We went to sleep - but
we'll be awake for the second half!
First Hibs have the task of
seeing off St Johnstone - STUART CROWTHER
HIBS BOSS ALEX MCLEISH ADMITTED yesterday that his side simply fell
asleep for a few minutes in Athens on Thursday - and paid the penalty,
losing two goals in a game that up to that point had looked to be going
well for the Easter Road side.
But McLeish and his squad all truly believe that
Hibs European campaign is far from over, as the Hibs boss remains
convinced that his side can turn in a performance on Thursday that will
match anything achieved by Hibernian sides of the past on the European
stage. It would take a victory to match the very best, but who is to
say that this Hibs side cannot achieve that? "It is only
half-time in that tie and we believe we still have a chance, we will try
to intimidate them with aggressive attacking play when they come over
here," McLeish said last night.
These
sentiments were underlined by John O'Neil, the midfielder having once
again turned in a tremendous shift in Athens in the searing heat. He
said: "We were all pleased at half-time on Thursday,
I felt we had contained them well. But we went to sleep at the start
of the second-half and they punished us. We showed enough in the
first leg to know that we can hurt them going forward, and we need to take
the game to them next week."
But first Hibs have another important SPL encounter to negotiate,
St Johnstone
visiting the capital tomorrow as Hibs seek to continue the form that saw
off Motherwell and Dunfermline in recent weeks.
Hibs back in league action against St Johnstone (sns)
Like
these last two opponents, the Saints have not had the best of starts to
the season but are now showing some signs of getting their own show on the
road. Boss Sandy Clark was an interested observer at Easter Road
last Sunday, and having watched Hibs demolish the Pars 5-1 he knows
exactly what his side are up against, but he will also be stressing to his
players that it is a good time to travel to Easter Road, sandwiched
between Hibs' European ties. "There is always
the danger that players will drop after the excitement of Thursday.
It has happened before with teams coming back from European games or
international duty and not getting results at the weekend,"
McLeish warned, but added:
"We will have a chat about that and make sure that the players are up for
the game against St Johnstone."
Clark
meanwhile is under no illusions on just how difficult it will be to take
anything from Easter Road, the Saints boss saying:
"We know this is going to be a tough one. I watched Hibs turn over
Dunfermline last week and they were very impressive. Our old player
John O'Neil was outstanding and we know he is one to watch. But Alex
can leave one or two guys out if he feels the need after the trip to
Athens, because he has got a good squad together. We have a lot of
respect for Hibs, they look as if they can have another successful season
but we have a decent track record at Easter Road and we will be going
there looking for all three points."
St
Johnstone will be without former Hibee Paul Kane, while goalkeeper Alan
Main is another struggling to be fit to travel to the Capital. Hibs
have doubts over Paul Fenwick and Gary Smith, both having taken knocks in
Athens, while it remains to be seen if Franck Sauzee will be risked after
missing the midweek clash following an injury picked up against
Dunfermline. Hibernian fought their way
back to the top three last week, and I expect them to remain in that
position come Sunday evening!
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