Hibs defender Adam Jackson has dismissed his manager Paul Heckingbottom’s claims that the Hibees players feel pressured by the fans.
Heckingbottom said after the 2-2 draw with St Johnstone that ‘anxious’ fans contributed to their side’s disappointing draw (Daily Record).
Anxious fans harmed Hibs according to Heckingbottom. (Photo by Alan Rennie/Action Plus via Getty Images)
Jackson has responded to those claims, saying that the Hibs players are braver than their boss thinks they are.
He told the Daily Record: “I don’t think the supporters’ anxiety seeped through to the players.
“We’ve all played a lot of games now, we’re all grown men, thick-skinned. We have to do it ourselves and play our game, we need to play how we want to play in attack and in defence. It’s down to us.
They need to impress the Hibs faithful. (Photo by Ewan Bootman/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“The fans pay their money don’t they? It’s their choice and we have just got to keep working hard on the pitch to try to get them on side again.”
Hibs defender Jackson understands supporter frustrations
This is the exact type of thing the Hibs manager should be saying, not a new defender who’s only been at the club a matter of months.
Heckingbottom’s comments hurt the fans. As Jackson put it, they are the ones paying to watch Hibs on a regular basis. They have a right to complain if they aren’t getting their money’s worth.
Fans will air their opinions. (Photo by Ewan Bootman/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Hibs have shipped 11 goals in their past three games. Defensively they haven’t been good enough and decisions like subbing the club’s best player after an hour haven’t helped things.
Jackson seems to empathise with the fans. He understands why they are annoyed and seems keen to do what he can to make amends.
The ex-Barnsley defender netted his first goal for the club in the 2-2 draw with St Johnstone. He’ll be happy to get on the scoresheet, but perhaps it’ll be clean sheets that will become his big priority over the next few weeks.