Top spot is the incentive for Hibs’ Paul Hanlon

PAUL HANLON insisted today that the mouthwatering prospect of waking up on Sunday morning as SPL leaders in early November will ensure there is no slackening off when St  Mirren visit Easter Road on Saturday.

By The Newsroom

Published 31st Oct 2012, 12:00 BST

Hibs’ 4-0 win at Fir Park on Friday night – their biggest away win in six years – took them within two points of table-topping Celtic, who crashed to a surprise defeat at home to  Kilmarnock the following day.

If there was any chance of the Edinburgh outfit falling flat after Friday night’s exploits, the chance to hit the summit again – even if it is just temporarily, with Celtic visiting Dundee United on Sunday – will provide Hanlon and his colleagues with no shortage of incentive.

The centre-back said: “There is the added incentive of being able to go top with Celtic not playing until Sunday afternoon. We passed up a few chances to do that a few weeks ago before going top for a brief time after we beat Dundee.

“It’s nice to be able to pick up the Sunday papers and see yourselves at the top of the  table. We have to build on our win over Motherwell.”