Dirk is right into the way of things Lehmann boasts Hibs could be third-best

Such a philosophy will never sit well with Hibs manager Alex McLeish, who successfully took on their domination under Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen.

However, times have changed, and when an experienced player like German Dirk Lehmann is asked how good Hibs could be, it is not surprising that he boasts that they ''could be the third biggest club in Scotland''.

His ambitions for the Easter Road club are probably in line with the majority of their supporters, but they won't like being told they will continue to lag behind the big boys, despite the fact that what he has said is realistic.

Lehmann, who played under Kevin Keegan at Fulham, Belgian international Eric Gerets at Lierse, and who began his career at Cologne in Germany, is set to be a mainstay of McLeish's plans. However the question still to be answered is: who is his best partner up front? Against St Johnstone Russel Latapy was his running mate and although he put in a power of work and nearly won the game for Hibs late on, a strong case could be made for the introduction of a big, strong target man like Mixu Paatelainen to play alongside Lehmann.

Such a selection dilemma is something McLeish will relish as his side continues to pick up points. Four games in, they are undefeated, although it took an outrageous own goal from Kieran McAnespie with 20 minutes left to keep their record intact.

Certainly, Hibs have some of the best ball players in the premier league and some of their passing moves against St Johnstone were a joy to watch. However, for all their pretty play they lacked that directness, that penetration a player like Paatelainen would bring to them.

From box to box at McDiarmid Park the visitors did well, but in the most important area of the park they created few chances.

It is clear Latapy is at his best running at players rather than having to take balls into feet as a frontman and you may see McLeish shuffling the pack in the coming weeks to get the best out of the Trinidad and Tobago internationalist by dropping him into the hole behind the front two.

New signing Grant Brebner had a quiet game, but at only 21 and on a five-year deal he clearly has time on his side to mature.

Afterwards, Lehmann gave an appraisal of his side's league performances so far, and suggested that for all their good play they gave away ''too many silly goals''.

Certainly the Nathan Lowndes strike in 36 minutes which gave the Perth side the lead fell into that category.

First, Franck Sauzee decided to play it short to Mathias Jack inside his own box but made a hash of his clearance which fell to Paul Kane. The former Hibs player returned the ball back in, and, after a game of bagatelle between Gerry McMahon, Shaun Dennis and McAnespie, the ball fell to Lowndes, who knocked it home from for his third goal in three consecutive games.

From a St Johnstone point of view things are bubbling along nicely for their upcoming European tie against VPS Vaasa of Finland on Thursday evening. In the first leg, which they drew 1-1, they looked pretty awful, but they have improved since then.

Still, like the Easter Road side, they have a problem as to their best front-line formation. George O'Boyle is out with a groin problem and Miguel Simao has looked out of touch. On the positive side, Lowndes is looking hungrier than ever, and Kevin Thomas, whom they signed from Morton and who came on as a second-half substitute, looks likely to be able to do a job for them.

Certainly over the 90 minutes they had the best chances although unfortunately for them two fell to defender Darren Dods, who is not renowned for his finishing.

As has been the case in all of their games so far this season, the biggest influences were Nick Dasovic and Kane. It is hard to believe that referee Alan Freeland issued nine yellow cards in what wasn't a dirty game.

Even the sending-off of Hibs defender Jack late on after he made a gesture to the referee which followed on a first-half booking for a foul on Lowdnes seemed a bit harsh.

Both teams now look to two important fixtures, with St Johnstone having their European tie on Thursday, while Hibs play Rangers at home next Saturday - and that will be a revealing test of Dirk Lehmann's prediction that Hibs could become the third biggest team in Scotland.

Next league matches: St Johnstone - Aberdeen (a, Sun); Hibs - Rangers.

Quote

Hibs will shock a few teams this season. I think as long as they keep scraping draws like the one they got against us away from home they won't do too badly.

Nathan Lowndes