Payback time for the fans

While bitterly disappointed to see this season's dream end in the red-hot cauldron of Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk's Meteor Stadium, Sproule insisted Sunday's SPL clash with Inverness Caledonian Thistle was now of greater importance.

He said: "We all want to be back in the UEFA Cup again next year and the way to do that is by finishing as high up the SPL table as we did last season and you only do that by picking up the three points from each game.

"The best way to respond to last night is to take it on the chin and get on with things. You cannot simply feel sorry for yourself because the games are coming thick and fast and Sunday's is now a massive one for us.

"Of course we are disappointed, particularly for all those fans who travelled so far to support us, so the way we can now try to repay them is by winning on Sunday and taking the first step towards our goal of being in Europe again next season."

The Northern Ireland star admitted that on the night Dnipro's quality shone through - but, as even the opposition had the good grace to admit, the 5-1 final scoreline flattered the Ukrainian side with their final two goals coming as Hibs chased a goal of their own in a bid to salvage the first-round tie.

He said: "At 3-1 we had a couple of decisions which went against us. Had we made it 3-2 we'd have been right back in the game. But they are a very good side. They had that wee bit more quality and more experience with so many internationalists playing for a country which has already qualified for the World Cup finals next summer."

Having lost a goal only 38 seconds into the game, Sergiy Nazarenko's mishit shot deflecting off Guillaume Beuzelin to beat goalkeeper Zibi Malkowski, Mowbray's players hauled themselves back into the game with an equaliser from Derek Riordan.

Had the score remained 1-1 Hibs would have gone through on the away goals rule but again they conceded, this time just 80 seconds after levelling the score.

Sproule said: "It was so disappointing to lose another goal so quickly. We all know we could have done better but Dnipro are a good side and I think they will do well in the competition.

"Their finishing was second to none."

Amid the bitter disappointment, Sproule insisted Mowbray's young team would learn from the experience and bounce back all the stronger for it. He said: "I think each one of us has to take a look at ourselves, myself included, and think how we could have done better. Hopefully we can come back a better team because of it."

Even so, Sproule admitted he couldn't help but wonder "what if" those shots from himself and Scott Brown in the first leg had gone in rather than hitting the post.

He said: "It's only natural and if both shots had gone in it might have been a different story. But that's football, we have to get on with it , learn from the experience and now focus on Sunday."