Neil Lennon admits Hibs lessons are out the window as ex-Easter Road boss targets another surprise
The Dunfermline Athletic gaffer is preparing his side to face Aberdeen as he eyes another Scottish Cup upset.
Former Hibs boss, Neil Lennon has experience of producing a shock result in this season’s Scottish Cup, although he admits Aberdeen will pose a completely different threat to his old team.
Dunfermline defeated the Hibees at East End Park in the Round of 32 stage thanks to a late Miguel Chaiwa own goal. Having went on to beat rivals Kelty Hearts in the following round, The Pars will now face Aberdeen this Saturday, with a place at Hampden at stake. Given that Hibs, Hearts and Motherwell have all been eliminated, plus one of Rangers or Celtic after this weekend, the open nature of the Scottish Cup means it truly is anyone’s game this season.
As Lennon looks to emulate the success of Alan Stubbs - the last manager of a Scottish Championship side to lift the trophy - he is relishing the challenge of hosting Aberdeen. The Northern Irishman was on his own mini-scouting mission on Wednesday night, as he took the trip up to Pittodrie to watch the Dons lose to Celtic 2-1. The current holders have lost five of their last seven as they prepare for their trip to Fife.
‘Hibs is a totally different game to Aberdeen’
Hibs might be 17 points ahead of their Granite City rivals in the Scottish Premiership but Lennon believes his team will have to play as well as they did against Hibs if they have any chance against Peter Leven’s side - who recently knocked out high-flying Motherwell.
Lennon said: “Hibs is a totally different game to Aberdeen, we’ll have to play as well as that, if not better. We’re playing the top team, the cup holders. So we’re going to have to be at our very best and hope to catch Aberdeen on a bad day. I was at the Motherwell game in the cup and they were excellent.
“I know that game was marred by red cards and that, but I thought they were very, very dangerous and they looked a good side that night. I know they’ve been inconsistent, but maybe they keep their best performances for the cup. We have to take care of our own business. We’ll be prepared and give it everything we’ve got.”
Agent Pars vs Agent Dons
Lennon went to Pittodrie last night after Aberdeen assistant coach Tony Docherty oversaw Dunfermline’s 3-0 midweek win over Ross County in the Championship. The result means The Pars have won their last two matches at home as they gain some valuable momentum heading into Saturday’s clash. Lennon didn’t appear to be phased by Docherty’s visit to East End Park, claiming he wouldn’t have gained a huge amount of extra information from the County hammering.
The Northern Irishman continued: “Tony knows us anyway, he was at Ross County early on in the season, so I don’t think he’d have learned anything new. He’s just doing his job, really. Maybe he’d be surprised at the changes we made. I would imagine Aberdeen will make changes for the Celtic game as well.”
Elsewhere in the Scottish Cup this weekend, Falkirk will host Dundee United in the only other all-Premiership tie. Partick Thistle will take the short trip to Paisley to face St Mirren on Sunday night, after which, the semi-final draw will be made.