Lennon factor will propel Hibs’ hopes of derby glory
Brown believes manager’s European and Old Firm experience will help him thrive
MARK Brown was involved in what is, few supporters of the Easter Road club would disagree, the most painful defeat in Hibernian’s entire history.
The goalkeeper was helpless to prevent Hearts from running out emphatic 5-1 winners in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden back in 2012.
It is a result which fans of the Gorgie club still revel in, and followers of their age-old Leith adversaries still wince at the memory of, to this day.
Having their defence of the William Hill-sponsored competition ended by their bitter city rivals at Tynecastle this weekend would be every bit as agonising.
Yet Brown, now playing for Dumbarton in the Ladbrokes Championship, is confident there is little chance of Hibs suffering a repeat of that infamous reverse.
Not with Neil Lennon, his former Celtic team mate, now in charge of the reigning champions.
“I worked with Neil at Celtic, first when he was a player and then when he became a coach, and know the passion he’s got,” he said.
“Any game he was was involved in, whether it was a competitive match or just in training, he wanted to win it desperately. He will be fired up for a derby match like this one.
“Neil did fantastically well when he was in charge of Celtic. They won the Premiership, the Scottish Cup and went on great runs in Europe.
“I know things didn’t work out for him at Bolton, but from what I understand he took the wrong job. I am pleased he is enjoying success at Hibs again now.
“He is showing what a great manager he is again. He has gained a lot of knowledge from working under the likes of Martin O’Neill and Gordon Strachan.
“The guy has played and managed in Old Firm games and been in the dugout in Champions League games. He will not be fazed by the Edinburgh derby, he will thrive in the atmosphere.
“The Edinburgh derby is possibly overshadowed by the Old Firm game, but it is still a great fixture. Tynecastle is a great stadium to play in at the best of times, but in a derby match it is intense.
“Neil hasn’t, like many guys who have managed at the level he has, turned his nose up at the thought of working at a club which is in the Championship. He realises how big Hibs are and the potential they have.
“Knowing Neil, he doesn’t take losing well. I’m sure that will to win that he has will rub off on the players around him.”
Brown continued: “I know Hibs are in the Championship and Hearts are above them in the Premiership, but they have a Premiership squad. The fact they got Kris Commons on loan shows that.
“Hearts have picked up under Ian Cathro, as all teams do under new managers once they have had time to adapt to his ideas and methods and enjoyed that great 4-1 win over Rangers.
“It is unusual that both teams are going into this match in such good form. It should be a great occasion and a great match.”
Being involved in the Scottish Cup final five years ago should have been one of the highlights of Brown’s long professional career.
However, the heavy 5-1 defeat which Pat Fenlon’s team suffered against Paolo Sergio’s side that afternoon was one of the worst, if not the worst, he has been involved in. “I just think that on the day we didn’t turn up,” he said. “Hearts had pretty much played the same way all season. Danny Grainger played a lot of long diagonal balls in to our left back and we didn’t deal with it.
“They had done the same thing all season, but we didn’t do anything to stop it. We didn’t manage to stop the problems they were causing. From a personal perspective, there was nothing I could do to stop the goals.
We conceded a penalty early in the second half and before we knew it we were 4-1 behind.
“To lose a cup final was bad enough, to lose it to your club’s biggest rivals by that scoreline was a really hard one to take.
“I still haven’t watched anything to do with it. I’ve never watched a replay of the game, I’ve never even watched highlights of the goals.”
Neil realises how big Hibs are and the potential they have. He doesn’t take losing well. I’m sure that will to win that he has will rub off on the players