Pat Fenlon sure Hibs can grab top-six slot

Pat Fenlon has insisted Hibs are capable of getting the points they need to finish in the SPL’s top six while admitting they face two tough games 
before the split.

The Easter Road outfit currently occupy sixth spot but only on goal difference from Dundee United, while Aberdeen and Kilmarnock are also aiming to pip them at the post, and arguably Hibs have the hardest matches to play with third-placed Inverness Caley due in the Capital on Saturday before they travel to face 
champions elect Celtic.

Hibs’ hopes were dimmed somewhat by a 4-1 hammering by Motherwell, the international break leaving Fenlon’s players with more than a fortnight to reflect on that result but the manager has backed them to bounce back.

He said: “Every time we have a bad result it’s doom and gloom around the club. We have to get away from that. The players have reacted really well to losing matches, in the next one they have bounced back.

“In football you have bad days and good days so rather than get too down, you have to focus on the next game. That’s Inverness at home. We have to go and win and then we have Celtic away, tough games, but we are capable of getting results against both teams.”

Hibs’ Under-20 side fought back from losing two early 
second-half goals to Inverness to win 3-2 at the Caledonian Stadium, the goals coming from substitute Jay Doyle, David Paul and Danny Handling.

Meanwhile, Jorge Claros and Ryan McGivern were unused substitutes as Honduras and Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifying hopes suffered setbacks as they both lost 2-0 to Panama and Israel respectively.