Source: Team_Talk
Mixu: No crisis of confidence here
Saturday's visit of the Bairns to Easter Road is important for both struggling sides as they seek the three Scottish Premier League points that could have a major impact on their seasons.[LNB]John Hughes' Falkirk sit just a point above Inverness at the foot of the table after a run of just one win in 12 SPL matches, while Hibs have fared little better.[LNB]Paatelainen's charges have dropped out of the top six following a spell of one league win in eight and the Finn was especially angered by last weekend's 2-0 reversal at Inverness.[LNB]Hibs' players have hinted at a lack of confidence in the ranks this week, but Paatelainen disagrees and expects his team to respond to the criticism they are enduring.[LNB]He said: "We have players who are ambitious, do care for their team-mates and we want to see that against Falkirk.[LNB]"It doesn't matter how the players react in training, what matters is Saturday. Hopefully we get a reaction, the players applying themselves as usual.[LNB]"Looking back at the Motherwell game, the third-last game we played, we were 1-0 ahead. Then, with around 10 minutes to go, they got a needless penalty. We should have won that game.[LNB]"You look at Kilmarnock, same again 1-0 up and in total control and we made a terrible mistake again and got punished for 1-1 too.[LNB]"Last week at Inverness, I do realise that maybe one or two players believed in our hoodoo there and felt nervous.[LNB]"Maybe the work rate and desire wasn't there, nothing to do with the confidence. I do feel our players are confident."[LNB]Hughes, like Paatelainen, finds himself under pressure but the Hibs boss hopes it is his side who show the greatest desire to win on home soil, thereby appeasing disgruntled supporters.[LNB]He added: "I would say we have a very, very good chance for the three points, as long as the desire to win the match - do well in your areas of the pitch - is there. I'd be very surprised if it wasn't.[LNB]"Football matches are very often decided on one-to-one situations, individual mistakes, brilliance or whatever.[LNB]"I'm sure the supporters will be 100% backing the team, because I'm sure the spirit that they will see will be the right one. Hopefully there are plenty positives."[LNB][LNB] Hibernian 10/11[LNB], Draw 9/4[LNB], Falkirk 10/3[LNB]
