Hibs boss Mixu hoping Elfsborg have it all wrong

Published on Friday 4 July 2008 10:35

MIXU PAATELAINEN today admitted he hopes InterToto Cup rivals IF Elfsborg's spy trip to Easter Road has left the Swedish side with a false impression of Hibs.

Elfsborg boss Magnus Haglund dispatched his assistant Jesper Bengtsson to Edinburgh to take in Hibs' final match of last season, a game Paatelainen's players lost 2-0.

But, as Haglund revealed today, that remains the only first-hand glimpse the Swedes have had of Hibs in action while Paatelainen has built up a complete dossier on Elfsborg having watched them play against Djugarden on Wednesday night while coach Gareth Evans spied on them a week earlier.

Paatelainen said: "We were poor defensively and in midfield that night against Motherwell and, obviously, I am hoping we play much better on Sunday.

"Elfsborg are very dangerous, they have plenty of pace so we have to defend well, be more solid than we were in that game."

Haglund believes the fact Paatelainen has had two recent opportunities to see his side play while he has been denied the chance to see Hibs in action is advantageous to the Capital outfit.

But Paatelainen again stressed the fact Elfsborg, currently sitting second in the Allsvenskan, have the upper hand as they are midway through their season with just one defeat in 12 league matches.

He said: "We want to play as well as we can and we will give it our best shot. But this is our first game after the summer break."