Neil Lennon watched Stevie Mallan help down Hamilton before insisting the Hibernian midfielder’s sharp-shooting is the closest thing he has seen to Lubomir Moravcik.
The former St Mirren midfielder took his Easter Road tally to nine goals with two impressive long-range strikes as Hibs ran riot with a 6-0 win.
And his finishing masterclass immediately sent Leith boss Lennon’s mind wandering back to memories of his former Parkhead team-mate Moravcik and his collection of sumptuous goals.
“Mallan is an enigma really,” said the Northern Irishman. “I’ve never seen anyone hit a ball as consistently as well as that since Moravcik days, he puts dip or bend on it 20-25 yards out. You’re disappointed if he doesn’t work the goalkeeper, actually.
“That’s nine goals he’s got from midfield already – exceptional going at this stage of the season. We’re delighted with him.”
It was not just Mallan who excelled, though, as the Hibees turned up the heat on Edinburgh rivals Hearts after recording their biggest league win since 2006.
Martin Boyle, Emerson Hyndman and Flo Kamberi also stuck before Matt Kilgallon’s stoppage-time own goal and Lennon’s team now sit just two points behind the Craig Levein’s table-topping Jambos ahead of their trip to Rangers on Sunday.
But while the boss was delighted with the way his side mercilessly dismantled Accies, he is not getting carried away.
“All in all, we’re in a really good place, good condition and playing some great football,” added Lennon. “A result like that has been coming. We’ve been dominating games and creating lots of chances.
“It’s very pleasing that the players have been rewarded for what’s a really good run of form.
“Hearts have had a brilliant start – but we’ve not looked at them. There’s been a lot of talk about them and this, that and the other. We had a job to do here – concentrated on building a team and slowly but surely it’s beginning to take effect.
“It’s only eight games, after 20 we’ll see where we are. We’ve maybe been fortunate with the run of games, we’ve got big games coming up that will test us.”
Hamilton remain in ninth place but they will soon find themselves slipping down the table if they repeat their gutless display, warned furious boss Martin Canning.
“It was sore and in terms of performances that was up there with the worst,” he said. “It was unacceptable in terms of the level of fight and commitment.
“That’s what we’re known for and that’s what we are, we’re a working club and a fighting club and some of the new players need to realise that, that’s what we expect when we bring you to this club.
“First and foremost you give me everything you’ve got and that’s where we start and that didn’t happen. You’re looking some leadership there, guys to step up but it didn’t happen.”
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