Johnson vows to mount Euro challenge
Hibs manager Lee Johnson was a frustrated spectator on the touchline yesterday as his side slumped to a sixth defeat in seven games.
But he but he insisted that their disappointed supporters will see a different, more effective unit when they return to action against Rangers at Ibrox on December 15.
Johnson is convinced that once his best attacking players get out of the treatment room and back on the pitch, the club will be ready to mount a challenge for a European place next year.
“We’ve wasted far too many opportunities against sides we believe we should be better than, and it’s clear that there’s a quality issue in the final third,” he said.
“How many times did we get into the Kilmarnock box, waiting for a green sock to turn up in the middle of the goal to smack the ball home?
“We got into good positions in good time but lacked the execution and, again, our final action has been poor.
“We’ve got a break, and an awful lot of quality not in the team – Kevin Nisbet, Jake Doyle-hayes, Martin Boyle, Aiden Mcgeady, Kyle Magennis – those types.
“That’s a lot of players who can unlock a door and that’s been the most frustrating thing.
“Our squad has nice balance, I think we can mix and match in terms of seniors and youngsters – speed, quality, vision.
“But for whatever reason we haven’t been able to use that as much as we would like. I really believe we’ll get a lot more in the second half of the season.”
Johnson was upset at the penalty kick Hibs conceded, although he was more vexed by the decision-making of the offender than the verdict by VAR.
“I haven’t seen it in terms of replays but Marijan (Cabraja) thought there was nowhere near enough contact for someone to go down,” he said.
“VAR’S deemed it inside the box which is disappointing but it’s a poor decision from Marijan to even attempt to make contact because their player was leaving the area and facing away from goal.”
In spite of his confidence that results will improve, Johnson admitted that he is suffering at the moment.
“I’m hurting,” he said. “I’m not delusional. I hate not having that winning feeling and we all do.
“But when I look at the six losses, we should have more points from that.”