Pat Fenlon says Hibs have strength for relegation fight
Pa Kujabi of Hibs and Joshua Magennis of Aberdeen
PAT FENLON believes Hibs now have the strength in depth to help win their battle against relegation.
Although disappointed only to have drawn against Aberdeen, Fenlon insisted it was a match the Easter Road side could easily have lost previously given they’d gone into the game missing five key players.
Defenders James McPake and Paul Hanlon sat out the SPL clash through suspension along with striker Leigh Griffiths while midfielder Tom Soares was missing through injury as was club skipper Ian Murray as he continues to recover from surgery.
But despite their absence Fenlon, who made eight signings over the course of the January transfer window, felt he was still able to field a strong team backed up by an impressive looking bench.
McPake, Hanlon and Griffiths will all be available for the visit of title favourites Celtic on Sunday, which, Fenlon admitted, will give him a pleasant headache despite the fact Soares is likely to still be missing with a hamstring problem, while Murray is definitely out.
The Hibs boss said: “We had players out but still have a strong team and bench. Previously had we lost that many players we’d have struggled, but against Aberdeen we did not.
“I’m actually a bit disappointed we did not pick up the three points, I thought we did enough to win the game but there was a lot which pleased me as well, some good individual performances, again we looked solid defensively and it was another clean sheet.”
Hibs had their chances to win, Dons goalkeeper Jason Brown pulling off superb saves from David Wotherspoon and Isaiah Osbourne, but, again, Fenlon wasn’t too disheartened. He said: “We’ve been creating chances and scored a fair number of goals but sometimes you get a match where they don’t go in for you.
“Perhaps when that has happened previously we have lost the game so it’s a good sign.”
The draw put Hibs a point ahead of basement outfit Dunfermline with a superior goal difference after the Pars were beaten 4-1 by Rangers but while he admitted his side have to be aware of what is happening behind them, Fenlon has his fingers crossed that others can be dragged into what currently is a two-horse race against the drop.
He said: “We have to keep an eye over our shoulder at Dunfermline who are very close, but we also have to look ahead to see if there’s one or two we can rope back in and make it a bit more of a fight.”
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Comments
There are 35 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
ianfaeclerrie
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 08:37 AM#18 - I assume you're here to wind me up Lewis has been our most consistent player all season. He has a fantastic first touch, passes very hard, accurately and creatively, he makes decisions before receiving the ball and he makes about two mistakes each game.
trainspotter
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:12 AMRangers going onto administration is a disaster for Hearts. Who will they sell their best players to now? And of course Rangers players at the end of their playing days won't be able to see out a happy retirement at Tynie
leith walk
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 08:00 PMOne point off the bottom at the foot of the SPL .Both bottom teams us an Dumferline have home games next fixtures.We have Celtic 12 45 kick off on Sunday.They play St Mirren the following evening..Unless we take at least a point of Celtic they know there first home victory of the season would put them 2 points above us.Our next fixture after Celtic is I C T away I think.
boozy
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:38 PM# 27, Well if I'm being honest he did cost us a couple of hundred thousand, but this has to be measured against the fact that Petrie has been taken out of the process of appointing any new manager. Probably the reason this one looks so promising.
Baldrick
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:32 PM22* Rangers paid something like 7m for Negri. Don't argue though that Hearts have been living well beyond their means and are suffering now.
Baldrick
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:30 PM23* I agree with you. In Rangers case however I think about the Manchester scenario and speculate that we would all be better off without them. That said, the implications for Scottish football are enormous if Hearts and Rangers both go to the wall. Realistically, what would stop Celtic winning the league for the next 20 years or more unchallenged?
John H
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:26 PMThere we have it then. The result of fiddling off the pitch as well as on it leads to catas-TROPHY Which club is next I wonder?
FFF
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:14 PMStevenson is one of a raft of players who showed promise as youngsters but suffered from the mismanagement of the last 4 years. I expect a steady improvement as his confidence in his abilities returns under PFs leadership....the same goes for our other young guns
jambo2006
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:12 PM#22 boozy is it only players? remember Colin "costalot" Calderwood ?
Iain Bhern
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:06 PM#18 it's clearly evident you are either a clown or don't go to games. Stevenson has been one of our best players since New Year. He was immense on Saturday and might easily have been named MOTM. Make no mistake, if he wasn't good enough Fenlon would have shipped him out in January.
boozy
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:02 PM# I along with plenty of others have moaned about the frugal approach of the Hibs board, its not until the brown stuff hits the fan like now, that you begin to appreciate their side of things a little better. I hope to see the Gers receive the same justice as the other smaller clubs.
The Yak Farmer
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:01 PMRangers going bust might help Hearts away crowds, especially at places like KIllie. It will be a way to keep the,er, old songs and traditions alive too. ARF!
bobski
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 04:49 PMAre the jam tarts next,this is not good for football in this country and there is a big chance that both clubs could go to the wall. this nearly happened to hibs in the 80s and i for one hope both clubs survive,and lets not forget Celtic were not far off it until Fergus McCann came in and rescued them.
boozy
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 04:47 PM# 21, The same can be said of the Heart's, what was his name? Petric (spelling) or some such clown and he ripped Heart's for a fortune in wages too.
Baldrick
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 04:32 PM20* Just read about that. Huge news which will truly reverberate around the football world. If a club that size can go into administration, who is safe? Remember Marco Negri. Cost them millions, scarcely kicked a ball. Left for nothing. Paying for that profligacy now.
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