Favourites tag ‘won’t faze us’ says Lennon as Hibs roar towards second spot

HIBERNIAN

V PARTICK THISTLE

Lennon believes Hibs can put themselves in a “really good position” for a post-split push if they can win their next three games, starting with today’s visit of Partick Thistle.

The Easter Road side sit fourth in the Premiership table, six points behind Rangers in second but with a game in hand – Tuesday night’s rearranged match with Hamilton – and will also face basement side Ross County before their final tranche of top-six fixtures is announced.

Hibs will go into this run of three games in eight days as favourites given the respective positions of the clubs involved and the fact they are on a run of six matches unbeaten.

Lennon, right, is aware of the dangers presented by those teams embroiled in, or fighting to avoid, a relegation tussle but believes the Edinburgh outfit can handle such threats.

He said: “Each club is fighting for their lives and that is a dangerous animal. If we take our foot off the gas then we will get punished. Every game is competitive and we will rightly go into them as favourites on recent form. We deserve that tag and it won’t faze us.

“We should treat them the same way as we would if we were playing against Celtic, Hearts or Rangers. They are just as important as the ones after the split. It can put us in a really good position.

“The mentality of the team is very good and we have handled the big games very well – the derbies, the games in Glasgow – and we have played some great football. Our foot is to the floor which is pleasing and a really good sign.”

Christie Elliott reckons Partick Thistle are going places off the pitch – but fears that could be threatened if the Jags squad do not get their act together on it. In 2015, the club announced they had wiped out their £1.5 million debt and Firhill chiefs are also now working on ambitious plans for a new £4m training ground, but Elliott admits that good work is being undermined by their relegation scrap.

He said: “The plans the club have for the future are massive, so it would be a real step back if we end up in the Championship. Some guys might end up leaving, so you never know just how much of an impact it will have. The club is definitely heading in the right direction when you see plans for the training ground and the work being done with the academy. But for that to really make an impact it is essential we stay in this division.”