Joe Newell spoke to the media after Hibs' 3-0 Scottish Premiership defeat at St Mirren. Here's everything he had to say...

A hard one to take Joe - what did you make of it?

“Very tough to take. It’s been a very good few weeks bar the Kelty game which I don’t need to go into but we’ve had a good month, a good pre-season, and we had so much confidence and enthusiasm.

“But we were miles off it in the second half and not good enough. We need to get away from that. 

"We need to get away from the way we just went under, basically.

“I can’t say much more than that really, except it has to be better and it will be better.

“There’s no panic. It’s very hard to come and sit in front of the media without having seen any of it back - I’ve not seen the goals yet. 

“It’s obviously very annoying and frustrating and we’re angry, because we know we’ve let ourselves down.”

How much of it is about guys taking individual responsibility?

“The gaffer says a lot that there are usually three mistakes that lead to a goal. 

"It’s not about singling anyone out; there were obviously mistakes throughout the game.

“For me, we just weren’t good enough in either box; at attacking or defending.”

Does it act as a wake-up call?

“Yes - not that we should need that coming here. 

“St Mirren are a very good side; they proved that last year. We knew exactly what to expect, we worked on all their strengths during the week, and I think you saw that in the first half.

“We felt in control of the game, we just didn’t put our chances away.

“Then straight away in the second half, they scored, and that’s perfect for a team like them who are so well organised and resolute.

“It’s tough then but the second goal… I’ve not seen it back yet but we can’t just go under like that. It’s not acceptable.”

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As captain, is it your job to try to lift the players this week?

“Yes, definitely. Like I say, there’s no panic. We’ve got a game next Sunday, it’s the first home game of the season, and there’s a long way to go but as captain and as one of the older guys now, it’s about getting that feeling back that it isn’t the end of the world.

“There are a lot of lessons to be learned which we’ll have to learn quickly.”

Even at this early stage, an immediate response is vital, isn’t it?

“No, of course not, because then you’ve got an uphill battle. 

"We saw last year when we lost our first three games, and then you’re climbing.

“We have to learn quickly and respond quickly.”

Sold-out away end today but a lot left after the third goal - what’s your message to them?

“The away support especially has always been unbelievable since I’ve come here. It doesn’t surprise me one bit that we sold out the away end and you can’t blame them after going three goals down.

“I’ve said it a lot of times over the years but there’s been change at the club, there will carry on being changes - I don’t think we’re done in the window yet.

“But please stick with us - we have worked extremely hard over pre-season, and that’s why it’s probably the most frustrating thing, because this result doesn’t reflect what we’ve been working on and where we want to get to.

“The gaffer’s fundamentals, and the messages he’s been sending throughout pre-season, is that we have to be stronger and we have to be harder to beat.

“And through no fault of his or the work we’ve been doing, it just wasn’t evident today.”