Lee Johnson refused to call Hibs’ humbling in Andorra an embarrassment - even though minnows Inter Club d’Escaldes reminded him of Cheltenham Town.
The Easter Road side crashed to a 2-1 defeat in what Johnson conceded was a mighty wake-up call for his side. Andorra sit third bottom of the entire UEFA coefficient table. But Johnson insists there’s no reason to hit the panic button despite watching the wheels come off in the tiny Estadi Comunal of Andorra la Vella which bizarrely was flanked by a caravan site.
A David Marshall clanger 20 minutes from time saw the hosts race into a 2-0 lead - after Adri Gallego early opener - as Hibs’ hopes looked to have fallen off a cliff in the Pyrenees. Joe Newell’s injury time free kick was a vital lifeline. And Johnson said: “I’m super disappointed but the word embarrassing feels strong considering the tie isn’t over. That’s what it feels like to me.
“I knew that Inter aren’t a bad side. They remind me of my dad’s Cheltenham side when they were doing very well in League Two. We don’t have a given right to beat anybody unless we’re at it.
"We have to be on the front foot, we have to be aggressive, confident, brave, and bold and we weren’t until we took a punch on the nose and made a couple of changes. Individuals have to hold their hands up and be responsible, I have to hold my hands up and be responsible, and there’s even more motivation there for the second leg.
"The fans have got to maintain belief. I think we earned enough credit in the last six months of the season to be able to get a good first half at home and then turn the tie around. It's a wake up call, that's for sure. I said in the media and to the boys that they were up for it, they're physical and play off the big nine
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