LENNON TELLS SAINTS FANS: I PICK THE HIBS TEAM

HIBS boss Neil Lennon last night told St Mirren fans to worry about their own relegation-haunted side instead of criticising his team selection. Lennon’s decision to make ten changes against the Buddies’ drop rivals Raith Rovers didn’t go down well with supporters of the Paisley club on social media and message boards. Declaring himself vindicated after a late winner from James Keatings, the title-winning boss then reminded Saints fans Hibs still have a role to play in the battle against the drop. Lennon said: ‘I’m not interested in what St Mirren fans think. They should worry about their own team because they come to Easter Road in ten days’ time. ‘I was justified in my team selection. Some of my players were itching to play, and some young lads need experience. ‘It was important to give them a game. They’ve all done themselves no harm. I’m really pleased we have won and we deserved it against a Raith side fighting for their lives.’ Lennon was serving the first of a two-match ban handed out on Tuesday for the Battle of Easter Road fracas last month that saw Morton boss Jim Duffy also banned — and Hibs and Morton fined for their behaviour. ‘I got a fair hearing,’ Lennon said. ‘The result is what it is. It’s over, we draw a line through it.’ Rovers boss John Hughes lamented the fact his Fife strugglers weren’t ‘streetwise’ enough. ‘It was cruel. I felt we did enough to win,’ he said. ‘We showed great courage and character to come back twice. ‘But we can’t defend like that. At the winner, it was petulance from Jordan Thompson. He felt he was pushed but you need to be streetwise in these situations and go down and give the referee a decision to make. ‘You can’t handle the ball on the edge of the box in the 90th minute. ‘What compounds it is James Keatings whipped the winner in at the goalie’s side. I don’t mind if he reverses it into the other side.’