Neil Lennon was installed as interim boss last week after the 4-0 defeat at St Mirren brought an end to Mowbray's short and troubled tenure as Hoops' boss.

The Parkhead players responded with a 3-1 home win over Kilmarnock on Saturday and despite being 10 points behind Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, they will look to build on that against Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday.

The Celtic midfielder claims the recent managerial changeover could rejuvenate the club after a hitherto disappointing season.

"It takes something like that to kick-start everyone and give them a boot up the backside," McGeady said.

"That's what we needed because we have underperformed and we are so far behind Rangers and it shouldn't be like that.

"We feel we are a better team than that and it should be a lot closer.

"It is down to ourselves but it is the manager who takes the blame which is the unfortunate thing about football."

Hibs have slipped up in recent weeks but manager John Hughes is refusing to let any criticism from the club's supporters interfere with his long-term ambitions for the Leith side.

Wednesday's 4-2 defeat to Dundee United has left the Easter Road outfit five points behind their Tayside counterparts in the race for third place in SPL.

Hibs have struggled to maintain their early season form and have recorded just two wins from their last 11 games in all competitions.

However, Hughes is confident in his own ability to turn Hibs into a side that can compete at the top end of the league and in the latter stages of cup competitions.

He said: "Criticism comes with the job, it's water off a duck's back and that's not having a go at the supporters.

"It's their club and they're entitled to it. I have got a great belief and vision in where I am going to go.

"The true Hibs fans know where we're going as a club and know what needs done. They know their game.

"I respect them for everything they do, they've been fantastic and I think they have a good education of football and a good education of what needs done as well and, in that, the last month has been disappointing."

ends