

"We were on the end of a couple of decisions that didn't go our way, we were on the end of a couple of decisions ourselves as group that we didn't do right and before you know it that can lead to a couple of results."

The Edinburgh side have only lost twice since mid-March and Stubbs says the criticism received during March has spurred them on to improve their performance: "We've had to close ranks, take the flack that's come our way from certain quarters and before you know it you stick your chest out, as a group you can become stronger and that's what's happened.

"The players are recovering better now, I know for a fact they're coming out of games more refreshed now, that's no coincidence.

"Three or four weeks ago we were talking about only two wins in eleven, it's amazing how quickly it turns around and now we're unbeaten in five or six.

"That's football."