Lenny is livid as Saints sink Hibs
HIBS head coach Neil Lennon slammed his side’s ‘ amateur’ defending and accused some of them of hiding after watching St Mirren come from behind to win yesterday’s Irn-Bru Cup clash.
The hosts had led through Alex Harris’ 37th-minute strike before Stevie Mallan levelled four minutes later with a stunning free-kick.
Substitute David Clarkson scored what proved to the winner in the 81st minute after captain David Gray conceded possession.
The Leith side have now failed to win any of their last four matches and Lennon was furious with manner of the defeat.
He said: “We’re losing to St Mirren at home and that shouldn’t be happening. I think some of them are hiding at the minute. It’s definitely a psychological thing, it’s not a physical thing.
“In the main, I’m not getting what I want from the players so that’s something I need to address.
“It (the winning goal) should never get to that position in the first place. It’s nonsense from us, it’s amateur stuff and it needs to stop.
“It’s senior players as well with no thought about what they’re doing. Maybe I need to look at myself and ask what I’m doing wrong but we train them as well as we can.”
Incoming St Mirren manager Jack Ross was 300 miles away working his notice period as Alloa racked up a 4-2 win over Welsh outfit Bala but the Buddies did not need him yesterday as they picked up their first victory in five outings.
With head of youth development Allan McManus in charge for the last time, St Mirren created the first chance after five minutes when a slack pass from Jordon Forster was cut out by Tom Walsh but the on-loan Rangers winger’s low shot was collected by goalkeeper Ofir Marciano.
An insipid first half burst to life when both teams traded goals within a four minute spell.
The first arrived from Harris in the 37th minute when the Hibs winger drove past Kyle Hutton, who had slipped at a critical moment, and turned a 12-yard shot past Jamie Langfield from a tight angle.
St Mirren levelled in controversial circumstances, although there was no doubting the brilliance exhibited by Mallan as he swept a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.
Hibs were aggrieved at the award of the foul in the first place after Dylan
McGeouch was penalised for obstruction, though Rocco Quinn appeared to lose control of the ball.
Hibs improved after the break but paid the price for failing to take their chances.
James Keatings shot over when he should have scored after connecting with a low Gray cross at the back post before McGeouch crashed a shot off the upright.
Jamie Langfield then pulled off a good save to deny Harris a second after the winger cushioned a volley towards goal from Fraser Fyvie’s ball over the top.
Clarkson climbed off the bench to net the decisive goal with eight minutes left. The ball broke to the forward inside the box and his deflected shot rolled into the corner.
Assistant referee Brian Templeton had raised his flag for offside but then lowered it after realising Lawrence Shankland made no contract when the ball crossed the line.
Caretaker manager McManus said: “The best thing was for the boys to get a result. It gives the team and the club the confidence to move forward. When the manager comes in on Monday, everyone will have a spring in their step.”