Lennon keeps on urging Hibs to new heights
HIBERNIAN manager Neil Lennon last night claimed his players are over-achieving after reclaiming third place in the table but, having set that high bar for themselves, he now expects those standards to be maintained for the remainder of the campaign.
The Edinburgh side ended their three-year exile from the top tier last season and the Northern Irishman expected his squad to take time to find their feet in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
However, they have punched above their weight and, in so doing, have increased Lennon’s expectations, especially with their next three games being against Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen in the space of six days.
‘We should have picked Thistle off a couple of times on the counter-attack in the second half but our final pass was missing,’ he said.
‘However, I’m really pleased with our overall style of play and the amount of possession we’re having, particularly away from home.
‘With the circumstances — with Celtic playing Motherwell and Rangers and Aberdeen playing tomorrow — it was really important for us to get the win going into next week.
‘I think we’re ahead of our target so far, I must say. I did think it would be Celtic leading the way then Aberdeen and Rangers next, with a fight then for the rest of the places.
‘We want to break into that second bracket so we have given ourselves a good chance.
‘So I think we are ahead of schedule. I’m more than pleased with the character in the team and the quality of football we’re playing.’
Thistle manager Alan Archibald believed that the result was unfair on his side.
‘The goal was disappointing to lose, and Tomas (Cerny) would probably have got there if he hadn’t slipped,’ he said.
‘I thought we played ever so well and it was a good game of football. It was end-to-end at times and I thought we had a couple of the best chances.’