Hibs’ Head Coach Neil Lennon is looking for a consistency of performance when his team meet Falkirk at Easter Road tomorrow.
Last weekend Hibs beat Ayr United 3-0 away from home with a performance that Lennon described as being the best so far this season.
He did concede that Falkirk will provide stiffer opposition however but he insists that his players will be up for the task.
Dundee United moved level with Hibs at the top of the table with a midweek win over Dunfermline so Lennon is keen to win their game in hand to pull away in the race for the Championship and automatic promotion spot.
Speaking to Hibs TV, he said: “It was not only the win and three points against Ayr United which I would have been delighted with but it was the manner of the performance which was excellent.
“We were strong and fluid and there was a real attacking intent about the team.
“It’s a difficult venue and to come away with a 3-0 win was excellent.
“The squad need to have the right attitude going into the game and keep a consistency of performance. Our work-rate off the ball has been tops and we made life really difficult for Ayr United.
“It’s going to have to be the same on Saturday. It is a step up in class playing Falkirk, who I feel are one of the stronger teams in the league, and Dundee United have pulled level with us now, so it is important to win that game in hand and pull away.
“Falkirk never know when they are beaten and that’s a tribute to what Peter (Houston) brings to his teams. They have goals with them and have good attacking players and are hard working.
“They lack a bit of flair but more than make up for it in other areas and they are a real tough nut to crack.
“We may have to show a bit of patience on Saturday as well. We are not taking the game lightly and we have trained very strongly this week.
“With the history of the games last season I’m sure our fans will be motivated for the game and certainly the layers will be as well.”
Lennon also provided an update on whether John McGinn who is at Wembley tonight with the Scotland squad will feature and discussed the club’s injury victims.
He continued: “Whether John McGinn appears depends on how much he is involved on Friday night an then we will have to gauge how he is feeling on Saturday.
“He will come straight back after the game and get to his bed and we will see how he is mid morning.
“Ofir (Marciano) has a strain on the knee but he did a light session this morning so it is obviously not too serious. He is having a scan then will fly back and we will assess it from there but there is no chance of him playing on Saturday.
“We are hopeful it’ not too serious and he will be back for the Queen of the South game next Saturday,
“It’s disappointing for Ofir. He came here with two things in mind, to play for Hibs and force his way back into the national squad and he has done both,
“Ross (Laidlaw) will play. He deputised at the start of the season and did well. He is the number two here and has trained very well and I have no hesitation in picking him. he is a very able deputy for Ofir and Otso (Virtanen) will be on the bench.
“Dylan (McGeouch) needed the 90 minutes and he is a bit stiff today as it was his first game for a month and we will see how he is. I don’t want to rush him back but if John (McGinn) isn’t going to make it then I imagine Dylan will be in the squad in some capacity.
“We are hoping Danny Handling will be back on the grass next week and James Keatings at the end of the month so in the main the squad is pretty healthy.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
