Why Hibs starting XI gave ex-boss Neil Lennon a 'lift' as Dunfermline gaffer revels in Scottish Cup upset
Top-flight scalp a taste of things to come for Fifers? Experienced boss sets long-term targets for team
Former Hibs boss Neil Lennon has revealed that he got a “lift” when he saw his old team’s starting XI for today’s Scottish Cup clash at East End Park. And the Dunfermline gaffer insists he thought David Gray would go with a “stronger” line-up against his Championships battlers.
Speaking after a 1-0 win that send the Fifers through to the fifth round at the expense of their Premiership opponents, Lennon admitted he’d been surprised when he saw a visiting team including a number of surprise selections, including club captain Joe Newell getting his first start in 13 months.
“I think everyone had written us off, you know,” said the former Celtic boss. “And I got a wee bit of a lift when I saw their team. I thought they made a lot of changes. I thought, OK, this might work in our favour. But then, you know, they did bring on some big players second half.”
Pars ‘a work in progress’ says boss
Pressed on the Hibs selection, Lennon said: “I don't know, but I thought he was going to go strong to start with. But I'm not going to tell David what to do with his team. We tried to be as strong as we can. Then we've got a bit of pace coming on.
“We're still a work in progress as well. I wasn't happy with our first half performance, but obviously second half we were really good.
“I thought my back three were immense and my goalie, when called upon, was very good, which you need in these games. And I thought the rest of them worked very, very hard.”
With just over 10,000 inside East End Park, Lennon enjoyed one of his best experience as Dunfermline boss. And hopes his players use today’s game as inspiration for a far-off dream of returning to the top flight.
“Yeah, it's what we want at taste of when we get up,” he said, adding: “It shows the potential that the club has.
“But we're a million miles away from where we want to be just yet. But this is another incremental step in the right direction for us in terms of, gives the club more profile, gives the players more profile, gives everyone the profile and a little glimpse of what could be. But we've got to do the hard yards and get out of the Championship, which is the biggest ask of all.
“Look, I believe you can win the game before the game. I had that belief the whole way through, although there was times when I thought we could have played a little bit better in the final third.
“So like I said we've got a lot of work to do to get where we want to be. It's step by step by step; we didn't think we're going to come in and blow every one away.”