Lenny returns to his rage routine
WHEN Neil Lennon was unveiled as Hibernian head coach last June, he declared to the assembled press corps that he had mellowed. He almost believed it.
Then Hibs’ meek 1-1 draw against Raith Rovers on Saturday brought about a ferocious rebuke of his players, comparable with anything he dished out to his trophy-hunting Hoops stars of yesteryear or his relegation-haunted Bolton players.
Lennon hopes the “rage” has the desired impact tonight when his thoroughly chastened Hibees take to the field at Easter Road tonight to face Hearts in their Scottish Cup fifth-round replay.
“What actually pleased me was that I’ve still got the rage! I thought I’d mellowed,” he said. “But I’ve still got it in there.
“I caught myself [getting angry] – and that’s no bad thing. It still means so much. There is a time and a place for moments like that. I did it at Celtic and I’m sure I’ll do it again at other clubs.
“We must maintain the standards that we feel are needed. I can’t sugarcoat performances and it would be foolish to pull wool over people’s eyes.
“Am I looking for a reaction? Any manager would after a disappointing performance. I think these guys have got good mental strength when they really need it. Hearts is a different animal.
“There will be an intensity, an atmosphere, and I’m pretty sure the players will feed off that.”
Hibs waited 114 years to lift the Scottish Cup and Lennon has no intention of being the man to hand it back – to Hearts or anyone else.
Indeed, he admitted to a few little white lies throughout this season when suggesting winning the Championship was his sole priority.
“We are very positive going into the game,” Lennon continued. “I don’t want to give [the Cup] up to anybody. I don’t want to get beat and we are not in that mode of thinking.
“Our priority is the league. Our priority is the Scottish Cup too. We have two priorities now. I know I have been saying all along that the league is the priority but I have been lying!”