Troubled times will only make Hibs stronger insists Hanlon

But today Paul Hanlon insisted that although voices may have been raised in the wake of that latest setback - Hibs without a win since the opening day of the season - Hughes' squad was not only united but fully behind their under-fire manager.

The young defender professed to being bemused by the claims as to what had gone on as he and his team-mates headed up the tunnel on Wednesday night, revealing: "People care, if they were just sitting there accepting it then you have a problem.

"The guys in the dressing-room care and want to do their best although it is just not happening for us at the moment. There was a disappointment among the players, we all want to do well and win. People were putting their opinions across, that's what you want. But as for a steward in the dressing-room, there was nothing like that."

Hanlon admitted, however, that in trying times such as those he and his team-mates are experiencing, little things can often be blown out of proportion, exaggerated or misconstrued such as what some were suggesting was an altercation between him and Hughes on the final whistle.

Hughes was quickly on the pitch, his arms waving as he spoke to the 20-year-old, but Hanlon insisted things were most definitely not what they might have seemed, particularly those determined to interpret everything they see at present in a negative manner.

He said: "He was simply doing a little bit of coaching, pointing something out to me. But at the moment it's these sort of things are suddenly misconstrued.

"When you are on a good run nothing is said but when you are not winning these things are made bigger and bigger. However, it was nothing more than the manager trying to help me on my game."

And, declared Hanlon, it has been ever thus under the charge of Hughes, the player adamant the whole dressing-room remain "100 per cent" behind their manager as he grapples to kick start what has been a stuttering start to the season and unhappy to hear the abuse hurled in his direction.

He said: "The manager has come in every single day and given everything he has for the club, as players we cannot ask for any more. He's never stopped working, doing the very best he can but at this moment we are going through a hard time.

"What has been directed at the manager is disappointing, you don't want to hear that. But the fans pay their money, to come and watch us, they'd travelled long distance. That's their opinion but it is up to us to change that by doing the business on the pitch.

"You want the fans behind you all the time but it is up to us to get the results to make them happy."

Missed chances and cheap goals conceded have, however, contrived to deny Hibs the victory which would go a long way to alleviating the frustration and anger which has been building game-upon-game but Scotland Under-21 star Hanlon believes Hughes players aren't far away from that day.

He said: "We are creating chances. Just look at the other night, even at 1-1 we had two or three decent chances and then we all know what happened. Last season we scored a lot of late goals, this year we seem to be getting ahead early then sitting back and failing to capitalise with that second goal. Then when they equalise it knocks the stuffing out of you a bit. Perhaps confidence has taken a wee dunt, it comes through winning games. I wouldn't say it is a problem but when we get back to winning ways it will soon come back.

"I don't think we are too far away. We've been creating chances without taking them but we have the players can score goals."

Whether the likes of Derek Riordan and Colin Nish will get many chances to do so today at Celtic Park is debatable, but Hanlon insisted that in the current circumstances Hibs can, at least, make the journey along the M8 unburdened with the weight of expectation.

Admitting it will be a tough match with Neil Lennon's side having enjoyed 13 straight SPL wins while former Hibs striker Anthony Stokes appears to have hit the ground running with three goals in his last two matches, Hanlon said: "Perhaps the pressure is more on them, they have to take the game to us but if we can defend well, keep it 0-0 deep into the game then we will have a chance. It isn't an easy place to go but we have to play our game and take it from there. As for Anthony, he did well here, got the move he wanted so all the best to him. But of course we want to keep him quiet."

Stokes will be one of the more familiar faces to Hanlon and his team-mates, Lennon having brought an influx of new players to Celtic Park from all around the world but while many of them remain largely unknown at this point, the Hibs kid expects little different from today's opponents.

He said: "I've seen them a few times and like a few of their new players. They'll be favourites, they are at home but we have to look after ourselves. We did reasonably well there last season, we beat them 2-1 and were leading until the last few minutes only to lose 3-2, two good performances from us and we need to do the same again."

"He was simply doing a little bit of coaching, pointing something out to me" paul hanlon