Lennon rues scare in Europa progress
Boss Neil Lennon admitted that Hibernian have to improve at the back if they are to continue progressing in the Europa League.
Hibs set up a second-round tie with Asteras Tripolis after seeing off NSI Runavik 12-5 on aggregate, but they suffered a scare in the Faroe Islands.
They came out winners in a madcap encounter that finished 6-4 but they conceded twice in the opening five minutes and were often exposed at the back by the part-timers, with Klaemint Olsen netting a hat-trick.
“We scored six goals but conceded four. We’re still very much in pre-season and some of the players needed a game,” Lennon SAId. “There is a bit of rust there, obviously.
“The back three was experimental. I enjoyed it to a certain extent, there were some good things, but some of the defending was a calamity.” Two goals from Stevie Mallan and one each from John McGinn, David Gray, Efe Ambrose and Lewis Stevenson made sure of the win, following up a 6-1 home victory. Dundalk scored twice in quick succession against Estonians Levadia to progress.The League of Ireland side, who made it to the group stage in 2016, had won the first leg 1-0 and goals from Patrick Hoban and Michael Duffy sealed a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Derry City claimed a 2-1 victory over Dinamo Minsk in Belarus, yet exited 3-2 on aggregate, while Coleraine lost 2-0 at home to Spartak Subotica following a draw in Serbia.
Glenavon were unable to build on their first-leg victory over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Molde as the Norwegians recorded a 5-1 victory to advance.