Lennon furious as Hibs fail to turn up

LONGRIDGE LORDS IT OVER LEITH MEN AS ACCIES SPARKLE

THERE was a tangible feeling of after the Lord Mayor’s show as Hibernian’s heroics against Rangers were followed by a meek surrender to Hamilton.

Boss Neil Lennon took full responsibility for the reverse, candidly accepting that he had not ‘stayed on the backs of the players’ in his usual relentless manner in the days following their breathless triumph at Ibrox and the explosive fallout from the fixture.

Having succumbed to a Rakish Bingham brace either side of a Louis Longridge effort, Lennon contends that will not happen again. Nor, he hopes, will such a dismal display from his side — particularly in a second half utterly dominated by their visitors from Lanarkshire.

Anthony Stokes hit a consolation in the dying embers, but to say that was of no consequence to Lennon would be something of an understatement.

‘There was no crispness, no final ball of quality and it’s something I need to look at,’ said Lennon. ‘I’ll take responsibility. I’ve sort of not been myself in terms of staying on the backs of the players over the week — and that won’t happen again.

‘I thought there was a flatness about us, there was no zip and the better team won. Hamilton were streetwise, they were smart. They defended far better than us.

‘We’ve had a great start to the season, a lot of nice things have been said about this team. But we were nowhere near the finished article — and we are still nowhere near the finished article and that has to be a lesson for the players.

‘There wasn’t one player I could say came out with any credit apart from my goalkeeper. The rest let the game pass them by and that is a worry.’

It took 20 minutes for the first warning shot at Hibs. A 70-yard pass by Giannis Skondras took out the hosts’ back-three, allowing Bingham through on goal. He attempted to loft a deft shot over Ofir Marciano, but only succeeded in clearing the crossbar.

Hibs should have claimed the lead when Steven Whittaker carved the Accies defence open to send Simon Murray clear, but Gary Woods rushed from his goal to make a superb block.

Ofir Marciano showed similar excellence on the cusp of the interval to tip a curling, dipping Ali Crawford effort wide of the post.

That proved to be a temporary reprieve for Lennon’s charges, with Hamilton claiming the lead seven minutes into the second half.

Referee Steven McLean adjudged Darren McGregor to have tripped Greg Docherty in the box. Bingham kept his cool to slot the subsequent penalty beyond Marciano.

The visitors had Hibs rocking, and substitute Louis Longridge rattled the bar from just inside the box following yet more powerful, direct running from Docherty.

When the second goal arrived, it was a self-inflicted wound. Paul Hanlon should have tidied a hopeful punt out with ease but, instead, played a square pass into the path of Longridge, who finished with aplomb.

Hamilton were positively purring by this point and added a third. A slick passing move culminated in a classy Longridge backheel to find Docherty, who teed up Bingham and — with the freedom of the penalty area — he picked his spot from close range.

The fact a portion of the Hibs support applauded the goal speaks volumes of its quality.

‘I didn’t notice the Hibs fans applauding at the time,’ smiled Bingham. ‘It is probably one of the best goals I’ve ever been involved with. It was breathtaking — I can’t wait to watch it back on TV!’

An otherwise anonymous Stokes did have the final, somewhat hollow, word by curling a shot beyond Woods from ten yards.

‘I’ve had some good days here, and today was no exception,’ smiled Accies boss Martin Canning. ‘It was probably one of our most complete performances since I’ve taken over.

‘The first half was good and I said to the boys at half-time that with a bit more belief we could win.

‘We were excellent in the second half. I’m really pleased with the work rate and togetherness from everybody.

‘Rakish works so hard, so it’s great he got his two goals. It’s a reward for him.’