Lee Johnson insists Hibs put down a marker in downing Luzern – but knows the job isn’t done yet.

The Easter Road manager took some stick in the last round of Conference League qualifying by pointing out it was ‘only half-time’ after his side lost a first leg to Andorran minnows Inter Club D’Escaldes. But he applied some consistency in stressing that their work is only half done as the Hibees strive to set up a play-off showdown with Aston Villa.

Goals from Joe Newell, debutant Dylan Vente and Jordan Obita give Johnson’s side a healthy advantage to take to Switzerland next week, with Ismajl Beka scoring for the visitors. Easter Road was bouncing at full-time, and Johnson is adamant such scenes are ‘what Hibs is about’ as the mood lifted considerably from Sunday’s Premiership defeat to St Mirren.

"Good!" Johnson beamed. "To be fair, it's only half-time. I said in Andorra when we lost 2-1 that it was only half-time and I'll say it again now we've got a two-goal lead.

"I really like them. I think they're a good quality side. They're brilliant in terms of an education piece for the club, for myself, for the players. 

"I was really proud today of the whole club. We took a bit of stick, rightly so, for our first half performance against St Mirren. 

READ MORE: Hibs 3 Luzern 1 - Joe Newell inspirational in thrilling Conference League qualifying win

"That was what Hibs is about. The crowd were up, 13,000 sounded like 25,000. Boys were making big tackles. We had pressure on everywhere from the front. Sometimes they got through us because they've got some good players with quality touches. We had to throw our bodies on the line and get back in quick, but that's what you've got to do.

"You've got to do that in every game. So in one sense for me it's fantastic because that's a marker now for this group. Because it is a new group because it's around nine new signings. They're knackered down there and they should be, because that's how you come off after a game having left nothing on the pitch.

"I got pulled before the game and gave a bit of stick about the team selection, which was surprising because I thought it was quite a bold one and one that we built on and the subs coming on were key. Everyone who is in the squad has to be ready to affect the game. To play two up front and then replenish that with two more quality strikers with energy is an important factor when you are playing that shape. Sometimes the bench is as important  as the starters. I thought Dylan Vente was excellent and he provided the goal and the assist but, for me, I buzzed off the workrate."