Not for the first time, Hibs assistant manager Billy Brown criticised an "abysmal" defensive display by his players. Yesterday the Easter Road side fell to a 3-2 home defeat to St Johnstone. Leigh Griffiths and Callum Booth were on target during a breathless encounter, but any incisive attacking play was utterly sabotaged by the concession of three poor goals. Lee Croft, Liam Craig and the excellent Francisco Sandaza all found the net for the Saints, leaving Brown frustrated with Hibs habit of conceding weak goals this season. Manager Pat Fenlon thought it best to allow his assistant explain a second-half capitulation and confirm that the club are looking to strengthen defence. Brown said: "To get back to 1-1 and lose the second goal - which is as bad a goal as you will see at this level - was absolutely abysmal. We get it back to 2-2 and then lose another bad one. It's the story of the season, we are where we are because of the goals against column. There's a lack of resilience, and that's what you need in a situation like ours. We know the problems, and we are working towards curing those problems, and we're hoping to sort that. We do (want to get a defender in during January). Whether we do or not is another matter. It's not easy to get players in during January. But one player won't necessarily fix all the problems, and defensively we are poor. There's no doubt about that." Losing all three points at home was made all the more damaging due to a stunning 3-0 win by Dunfermline at Rugby Park. The gap between the sides at the bottom of the table is now back down to one point, with Hibs' win over the Pars at East End Park last week effectively rendered pointless. Hibs could drop to the bottom of the SPL if the Pars win their game in hand against Motherwell at Fir Park on Tuesday. Brown continued: "I want to congratulate Dunfermline. To go down to Kilmarnock and win 3-0 showed some real balls. Everybody at this club needs to show the shame. The only way we'll get out this is by showing a lot more will to not concede goals." St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas hailed the second-half display of mercurial Spaniard Sandaza. The striker has been linked with a move away from McDiarmid Park during the January transfer window, with Rangers known to be among his admirers. The player's importance to the Perth side was fully illustrated in a scintillating display as Sandaza responded to the manager's pleas for a big performance. A stunning late winner was appropriate reward for a fine display. A candid Lomas said: "We were a little bit disappointed by Fran in the first half. We asked for more from him, and he certainly gave us that in the second half. He's quality, and he has goals like that in him."
Source: FOOTYMAD
