Hibs will never let critics get to us – Hanlon

PAUL HANLON today admitted his delight as Hibs brought their winless run to an end with victory over Kilmarnock – but the young defender insisted he and his team-mates took no notice of the criticism that came their way during their SPL drought.

In the five games prior to Saturday's victory, they had suffered defeats to Rangers, Motherwell and St Johnstone, combined with draws against Saints and Aberdeen.

Their last win had been the 2-1 result over St Mirren at the end of January and the flak had been flying after conceding 12 goals since that game at Easter Road.

However, the 20-year-old said: "We'd received a lot of praise earlier in the season but then a lot of people seemed all too ready to start knocking us down.

"But I don't think any of us really paid much attention to what was being said and written, we just kept focusing on our next game and trying to get the three points. We'd had three tough away games and, while we had a chance to win the previous week against St Johnstone, it didn't happen so it was important to make sure we got the three points from Killie."

Abdessalam Benjelloun missed a penalty, only for Derek Riordan to later come up with the winning goal against Jimmy Calderwood's side at the weekend and Hanlon added: "We got their in the end with that unbelievable goal from Derek."