Hibs told to learn lesson from past slip-ups
● The Easter Road club faltered in the league this time last year and Lennon does not want history to repeat itself
DUNDEE UNITED
V HIBERNIAN
that’s the way anyway.”
Confident his men can still make it over the line, the variation in the standard of displays in the cup and league frustrates the Hibernian manager who wants to prevent a repeat of last season’s league woe.
Last term the side enjoyed a historic cup win but, having pushed Rangers at one stage, faltered in the promotion push, eventually dropping away and then losing to Falkirk in the play-offs.
“We are seeing similarities with this time last year which is something I want to nip in the bud,” said the Easter Road manager.
“I think they went eight games [with just one win] but they still had the cup. We’re having a decent cup run again
it should be players have shown of late in the league.”
The fact that key performers have publicly prioritised promotion to the Premiership ahead of retaining the cup is welcome news to Lennon, with John Mcginn stressing that while the double would be nice, lifting the Scottish Cup again would serve as no consolation if they were to miss out on a return to the top flight for the third season in succession.
“Hopefully that’s the message the players are sharing and sending out,” said Lennon. “I want to see proof of that [against United].”
But, after three draws and a defeat on recent league duty, he knows it won’t be easy to turn things around against United. “They are a good footballing team,” added Lennon.
“They’ve got different ways of coming at you and they’re one of the teams that have beaten us this year so it’s a game that we are fully concentrating on. We know if they win the game, it will give them a big lift. If we win the game, then psychologically it will be huge for us.”