Impossible for Wright to maintain St Johnstone's consistency, says Hibs boss Lennon

Hibs head coach Neil Lennon reckons it was impossible for Tommy Wright to keep leading St Johnstone to finishes in the upper reaches of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Saints have been regulars in Europe under Wright and never out of the top six with a hat-trick of top-four finishes in the past three years.

But they face an uphill struggle to make the top six this season with a six-point deficit on Hearts with four games until the split, although the Gorgie side have played a game more.

Saints realistically need to beat Hibs at McDiarmid Park on Friday to retain any hope and Lennon is taking nothing for granted despite his team's good form.

Wright's side showed what they are capable of when beating Dundee 4-0 at Dens Park last weekend and Lennon is poised for a tough encounter.

Lennon said: They are a good side and Tommy has consistently been one of the best managers in the league.

They are not having the best of seasons compared to what they have had before but you can't keep doing that, it's impossible. Unless he gets the right kind of investment that matches other teams.

I still think they are very dangerous opposition, for any team. They have gone to Ibrox and won, they got points at Celtic Park. It wouldn't be beyond them to win four or five games in a row.

We haven't beaten them this season. They came here and nicked us off us at the end. We played well up at McDiarmid Park and I would expect nothing else on Friday.'