Hibs’ on-form midfielder Joe Newell says it was important that the players bounced back after losing their unbeaten run to Aberdeen before the International break and he is now looking forward to Sunday’s top of the table clash with Rangers at Easter Road.
Jack Ross’s men hit top-form against St Mirren on Saturday and secured all three points in Paisley to consolidate second place.
Newell scored the second in a comprehensive 3-0 victory but even though they went in at half-time with a two goal advantage Newell revealed that the boss’s team talk ensured that they did not take the win for granted.
After the final whistle a delighted Newell told Hibernian TV: “Brilliant. It was important to bounce back after Aberdeen. We have had a really good start to the season but last week has been a bit frustrating really. I think after the start we have had we really fancied that one so it was really important to bounce back.
“We had a good 3-0 win and a good performance. I don’t score many so when I do I have to smile. It was a good game. Obviously at 2-0 up at half-time, the next goal was crucial so the gaffer made us aware of that and told us that you never win anything at half-time so the next goal was important and luckily we got it early on and to be fair we kind of cruised it in the end.
“The gaffer spoke to me a bit about trying to make the box more and with ‘Goga’ (Alex Gogic) playing he can give me a bit security so it’s something I need to improve on. I should be getting more goals really so hopefully that’s the first of a few.
“Obviously Rangers have had a good start and it’s a big game, the type of game you want to be involved in and it’s going to taste even sweeter if we can carry on this form and we win or get a result.
Ross added: Joe is a very good player. It’s about encouraging him and challenging him to produce that level of consistency in that area of the pitch so we played him much more central this season because we believe that he has the attributes to do so. In part, even today it was about encouraging him to get in and around the box more because I think he can do it more often.
“He has got the quality and composure to finish like he did. He showed for the course of the whole match how good a player he is “
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.
