Hibs’ Head Coach Neil Lennon said that he was satisfied with his team’s 2-0 victory over Dumbarton at Easter Road yesterday despite the sluggish start to the game.
Neither side created any clear cut chances in the opening quarter and if anything, Dumbarton looked the more likely to score however Hibs upped their gears from then on and totally dominated the game.
Paul Hanlon opened the scoring just before half time as the fans were starting to get restless then Brian Graham secured the three points with a well taken strike in the latter stages.
With Dundee United winning at Ayr, Hibs remain on top on goal difference.
Speaking after the game, Lennon said: “It was a good performance in the end. I thought we started off quite sluggish, a bit flat and I don’t know why.
“We took a while to get going and that might have been because we were coming to terms with the way Dumbarton had set themselves up, but we finished the half very strongly and in the last half hour of the game I thought we were very good.
“We found ourselves a bit outnumbered in midfield but once we got to grips with that we were fine.
“I don’t think we played as well as we can do. Sometimes we have to create the atmosphere and force the game. It could have been a far more comfortable win.
“You could tell there was a bit of tension in the stands. The fans were frustrated in the stands and I can understand that but we deserved the lead at half-time.
“It was great to get the goal before half time. We were a bit slow in the second half but I thought we finished strongly in the last half hour.
I’d like to have won the game more comfortably but I’ll take a 2-0 win and a clean sheet.
“I’m very pleased, it’s a good win, a good comeback and I’m pretty satisfied with it.”
Lennon also paid tribute to striker Jason Cummings who returned to first team action after a spell on the bench and also the contribution to midfielder Andrew Shinnie.
He continued: “It’s good for Jason to get the 90 minutes, although I don’t think he got any sniffs at goal
“I think it has hurt him being out but he has responded well and he’s looked sharp in training.”
“Jason hasn’t played for a while and was maybe a bit rusty today. It’s good for him to get 90 minutes though.
“He knows that he wasn’t playing as well as he could and no one’s got a god given right to start every week. You’ve got to earn it.
“He’s a great personality and a bubbly boy. He’s not sulked once or has been banging on my door. He’s just got on with it.
“I thought Andrew Shinnie was excellent in midfield today. He’s been our stand out player for the last six or seven weeks.”
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.
