Hibs’ fans who will be happy to finish above Hearts in the league have been warned that they have the wrong man in charge if that is the extent of their ambitions.
The Easter Road side are currently nine points ahead of their city rivals with a game against Hamilton in hand.
Hearts dropped to sixth place in the table last night after Kilmarnock overtook them with a victory over St Johnstone and now look to be in a fight with Motherwell for a top six finish.
Lennon however is more concerned about looking upwards to catch Aberdeen and Rangers and to claim a European place for next season which would be a remarkable achievement for a newly promoted team.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s Edinburgh derby, he said: “I will not be defined as Hibs’ manager by derby results.
“If that’s what the Hibs fans are looking for, then they have the wrong man in charge.
“I’m looking at the bigger picture of taking the club on and progressing it, and if we can win derbies along the way then so be it. At the end of the day it’s a league game.
“There are three points there which is important if we want to keep closing in on Aberdeen and Rangers, so it’s vital we win the game from that aspect, the issue is that it’s a derby and you get the bragging rights for six weeks until you play them again.
“The important thing is to win the game. We’re not playing for a trophy, but a European place is as good as a trophy.
“I enjoy there much more than I enjoyed the Glasgow one. The build up isn’t so intense or as fraught but the result is still the same and you want to win it.
“They are certainly a lot tamer than the Glasgow one but still a derby to be savoured and enjoyed.
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.
