Lee Johnson reacts to Hibs fans' fury and insists 'they love us really' ahead of crunch Euro second leg

Lee Johnson reckons Hibs fans love him and his team really, despite venting their fury after last week's shock defeat to Inter Club d'Escaldes.

The Hibees had to endure the humiliation of losing to the part-time Andorran side in the first leg of the Europa Conference League second round qualifier. Joe Newell's stoppage time free-kick halved the deficit ahead on Thursday's night's return encounter at Easter Road, where the hosts will be expected to turn things round.

Footage emerged online of travelling fans making their feelings on the result and performance clear to the players and staff as they trudged off to the dressing rooms. Johnson appealing for them to calm down didn't exactly help matters. But the Hibs boss insists punters have to be allowed to show their frustration, as long as it doesn't get too personal. He said: "We haven't discussed it to be honest. Fans have to be allowed to be fans, to wear their heart on their sleeve. I think they love us really. I really do and the feeling is mutual.

"Sometimes, in a big family, you have those arguments and discussions and in one sense, it was fair game. Sometimes it gets a little bit too personal. You may have seen me asking a couple or an individual or two to calm down. That was just based on the personal nature of a couple of the comments.

"At the same time, you don't normally do an interview at half-time of games and that's where we are. We're looking for a massive performance from our team and also the supporters. They want us to do well and progress into the next round. Part of our performance is the supporters as well. We'll certainly need them."

Johnson claims the pressure going into the second leg is just something they'll have to deal with. And he reckons the