Pat Fenlon ‘disgusted’ at Hibs’ shock cup exit to Stenhousemuir

By MARTIN HANNAN
Published on Wednesday 29 August 2012 00:48

HIBERNIAN manager Pat Fenlon admitted that his team had been “shocking” against Queen of the South last night as they crashed out of the Scottish Communities League Cup at Palmerston Park, but denied that his reshuffle of the team was to blame.

On a night of shocks in the second round of the League Cup, Hibs lost 2-0 in Dumfries after goals from Nicky Clark and Gavin Reilly gave the Second Division side a half-time lead that they didn’t let slip.

Elsewhere, holders Kilmarnock were also stunned by a Second Division side as they lost 2-1 to Stenhousemuir at Rugby Park, while SPL newcomers Ross County – currently on a 38-game unbeaten league run stretching back to last August – were thumped 4-1 at home to Raith Rovers. In the other three ties, Dunfermline beat Montrose 3-0, Hamilton defeated Partick 1-0 after extra-time and Livingston enjoyed a 3-2 extra-time win over Dumbarton at Almondvale.

It’s the Hibs result that many Scottish football supporters will be talking about this morning and after a dressing-room dressing down of his men last night, Easter Road manager Fenlon emerged to say: “I am disgusted with that performance. We let ourselves down, we let our supporters down, so I’m very disappointed.

“We didn’t treat it properly, we didn’t get to the tempo we should be at. After a couple of decent results people want to pat themselves on the back, but in football you are always in for a rude awakening.

“They worked harder, I thought they played very well, played the percentage game, passed it well, and just were better than us all round.

“We changed the team around, and freshened it up but if you can’t make three or four changes and not come down here and win, well without being disrespectful to anybody we need to have a look at things.

“It’s about attitude and application when you come to places like this in the lower league. If you don’t apply yourself you get turned over.

“We also have a massive game (against Celtic) on Saturday and if we play like that we are in for a very long day.”

Fenlon suggested that a couple of the Doonhamers might be heading to Easter Road.

“We know we need to strengthen the team but whether we can do that will depend on other things. They have some decent players and we have had them watched a couple of times already and will have another look at one or two.

“You have to give them great credit for the way they approached the game and the way they played.”

Winning manager Allan Johnston said: “It was a real team performance. The first half I thought we played some really good football. Maybe in the second half we never passed it as well, but I thought we were the better team.

“We said to the boys you are playing against Premier League players and it is up to you to raise your standards and show if you are good enough to play there. It is good for their careers to do well against teams like that.

“We defended really well as a team. We were nice and compact and we created a lot of chances. Goalscorer Nicky Clark, son of former Hearts favourite Sandy who is now assistant manager at Palmerston Park, said the home dressing-room after the match was “buzzing”.

He had a particular reason for enjoying his goal: “My dad was Hearts manager when I was born and I grew up supporting Hearts. It’s always been in the family.

“All the boys were brilliant. I thought we were the better team throughout the night. We’ll take anybody in the next round.”

Taken from the Scotsman