Top line summary

  • Can accept bad performances, can't accept lack of 'fight and desire'.
  • Celtic the perfect game to bounce back in.
  • New players will now know what Scottish football is all about.

Joe Newell spoke to the media after Hibs' 3-0 defeat at home to St Mirren on Saturday. Here's everything the midfielder had to say...

What was the manager's reaction to the game?

"Angry, frustrated, disappointed obviously. We were miles off it, no excuses. I don’t know the reason for it, just miles off the standard required in terms of the ugly side of the game, before I even talk about quality on the ball. On the other side, I just thought we were miles away - from all of us."

Did it just feel very flat throughout?

"Yeah. First goal was just second balls, which I thought they were on top of us all game. That’s what you expect and it should be a given. They got 1-0 up, get a penalty, then the set-piece. Everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong. They were brilliant, fair play to them and I think we have a real challenge on our hands now."

Is the big concern over a lack of fight?

"I don’t mind if people have a bad game, I’ll have a bad game. I’ll kick the ball out of the pitch plenty of times, it’s the fight and desire - if someone questioned that of me that’s what would hurt me the most. So I think to question ourselves on it, it really needs to be a turning point and discussion among ourselves. Initially my overriding feeling at the minute is that before anything else."

Is Celtic the perfect game to try and bounce back?

"Yeah, I think any game. A game a few days later is probably the best scenario as the longer you stew over that the worse it is. It forces your hand in covering the game, discussing among ourselves where we want wrong and trying to get back on track. Celtic is a big game here at home and hopefully it will be a good reaction."

Will Celtic be hurting as well after their result?

"Definitely, but I’ve literally not given it a thought. A game quite quick is the best case."

What will the discussion about this game be like among the players?

"Players have had meetings in the past, the manager and coaches, no matter what game it is the result, performance - we always have a very thorough debrief. The coaches work very hard in tiers if the analysis of games so that will happen first thing in the morning."

Is it a challenge now to lift the belief?

"It’s a bad day, a dreadful first half and we’re just making it so hard for ourselves at the moment. But we’ve still got a chance. If you put a couple of wins together it can look a lot different. We brought in a lot of quality in the window, a big turn around, massive change.

READ MORE: Every word from Nick Montgomery Hibs Q&A after St Mirren loss

"That’s no excuse in terms of bedding the players in, first half we didn’t think it was anything to do with that. We have plenty of talent and quality to turn it around coming into a huge part of the season."

Will it be clear to the new players that this is what it's like in Scotland?

"If they didn’t know, there you go. You are coming up against a team who are very well organised who will fight and scrap and graft for everything. It should be a given but that is the standard, the bare minimum that teams do up here and if they didn’t know before there are absolutely no questions now."