Wright: Panic? We kept calm and carried on
Tommy Wright last night blasted his critics after St Johnstone humbled Hibs.
Wright’s side struck in the last minute at Easter Road to claim their fourth Premiership win in a row and consign their hosts to a first home defeat in 11 months.
Since losing 6-0 to Celtic last month, Saints have collected 12 points from 12 and recorded four clean sheets.
For Wright, that record is just reward for his side’s refusal to panic – even when the pundits were slating them. “Maybe some nice things will be written and said about us now as I think we proved how good a side we are today,” he said.
“We had four games, two to Celtic where we lost one narrowly and another where we went gung-ho and got what we deserved.
“Rangers beat us 5-1 in probably their best performance of the season and we lost 2-1 at Hearts.
“I was never panicking, I know plenty of other people were – some so-called experts wanted to put the boot in.
“I’d like to know where their foot is now. “I judge away performances by how quiet you keep the crowd and we did that today. “Anyonewhowasatthe game would see we have good players and we can play.
“It was pretty much the perfect away performance. We were dogged, but at the other end we were a real threat.
“I rate Lenny as one of the best managers in the country and his team are one of the most exciting teams in the league. “So to come here and win is very pleasing.”
Saints missed a secondhalf penalty – the third they have failed to score in just two games.
However, with the three points firmly in his hip pocket, Wright wasn’t unduly concerned.
“I am getting used to it so I’m probably a bit numbed to them!” he joked.
“Liam Craig was on them but Danny Swanson came on and made a real impact so they decided he should take it.
“I haven’t seen it back so I don’t know whether it’s a good save or a bad penalty yet.
“Thankfully it didn’t matter in the end. We didn’t let it affect us and that pleased me.”
Hibs gaffer Neil Lennon did not attend the postmatch press conference and instead sent his assistant, Garry Parker, to speak to the media.
Much like his boss after a defeat, Parker wasn’t in the mood to hold back. “Everything went wrong,” said the Hibs number two.
“I’ve never seen a team pass to the opposition so much in my life.
“I think that is the poorest performance at home since we have been at Hibs.”