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 make sure the 3,000 away fans are rewarded.
Johnson added: “It’s the next opportunity to buy credit with the fan base, and a lot of credit. It’s another opportunity to get where we want to be in terms of the league table.
“And more importantly it’s a chance for us to showcase there is an improvement to this team, that we are heading in the right direction as a club. And I genuinely think we can do that.
"We respect Hearts have good quality, their front players are dangerous. But like all teams, they have flaws and it’s up to us to expose them on Monday.”
Johnson got his first Edinburgh derby experience in the dugout during August’s 1-1 draw in Leith but the former Hearts midfielder insists playing at Tynecastle is a whole different ball game.
He said: “With the surroundings at Tynecastle, you almost feel like you’re underground when you play a game there. It’s so theatre style.
"It’s a good place to play but it would be a great place to win. That is the key for us.
“We will be buoyed by having as many fans as we will have there and we have already been in touch with the singing section. They are fully behind us so all those factors come into it.
"Let me tell you, as a player, the most important thing is that you can’t play the occasion. You have to play the moment, you have to play the action, and when you do that then things break for you out there.
"So, you ask if we have enough experienced players to be able to cope and make an impact.”
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