Frustrated Hibs’ Head Coach Neil Lennon admitted that he was sick of talking about next week’s Edinburgh derby although he admitted that the performance of his players in yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Ayr United has given him food for thought.
Hibs lost an early goal which Lennon described as ‘awful’ particularly from a defence which has the best record of any team in Britain.
Goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw managed to get both hands on the ball but allowed it to squirm past him into the net after the Hibs’ defenders backed off and allowed Rab Crawford room to get his shot in.
After that it was one-way traffic with Hibs mounting attack after attack whilst Ayr United players testing the patience of he referee and home supporters.
Andrew Shinnie missed a great chance to level the scoring after a fantastic pass from Fraser Fyvie but he mistimed his diving header.
Lennon took off Chris Humphrey at half time and replaced him with Grant Holt and Hibs’ second half performance improved but it took a late Jason Cummings header to secure a share of the points.
After the game Lennon was asked whether the team’s performance had given him food for thought going into next week’s derby.
He said:“Yes, it does. I’m sick of talking about the game next week – it’s not top of my agenda and it shouldn’t have been for the players. I’d prefer for my players to be at it from the start against Ayr, and I didn’t feel we were.
“I’m giving people chances to play and they are not taking the opportunities.
“Our build up play was pedestrian and it looked like there was a bit of panic at times.
“It was a very poor performance in the first half. Ayr’s goal just summed it up. Awful just awful, if we had backed off any more we would have been in the away end.
“In the second half we made changes and got the goal we deserved and on balance we should have won.
“We should be winning these games. I’m frustrated by the sloppiness, the decision making and the final ball. If you take Jason (Cummings) out of it then you are looking for who will step up.”
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.
