Last updated : 31 October 2008 By Ed_ScottishFitba
Hard work and application seems to be the message to his players from Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen if they want to maintain progress and get on a winning streak. The Easter Road manager has watched his team falter in their last two games after a 1-1 home derby draw with Hearts and a 4-2 loss at Celtic. However, despite these disappointments, Paatelainen has seen enough to suggest the future is bright for his attack-minded side. Hibs are in sixth spot in the SPL, only two points behind third-placed Kilmarnock. Paatelainen feels their position will improve if his players continue to display a hard-working attitude. He said: "The boys are great, the application and the way they try and do things has been fantastic. Celtic Park is a very difficult place but I felt we passed the ball well and created problems for them. It's a pity we didn't score before they did. That would have put them really under pressure but the comeback to 2-2 was pleasing and hopefully we can have similar performances in the future."
The Finn, a former player and coach with the Buddies, went on: "There have been plenty positives to take from the last two matches. But the bottom line is we want to win games to get as many points as possible. I believe that if you have good performances then you have a better chance of getting results to gain points. We want to win games and we've now drawn one and lost one. We've been disappointed all week, as we want to win. But I think we're on the right track. We changed the formation a few weeks ago, started playing three guys up front, and it won't just happen straight away."
Paatelainen will be taking in the game form the stand as he starts a four-game touchline ban at Love Street after losing an appeal following his sending-off in the CIS Cup defeat to Morton in August. But the former striker, who saw his punishment doubled after serving a two-game ban for being sent to the stands during pre-season, is not too bothered about where he sits. He said: "It'll be no problem. I'll sit in the stand and get on with it. We practice all week in order for the players to know what they do on the pitch, so there shouldn't be any problems."
