Hibs’ Head Coach Neil Lennon hopes to close the gap at the top of the table to two points by beating Hamilton at Easter Road this afternoon.
With league leaders Hearts not in action until tomorrow, Hibs have the opportunity to put the pressure on their city rivals with a victory, although Lennon is taking nothing for granted, particularly after the ‘Accies’ left Leith with a well-deserved in last season.
Hibs go into the game with a number of injuries to key players but the squad should be big enough to cope.
Speaking at yesterday’s pre-match press conference, Lennon said: “I’m really happy with the way things are going and the position we find ourselves in. If we are in the same position twenty games in then I’ll be starting to think we can make some real in-roads in the championship but it’s too early.
“Hearts have had a great start and Livingston have been a revelation and we are going about our business quietly and I am very pleased with what I am seeing.
“We have to let other games take care of themselves. For me, Martin (Canning) pound for pound does an unbelievable job and they have been in the Premier League a lot longer than us so they are a team that I respect.
“They area difficult team to beat so we have to be at our best. We are on a decent run but I’m not getting carried away with it. we have put some good results together and have kept a few clean sheets but that can all go tomorrow.
“Hamilton came here and gave us a bloody nose in the third game of the season and that was a real good lesson for us so I am hoping that won’t be the case tomorrow.
“I am hoping we can maintain this run that we are on and close the gap at the top. That’s all we can do.”
“We have given this game plenty thought and preparation now it’s up to the players. They may have to create he atmosphere tomorrow rather than the fans. It’s important that we play at our tempo and take the game to them whenever we can.
“But Hamilton are one of those team who, from out of nowhere get a result and we shouldn’t be surprised any longer.
“Our focus is to be two points behind Hearts going into Sunday.
“We have had a kick in the teeth at Livingston, not that we deserved it but we didn’t play well and that happens sometimes but we have bounced back brilliantly, but if you look at it, it’s no disgrace to lose at Livingston because they are on a good run themselves.
“The squad is stronger now than it was three or four weeks ago. We have players on form here.
“We are unbeaten at home since December and we have turned Easter Road into a difficult place for teams to come.
“Paul (Hanlon) is still struggling with the dead-leg, but apart from that we have a good compliment of players to choose from. Boyler (Martin Boyle) trained today and should be OK. Thomas Agyepong is also struggling with a tight hamstring and we are hoping to get Jamie (MacLaren) back on the training ground in a couple of 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.
