Tam McManus insists Hibs axe must fall on Lee Johnson if St Johnstone slip derails top six surge

Tam McManus believes Hibs should part company with Lee Johnson if he doesn't get the top six away at St Johnstone.

The former player at Easter Road is backing the boss to get that Premiership position tied up after last week's morale-boosting 1-0 derby win over Hearts kept their destiny in their own hands. But defeat at McDiarmid Park would leave them needing a favour off Dundee United at Tannadice as a Livingston win under such circumstances would fire David Martindale's team into the top half, with St Mirren a point above them in fifth on 44 points.

McManus started on PLZ with an endorsement of Hibs' Perth chances: "I fancy them to beat St Johnstone and I think they will take care of business. I know they have the safety net of Dundee United possibly doing them a favour but I think they will take care of St Johnstone.

"I haven't been impressed with them in recent weeks. But if Hibs play the way they did last week, same intensity, same passion, same quality, there will only be one winner."

But if it doesn't go that way for Johnson's men and the bottom six is where they lie, a tough decision awaits. When asked what he thought if his former club didn't clinch that berth, and if the boss should be sacked, the Record Sport columnist responded: "If he doesn't make top six I think he will be under serious pressure for his job.

"Do I think he will get the sack? Yes, I think he should. Because for me in this season of all seasons, for Hibs not to be in the top six would be embarrassing for the club and fans.

"So the result last week has took some heat off. They need to get in the top six, somehow."

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