Hibs captain David Gary has admitted Neil Lennon will have his troops fired up ahead of their Scottish Cup tie against Edinburgh rivals Hearts on Sunday.
Speaking to BBC Scotland last season’s Cup Final hero admitted: ‘He (Lennon) played and managed at the very top level, we do get inspiration from him and he’ll have us ready.’
The Easter Road side head into the tie as Scottish Cup holders after ending their 114 year hoodoo with a dramatic 3-2 injury time victory over Rangers back in May but the replay victory over the Jambo’s at the same stage last season was seen by many as the catalyst for the successful run.
Hearts will be desperate to put one over their city rivals having had the ignominy of surrendering their own defence of the trophy to the Leith side back in 2012 just 6 months after defeating the Hibees in the final and having had the opportunity to make it 115 years in a row when they were 2-0 up with ten minutes to play last season, revenge is all the Gorgie faithful want to see.
Most people outside North Edinburgh will see Ian Cathro’s side as strong favourites as they head into the Derby on the back of two 3 goal victories over Rangers and Motherwell whilst Hibs were disappointing last weekend in a 1-1 draw against Ayr United.
Gray however remains confident and stated: ‘The form book often goes out of the window in derbies.’
‘The times we’ve done well against Hearts since I’ve been at the club, they were well clear at the top of the Championship the season they were there and we still managed to get good results against them, so it’s all about who turns up on the day.’
