Lee Johnson senses Hibs can flip season 'dynamic' in Hearts pressure cooker amid 'everyone losing their heads'

31.12.2022 - 09:43 / dailyrecord.co.uk

Lee Johnson has vowed that Hibs will head to Tynecastle with no fear after claiming a derby victory could transform their stuttering season.

The Leith side make the short trip across Edinburgh on Monday short of confidence and form on the back of a woeful run of eight defeats from 10 Premiership outings. The latest set-back was a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Celtic.

Amid mounting criticism from supporters, Hibs - without a derby victory in seven games - are now also five points adrift of their fierce city rivals, who are sitting third. But Johnson regards the clash as the ideal opportunity to lift the club’s and the fans’ spirits following a testing period.

The Hibs gaffer said: “I see it as a good challenge. I’m not one of those who goes into things with fear. I don’t want it to come across as delusional or anything like that, but this is why I came up here, for games like this, and to experience wins and performances and build something.

“Despite everybody losing their head just now it’s about keeping that calmness and believing in the process of what we’re trying to do. It’s the perfect game to get some momentum. It changes the dynamic of the season if we win.

"It’s a massive opportunity and in that sense you need to have a cup final mentality. But I do think the players want it.

"I think they’re working their socks off and while we haven’t always shown the quality we would hope, that is what we are trying to improve on and off the pitch. I think people are looking at the situation and going: ‘Is it the manager? The players? The board? But at the same time we are not a million miles away.”

A TV black out means fans will not be able to watch the game unfold from the comfort of their living rooms but Johnson is desperate to