Hibs Captain Joe Newell Addresses Team’s Late-Game Anxiety

Hibs captain Joe Newell has acknowledged that a sense of apprehension affects the team during the concluding stages of matches. The Easter Road club, which currently occupies the bottom position in the Premiership table, has conceded nine league goals after the 75th minute. Midfielder Newell stated, “You would be lying to say there isn’t [fear], because you can feel it in the stadium and stuff. I think thats just completely natural given the position we are in.” He further elaborated, “Everyone – fans, players – is desperate to get a win and if it’s 1-0 in the 85th minute there is going to be some anxiety around the place.” Newell added, “We have worked on some things to deal with it and the last couple of games we have coped with it much better. It’s not just as simple as that though. We need to be scoring more and be more clinical to ease that pressure if it does come.” He expressed his confidence, stating, “The hard work has been continuous and I have so much faith in that group and the team. I firmly believe in a couple of months’ time we will be looking back and saying that was a terrible start but look where we are now.” Newell emphasized that the players must enhance their performance for the team’s novice manager, David Gray, who is experiencing mounting pressure amidst Hibs’ ongoing poor form. Ahead of Saturday’s match against St Mirren, Newell commented, “He will always be honest and true. He will never shy away from it.” He continued, “As the captain and a group of players, we have to do so much more for him. He deserves so much more from us. We are not doing enough for him.” Newell cited an example, stating, “He sets us up for the last game, for example, and we had a real good performance, tactically we were good but just not clinical enough in the final third. That just shows the manager sets us up in the right way and bar a late call it should be three points.” He also acknowledged, “Throughout the season we have had red cards. He can’t do anything about me lunging in with five minutes to go and getting sent off. Of course we all feel for him and are desperate to turn it around for him especially.”