Dylan Vente declares Hibs showed Aston Villa 'too much respect' as striker resets focus after Conference League rout

Dylan Vente insists Hibs were guilty of showing Aston Villa too much respect as they crashed to defeat in midweek.

But the striker has vowed that there will be no Europa Conference League hangover when they host Livingston today. The English top-flight team did not look back after opening the scoring in a 5-0 rout through Ollie Watkins in 17 minutes. The financial gulf was there for everyone to see in the end but even £700,000 summer recruit Vente admits Hibs made life too easy for their illustrious visitors.

He said: “In the first 20 minutes it was OK, we had some counters and could have made something. But after conceding the game ran away from us quickly, that’s maybe what we have to learn, to stay focused. It went too quick, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0. We were down 3-0 at half-time so it was already done.

“In the first half we showed too much respect and I think that was the problem for us. Maybe we had to make some fouls, not play more dirty but not to let them just play. They’re at a good team but I felt maybe at home we could show something and do something but it didn’t go that way. On the other side we need to learn from this.”

Vente, however, insists Hibs are desperate to make amends by picking up their first Premiership points of the season. He said: “For us it’s reacting on Saturday. From the beginning we have to play hard, play well, make chances for everybody. The most important thing is reacting from the game from Wednesday and that’s all we can do. Every game is different, if you don’t play well on one game you have to change your mind and be free in your head, that’s the most important thing – to be mentally good.”

Boss Lee Johnson, meanwhile, is certain Hibs will not allow the European defeat to linger like Dundee