Humphrey’s sights set on second spot

Chris Humphrey has backed Hibs to prove Neil Lennon right to declare they are the second-best team in the country.

Lennon made his bold claim after watching his team go down 3-2 to Aberdeen following a stirring comeback in Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final.

The Dons sit in the runners-up spot in the Premiership and next month will go head to head with Celtic in a cup final for the second time this term.

But, despite losing out to the Pittodrie men in a five-goal thriller at Hampden, Humphrey insists the Easter Road outfit are well placed to challenge at the top end of Scottish football next season.

The former Motherwell winger said: “Keep this bunch together – and the gaffer obviously – and I can see them doing very well. The gaffer’s got experience of winning that league, and I’ve always said I think this is a Premiership squad.

“Second best? I can’t see why not. We proved on Saturday that we can mix with the best of them.

“Aberdeen are second in the Premiership, but apart from the first 20odd minutes, I thought we did very well against them. The lads should take a lot of confidence that.”