Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara has expressed his sympathy for under-fire Hibs manager Pat Fenlon because he knows only too well all about the pressure football exerts.
Fenlon appears to be living on borrowed time at Easter Road following the early season humiliation in the Europa League at the hands of Malmo as well as two opening league losses against Motherwell and bitter rivals Hearts last weekend.
Another defeat to United in Edinburgh could prove the final nail in the coffin for the Irishman, especially as the Hibees support appear to have turned against the former Shelbourne and Bohemians boss.
However, while all the pressure seems to be bearing down on Fenlon, McNamara insists it is something that affects everyone in the game as the Tangerines look to bounce back from last weekend’s desperately-disappointing defeat against Inverness and secure their first victory of the new SPFL campaign.
“There’s pressure on me, the players here and there’s pressure on everyone in football. That’s why we’re in the job we’re in.
“Even if you’re winning, there’s pressure to keep on winning. If you’re drawing or losing there’s pressure. That’s part and parcel of the game so the players have to handle what’s put in front of them.
“It’s a great game to look forward to and one we have to try and enjoy. We’re not going to tense up just because we got a bad result at home to Inverness last weekend.
“We have to make sure that we go out at Easter Road without any fear and play our own game.”
McNamara was an interested spectator at Tynecastle last Sunday watching Hibs lose in the Edinburgh derby.
However, despite all the problems affecting the Easter Road outfit, the Tangerines boss insists the focus from his own players will be firmly on making amends for what happened against Inverness.
McNamara said: “Hibs will be disappointed with the result in the derby match last weekend.
“I watched their game with Hearts and didn’t think there was much in it. Regardless of how they’re doing, there’s no such thing as a good time or a bad time to get them.
“They had a great start to the league last year before dropping off but it’s important we concentrate on playing our own game.
“We’ve got to be brave and put behind us what happened last Saturday and move forward.”
United could be boosted by the return of centre-half Gavin Gunning for the trip to Easter Road.
The big defender has been out since February after having ops on his knee and shoulder. The former Blackburn and Motherwell player is now edging back to full fitness and played for the United Under-20s earlier this week against St Johnstone.
McNamara added: “Gavin is looking good.
“He strolled through the match earlier in the week against St Johnstone and I took him off with Saturday in mind. I thought there was a big difference between the other night’s game and the one the week before.
“He’s getting fitter and stronger which is good.”
Meanwhile, Mark Wilson is still training with the Tangerines as McNamara mulls over a possible move for the former Celtic star.