PLAY-OFF ROUND IS LENNY’S NEXT PORT OF CALL
Ryan says Hibs gaffer’s winning mentality can rub off in Norway
RYAN PORTEOUS insists the Neil Lennon factor can propel Hibs towards uncharted Europa League territory in Norway tomorrow night.
The Easter Road teenager believes last week’s third-round first- leg qualifier against Molde was a stalemate that simplified their scenario as they aim to reach the play-off stage with a mindset that failure is not an option.
Porteous has witnessed several European disappointments for the Leith men but he’s convinced they can score against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side under the guidance of their manager who is a master in self-belief.
He said: “I’ve been to a few games in Europe with Hibs in the past where it hasn’t gone well but we’re in a better place now and doing better than we were back then.
“I was at the Malmo game, that was the one I remember most. I was in the stands at Brondby and we were probably unlucky to get beat.
“We’ve come on leaps and bounds since then. Everyone says the gaffer has brought in a winning mentality and it is a massive factor.
“You go into every game expecting to win, you trust the team to go out and win.
“We know if we avoid defeat we can go through but that’s not the plan. We want to be positive and go and win the game and we have enough quality to do that.”
It remains to be seen if Molde wonderkid Erling Braut Haland completes an expected £9million move to RB Salzburg in time to be loaned back to the club to line up at the Aker Stadium. But Porteous is adamant Hibs have potent attacking weapons of their own who can get the job done.
He said: “We fancy our chances of scoring in the away leg. Especially when we have guys like Martin Boyle, who is in great form.
“He was brilliant against St Johnstone on Sunday again and he’ll get in behind and cut balls back.
“He always does that and we have guys like Flo Kamberi and Jamie Maclaren who always seem to find the net.
“We will be relying on them to pop up with a goal and we will be trying to keep it tight at the back too.”
Porteous made his first European start in the first-leg goalless draw that had Boyle tormenting the Norwegians with his trickery and pace.
And the Scotland Under-21 kid insists it was a display that will have him marked down by Solskjaer’s side as the man they need to stop.
He said: “Martin definitely made an impression during the first leg. He’s one of those players who will always give you problems with his pace and quality on the ball. Molde will definitely be looking at him as one of our main threats.
“He was brilliant in the home leg, creating so many chances and hopefully he will be on top form again in Norway.
“Brandon Barker, who was on loan with us from Manchester City last season, was really close to him when it comes to pace but Martin is so quick on the ball.
“Supposedly Thomas Agyepong, who’s arriving on loan from City, is meant to be faster but I’m not sure.”
If Molde top scorer Haland, who missed the first leg to discuss a move with Salzburg, is back in their ranks then Porteous will have first-hand knowledge of the prodigious talent after being part of the Scotland Under- 19 side defeated 5-4 by Norway.
That game included a hat- trick from the striker, capped by an injury- time winner from the penalty spot back in March. But the Hibs defender is convinced whoever he’s confronted with will all present a colossal challenge.
He said: “Haland’s obviously a good player but it was a crazy game when we played Norway.
“He scored two penalties in his hat-trick but he’s a big, strong, physical guy who is quick and powerful. He’s decent in the air and has all the attributes a striker needs.
“However, the frontmen who played in the first leg were a handful and the ones who came on were just as good.
“Molde have a range of talented players but it’s a task we look forward to.”
Molde warmed up for the second leg with an impressive 5-1 weekend league win over Brann and it was a scoreline Porteous admits didn’t go unnoticed at Easter Road.
But the defender prefers to focus on his own side’s unbeaten start to the season.
He said: “I saw that Molde beat the team at the top of the league 5-1. We always knew they were a good team but we have not been beaten in our last seven games.
“We’re a good team too. We had great away form last season and there’s no reason why we can’t take that over to Norway. We dominated the home leg.
“It may be a different game with Haland playing but we will just focus on us.”
We’ve come on leaps and bounds and go into every game expecting to win RYAN PORTEOUS