Hibs display a disgrace, says Lennon
HIBERNIAN moved on to the 50-point mark at the top of the Championship but manager Neil Lennon was left fuming having had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Raith Rovers.
The result was no surprise, however, as the arrival of John Hughes in Kirkcaldy to be the new manager was always going to galvanise the players.
Lennon, though, was unimpressed with his side.
“We were a disgrace,” he said. “It was an insipid display and I didn’t even feel like celebrating when we scored.
“We were disrespectful to our opponents and ended up giving a goal start to a team who haven’t won in 14 games.
“We were far too complacent and we didn’t show enough organisation or leadership. I can’t defend that performance.”
If anything, Raith had the better of the first 45 minutes. Ryan Stevenson tested Ofir Marciano but the Hibs goalkeeper was equal to the task. However, Stevenson put the home side in front with his first goal for the club seven minutes into the second half, firing in a superb strike from just outside the area.
It sparked a reaction from Hibs and Jason Cummings equalised when he curled a free-kick over the wall and into the net eight minutes later. Liam Fontaine should have put Hibs in front when he had a free header but he directed it straight at Raith goalkeeper Conor Brennan.
Dumbarton missed a chance to move above Dunfermline and into sixth place when they leaked two injury-time goals in a 2-2 home draw with 10-man Ayr United.
Michael Rose scored what looked to be a consolation for the visitors but Ayr were then awarded a penalty and fellow substitute Craig Moore made no mistake.
Early on, it was all Dumbarton. Christian Nade worked an opening for himself but his shot was tame and Greg Fleming saved comfortably. Sam Stanton went close with a shot from just outside the penalty area which flashed wide. Robert Thomson looked to have put Dumbarton in front with a terrific header but the ball smashed against the post.
Ayr were left short-handed soon afterwards when Ross Docherty was sent off after a wild challenge on Andy Stirling. Dumbarton tried to take advantage and Stanton was not far away after wriggling away from the Ayr defence.
It was Stanton who finally broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute with a brilliant solo effort, finding the top corner of the net with a left-foot shot. The on-loan Hibs midfielder then added a second when he steered the ball home following a 75th-minute free-kick, but Ayr grabbed their late double to salvage a point.