No hiding place for players, vows Heckingbottom
Under-fire Hibs boss Paul Heckingbottom last night revealed that he will be making changes for the mustwin Edinburgh derby against Craig Levein’s equally wayward Hearts side at Easter Road a week today – and warned that only tough guys need apply.
He claimed that his players haven’t responded well to adversity but he intends to bring in players who have the mental toughness to cope with the demands of a match which could mean the end for either manager.
“We weren’t clinical. We had a lot of the ball, they had two shots on target and scored two goals,” he said.
“It’s about belief and not passing the buck. I questioned the players after the last game and wanted a response.
“I felt until the first goal the boys were working well and the mistakes killed us.
“After the first goal went in the heads went down and the body language changed.
“How you put mental strength in someone, that’s what it looks like now. We want more character.
“Every team needs leaders but a lot of the boys were on the good run last season. We were only conceding one shot on target each game then.
“We have to put that right. We have to win when we aren’t at our best.”
A section of the travelling support chanted for Heckingbottom to go, just as they did two weeks ago at Fir Park and the 42-year-old admits the only way they can ease the pressure is by getting results.
He added: “Wins turn it around - that’s it. We’ve won games where we weren’t playing well. We had to grind things out – St Johnstone away with 10 men. I don’t see us being that type of team at the moment, and that’s what we need.”
“We wa nt more cha ra c t e r, i t’s important to have Ryan Porteous and Jason Naismith back.
“Were we the best team before they scored? I thought we were, but when they score we have to get back into the game and grind out something.
“We’ve got the best game next and the team I pick will reflect that – stronger, more aggressive, that’s what we need to be.
“There’s no hiding place for players – we have to win when we aren’t at our best.”