Fed up Hibs boss Shaun Maloney has taken a swipe at those he claims don't want to see his new-look side succeed.
The Leith club have won just one of their last five Premiership games and sit in fourth place, 13-points behind city rivals Hearts.
Just five points separate them from Aberdeen in 10th in what's set to be a dramatic end to the league campaign.
Now Maloney wants his players to use the critics as motivation for an upturn in fortunes as they approach the business end of the season.
He told the Long Bangers Podcast: "We’re sitting in fourth and I know that we are miles away from where I want us to be. I came in when we were seventh, we’re now fourth and in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.
"The next two weeks are huge and both things could change.
“But from where I took over and with the injuries we’ve had, I know where we’re at. I know there’s been positive and less positive things, but I never hear what we’re doing well.
“I’m starting to understand the dynamics of this club and this city. But I get a real motivation from that.
“It might not just be me. I also get the feeling from the club. I feel like people are quite happy for Hibs not to do okay."
And Maloney has urged the Easter Road boo boys to lay off players.
He added: "I never read anything or listen to anything because I know where the team need to get and what we need to do. Until that moment, then I know the fans will connect with us or me.
"Until then I’d much rather they put the pressure on me, give me the boos rather than the players."
Maloney will have to cope with the loss of talisman Kevin Nisbet, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season but he knows others have to step up.
He said: “We’ve lost our main nine for a long period of time and we’re going to have to push Elias [Melkerson] we need him.
"That’s football. We need to let him adapt but keep pushing him."
