Paul Cairney hails Hibs’ strong mentality

PAUL CAIRNEY reckons Hibs now have enough players with a winning mentality in their squad to prove their doubters wrong this season.

The Easter Road club’s chances of pushing for a European place have been written off in many quarters after they struggled to avoid relegation last time round. Manager Pat Fenlon, however, has made several key signings over the summer, Cairney being one of them, and Hibs have made a positive start to the 2012/13 campaign. Their opening-day defeat to Dundee United and their League Cup defeat at Queen of the South aside, Hibs have recorded creditable draws with Hearts and Celtic and beaten both St Mirren and St Johnstone.

And Cairney, who has been joined in the Hibs line-up by fellow new boys Gary Deegan, Tim Clancy and Alan Maybury, believes that the spirit his side showed to twice come back from a goal down at Parkhead to claim a share of the spoils shows exactly the kind of 
character that runs through Fenlon’s new-look side.

He said: “We have got 
winners in this team now 
and I think we can kick on from here.

“Hopefully I can get a few more goals for Hibs. I believe we are good enough to be up there – I know a lot of people don’t – but that is what football is all about. You have to prove people wrong and show that we are a good team.”

Meanwhile, Hibs’ Under-20s made it three wins out of three when they beat Motherwell 2-1 at Fir Park yesterday afternoon.

Danny Handling gave Hibs a sixth-minute lead, although they had keeper Callum Antell to thank for saving two penalties from Lee Erwin and Omar Daley. Dean Horribine added Hibs’ second six minutes from time before Erwin bagged a late consolation for Motherwell.