Neil Lennon says Hibernian need to start taking their chances

Posted Sunday, September 30, 2018 by PA

Neil Lennon bemoaned Hibernian’s inability to kill off St Mirren during his side’s 1-0 victory.

David Gray headed home Stevie Mallan’s cross in the 14th minute to move Hibs up to second in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Hibs dominated the opening 45 minutes but failed to end the game as a contest before St Mirren stirred and could have easily grabbed a point.

Simeon Jackson forced Adam Bogdan into a smart stop before Cammy MacPherson prodded wide when it looked easier to score and Lennon was not happy with Hibs’ profligacy that almost ended up costly.

Lennon said: “We were excellent in the first half and we should have been two up.

“We are missing good chances and that is driving me nuts and all it does is give the opposition a glimmer of hope, which spurs St Mirren and they were trying to find a way back into the game.

“We had to grind it out again and we only have ourselves to blame because of our flagrancy in front of goal.

“We didn’t lack cutting edge, I just think our finishing was woeful. We had two or three great opportunities in the second half and we pick the wrong pass to put the game out of sight when we have three against two or four against three.

“That is my only bone of contention with the players. We have another clean sheet and another three points and they are giving me everything at the minute. I can’t ask much more of them apart from to put the ball in the net, please, and make my life a lot more comfortable.”

Oran Kearney was frustrated at the officials’ inability to award a free-kick to his side when Hibs scored the winning goal.

Kearney said: “The set-piece for the Hibs goal is something they have trained and it’s supposed to be eradicated, but (Florian) Kamberi and Gray were at the back post and we had two men marking them.

“Gray comes past Kamberi’s shoulder and Kamberi just stands and grabs for three seconds with two arms round our players.

“I understand screening goes on and there’s bits and pieces of contact. If it’s a split second and there’s a bump, it’s hard for referees and linesmen.

“If they make the call at the time, we are in at half-time at 0-0 and we have even more of a chance of taking something. These are the fine margins.”