Holders more than hold their own over top-flight rivals . . .
Rovers rant sees fired-up Hibs conquer replay in some style
players I singled out for criticism on Saturday, Jason Cummings and John McGinn, were unbelievable. “Not only does it speak volumes for their characters and their personalities it also speaks volumes for the talent that they have.
“That’s what we want. We want to make all-round footballers with good temperament as well. They are big game players. I have got a very good dressing room there.”
Lennon continued: “Cummings’ all-round game was the total opposite of what it was on Saturday. I said to him before the game that we had a £1.8m bid for him in the summer.
“That wouldn’t pay for his right leg. He is just getting better and better. But I want him to try and stay at that level consistently because that’s what his level is when he really puts his mind to it. He’s a big game player.
“I don’t know how many goals he’s got in derbies, I don’t know how many goals he’s got when we really needed him over the years, but that is a talent, a real knack.”
Lennon’s opposite number Ian Cathro admitted the defeat showed that his Hearts side wasn’t at the stage that he had thought they were and had to work hard to get their fans back onside.
“We lost the game because we didn’t have the level of fight, we didn’t win the second balls, we weren’t fast enough,” he said.
“We have to put our hands up and admit that we, all of us collectively, have let the club down and let the fans down and we have a hell of a lot of making up to do now.
“It is a concern that we didn’t have any fight in a cup game at Easter Road. They have it and we have to find it. But I think that we and I have made a mistake in overestimating the stage that we’re at.”