Hibs boss has sympathy for Brewster

MIXU PAAATELAINEN today admitted he has every sympathy for under-fire Inverness Caledonian Thistle boss Craig Brewster – but that won't stop him trying to add to his friend's mounting woes tomorrow.

Brewster will bring his struggling side to Easter Road on the back of five straight defeats, culminating in a 5-0 hammering by Rangers.

Having himself endured a storm of criticism during Hibs' pre-season, Paatelainen can well empathise with Brewster's predicament, the pair knowing each other well through having a mutual friend in former Easter Road star Mathias Jack.

But Paatelainen insisted Brewster won't expect to see the Finn showing any signs of feeling sorry for him. He said: "Yes, I can sympathise because I know how much hard work managers, coaches and players put in.

"You do that, but if you lose on a Saturday it feels as if the week has been a waste of time. However, tomorrow there will be no sympathy shown by us, Craig knows the nature of the business and exactly what to expect.

"We are all subject to criticism whatever we do, it's a thankless job. Obviously, the target is to be successful but if people see you are not doing well then you are under pressure.

"It's how you handle that pressure, do you relish it, does it motivate you or do you crumble. That's the key. If you crumble under pressure then you are in the wrong job."

Paatelainen confessed that he had been taken aback at the level of criticism thrown at him as Hibs endured a winless pre-season but insisted that throughout he didn't let the flak get to him.

He said: "I was surprised that our pre-season matches were highlighted so much but throughout I knew it was preparation time. The games against Elfsborg were competitive but we tried to explain that, while they were planned, we were not ready.

"Certainly, there were games we should have won in that time but you had to take into account a number of factors such as the team we fielded."

Had Paatelainen emerged as an even tougher individual for the experience, something he hadn't encountered previously either as a player or manager?

He said: "It's difficult for me to say. To be quite frank, I knew exactly the situation and I was not worried at all. I understood why there was criticism because I knew so many people care about this football but as always opinions and criticisms are voiced without really knowing what is going on."

After being forced to settle for a no-scoring draw against St Mirren, Paatelainen admitted tomorrow's match was one which his side needed to win if they are to fulfil their aspirations of climbing the SPL table.

But he admitted it won't be easy despite Caley's recent record. He said: "Inverness will be absolutely determined because of last week and they have good players in their ranks."

Long-term injury victim Kevin McCann is the only player unavailable to Paatelainen.