Derek Riordan says he con't understand why Shaun Maloney started Sylvester Jasper on the bench Hearts.
A 3-1 defeat at Tynecastle meant Hibs were consigned to the bottom six.
Jasper was amongst the substitutes before coming on for Elias Melkersen after an hour.
The Fulham loanee has impressed in flashes since making the move from Craven Cottahe in in January.
And Easter Road hero Riordan claims he should have started as he shared his conerns over his ex-club's recent form ahead of Saturday's semi-final derby clash at Hampden.
“Someone told me the other day that Hibs have only won one out of their last 13 matches in the league," he told the Daily Record.
“I don’t think it is being unfair to anyone to suggest that is simply not good enough for a Hibs team at any time.
“I was away for a few days last week and I watched the game from Tynecastle on my phone.
“When I saw the line-up, I noticed that Sylvester Jasper wasn’t playing and he’s probably been about the best player in the games I’d watched.
“I have been concerned for a little while that Hibs haven’t been good enough and it has turned out that is the case in terms of not making the top six.
“Dropping into the bottom half of the table is a big blow. It is worrying to look at the league and see the possibility is still there, with five games to go in the season, that they could finish up 10th.
“There are only two points between Hibs in seventh and the teams that are sat in ninth and 10th. That is the reality of the situation right now.
“There are periods in games where I have felt the team just hasn’t looked a threat and I can’t put a finger on why.
“Things have to improve.”
Hibs have the opportunity for redemption from their Edinburgh derby defeat on Saturday.
They face Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden and Riordan admits a Hibs win would be 'brilliant'.
He added: “Hibs are not fancied at Hampden and that’s fair enough given what’s been happening.
“But this is a huge opportunity to do something against the odds and that’s a scenario the players should grasp.
“Would winning paper over cracks? Maybe some but that does not matter at the moment. It would still
be brilliant.”
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