Lennon keen to focus on the positives

HIBERNIAN head coach Neil Lennon insists he has plenty to be positive about heading into Thursday’s second leg in Brondby.

Lennon’s managerial debut for the Leith side ended in defeat in midweek after goalkeeper Otso Virtanen’s costly error gifted Kamil Wilczek the only goal in the Europa League second qualifying round clash at Easter Road.

But the former Celtic boss, who was sent to the stand for protesting after Jason Cummings’s goal was wrongly ruled off-side, saw enough to give him hope they can set up a tie against Hertha Berlin in the next round.

“There was rustiness there against Brondby and we’re lacking sharpness, but some of our approach play was brilliant and we scored a brilliant goal that should have been given,” Lennon said. “The reaction was good but we probably didn’t work the goalkeeper enough in the second half.

“We matched them physically for the game, which surprised me, because I thought we were going to run out of steam. The will and desire was fantastic.

“I did think we’d wilt and the game would get stretched. But we didn’t, we were the ones trying to put our foot on the pedal and make something happen. That was very pleasing. We just need a bit of quality with the final ball but some of our approach play was excellent.

“I thought Darren McGregor and Paul Hanlon, David Gray, John McGinn were outstanding. Grant Holt, at 35, to come though the game so early was pleasing and he will get sharper. We just lacked a wee bit of sharpness in the final third but overall was pleased.”