No hiding place for players, vows Hibs boss Paul Heckingbottom

Under-fire Hibs boss Paul Heckingbottom last night revealed that he will be making changes for the must-win Edinburgh derby against Craig Levein’s equally wayward Hearts side at Easter Road a week today – and warned that only tough guys need apply.

He claimed that his players haven’t responded well to adversity but he intends to bring in players who have the mental toughness to cope with the demands of a match which could mean the end for either manager.

New owner Ron Gordon watched from the director’s box at Rugby Park yesterday and wouldn’t have been any more impressed than the Hibs fans were by this performance.

“We had five or six shots on target and we got done by a 70-yard pass,” said Heckingbottom.

“It was a shocking goal and it changed the complexion.

“We then got done on the counter when we tried to force things.

“I could say we did this or that but you get what you deserve.

“We weren’t clinical. We had a lot of the ball, they had two shots on target and scored two goals [in fact, Killie had four attempts on target to Hibs’ two].

“After the first goal went in, the heads went down and the body language changed.

“How you put mental strength in someone, that’s what it looks like now.

“We want more character, it’s important to have Ryan Porteous and Jason Naismith back.

“Were we the best team before they scored? I thought we were, but when they score we have to get back into the game and grind out something.

“We’ve got the best game next and the team I pick will reflect that – stronger, more aggressive, that’s what we need to be.

“There’s no hiding place for players – we have to win when we aren’t at our best.”

Killie manager, Angelo Alessio, by contrast, was delighted after hearing his name being sung in the stands, although he preferred to focus on a fourth consecutive clean sheet for his team.

“I am happy because I saw a good attitude and ability and this is important to reach a good result,” he said.