Kevin Thomson believes Hibs are in a relegation battle and the pressure spotlight is firmly on boss Lee Johnson.
The Easter Road side were brushed aside by Hearts at Tynecastle as Robbie Neilson's men continue their post-World Cup form and rise up the table while the Hibees tumble towards the bottom end. A Lawrence Shankland double and strike from Stephen Humphrys secured a 3-0 win in Gorgie to put five points between the Jambos and Aberdeen in the race for third spot while the men from Leith are eighth with just four points between themselves and the relegation play-off spot.
Hibs at one point occupied the best of the rest place behind Celtic and Rangers but their form has fallen off a cliff in recent months. There was a lot of hope of European football and finish in the top end of the table at the start of the season but on current form they face a fight to make the top six and even in the league. At this stage they are just three points off fourth in a very tight Premiership - but with Motherwell next up, Thomson has branded that game 'huge'.
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Reflecting on the derby defeat and Hibs' form, he told Sky Sports: "It's a disappointing result. I think first-half, they were really passive. They were really poor. I think Robbie [Neilson] and the Jambos have put a really good squad together, minus some big players as well.
"They've had a lot of bad luck with injury which has been well documented, but I thought they were really comfortable.
"I think Hibs in the second-half had a wee bit of a go, but what does that mean? You go to Tynecastle to play against your arch-rivals, the fans would expect you to have a go.
"He's got a big job on his hands, Lee Johnson. He's talked the talk really, now Hibs fans are starting to get a wee bit unrest, there's starting to be a bit of grumbling among the support. They want to see a team performing. It's a big game against Motherwell next week, so the pressure is certainly on.
"I think anyone that gets an opportunity, you have a pre-season and a summer window, and then you get to January and your team looks how the team looks, I think a lot of people would question some of the things that he's been saying.
"Listen, I've no doubt it's difficult, that's the way it is. When you represent a big club, the pressure comes. You see it right across the country. Unfortunately so far, with the run of results they've had and the position they are in in the league... a lot of Hibs fans are saying they are in a relegation battle and they are. They are looking over their shoulder.
"There was a stage where I think they went third when they beat St Mirren at home, and since then it's been a tumble down the league. When the opposite side of the city are doing well, I think that brings more pressure. So Motherwell is huge."
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