NEIL Lennon’s focus was very much on Championship business despite holders Hibernian making it safely past Ayr United and into the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-finals.

Still smarting from the 2-0 midweek defeat to bottom side St Mirren, the head coach urged his players to bring their best form to every match for the remainder of the season, starting with Friday night’s clash with Dundee United.

Lennon said after his side’s 3-1 win over Ayr: “Every game from here on in is a big game because no-one in the Championship is going to give it to you easy. We saw that on Wednesday night. We didn’t go into the game with the right approach and we got done.

“To be fair to my players, it was their first defeat in three months, but for me there have been too many draws. Maybe I am asking too much of them but I know from what I have seen against Ayr United and against Hearts [in the previous round] and against Dundee United under the lights previously, they have those performances in them.

“But we need to be more consistent in the league.”