Hibernian

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

David Gray took a massive risk at Ibrox with a team selection that hinted heavily at prioritising our Conference League fixture on Thursday over one of the most difficult away games in the league.

He brought in several players from the cold, notably Ante Suto, Thibault Klidje, Josh Campbell and Kanyo Megwa, raising more than a few eyebrows among the Hibs support.

But the gaffer's brave choice was vindicated with a battling performance from a Hibs side that won away to Rangers for the third successive season for the first time in our history.

Gray has made a habit of breaking unwanted records - Sunday was also the first time Rangers manager Derek McInnes had lost a home game to Hibs.

We looked every bit the well-coached, motivated team Gray's critics have suggested we are not.

To a man the players stood up to be counted for Gray - this was the performance Hibs fans have been waiting for. We weren't swashbuckling or dominant with possession, but we fought for everything and when chances came, we were clinical.

I've long said Gray needs more time. He can point to the availability of Jamie McGrath and Suto as a sign his squad is getting closer to its best. With Nicky Cadden still to return, things are looking much rosier for Gray in the wake of this win.

A final mention for young Owen Elding. Brought on with just minutes remaining, he showed composure beyond his years to bring a calmness to proceedings and set Hibs on our way to the crucial attack that won the match.

The 20-year-old forward is one to watch this season and Gray should be looking to build his team around him.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss Callum Wright's late goal, and Owen Elding's part in making it happen, which helped Hibs secure a 2-1 victory against Rangers at Ibrox.

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Hibernian's Conference League opponents FK Shkendija were 2-0 winners away to Vardar in the North Macedonian top flight at the weekend.

The victory means Shkendija are second in the league on goal difference after two league games.

Hibs beat Shkendija 2-1 at Easter Road on Thursday in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie as they prepare to travel for the return leg this week.

Should Hibs progress to the Conference League play-off, they will face either IFK Goteborg or Gent.

The former defeated Kalmar 3-2 in their domestic league to move up to 10th in the Allsvenskan after 16 games. Gent also won at the weekend beating Mechelen 2-0 in the opening game of the Belgian Pro League season.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Raphael Sallinger - Hibernian

Made eight saves as Hibs held on for another win over Rangers at Ibrox.

Kanayo Megwa - Hibernian

Played a big part in a strong, steady victorious showing at Ibrox.

Auston Trusty - Celtic

Superb block on the line as the American kept things tight at the back for Celtic.

Owen Bevan - Dundee

You don't have to be called Bevan to do well for Dundee, but it clearly helps. Strong showing at the back.

Emmanuel Longelo - Motherwell

More often than not makes an impact down the left for the Steelmen.

Joe Bevan - Dundee

Looked impressive at times against Celtic and took it to a new level against Aberdeen with a goal and assist.

Tom Renaud - Hearts

His laser-guided rocket reminded me of Ally McCoist at Euro '96. To be fair, Renaud's was even better.

Killian Phillips - St Mirren

Suddenly the main man for the Buddies. Loved his no-nonsense one-step penalty.

Josh McPake - Hearts

Scored a fine goal, linking up with Claudio Braga. Shining on the Tynecastle stage after his heroics for St Johnstone.

Kasper Hogh - Celtic

An ebullient, winning personality and the Celtic fans have a new hero after the £11m man netted a hat-rick and looked an all round class act.

Claudio Braga - Hearts

Ran out of superlatives for his contribution last season, and was back to his best against Dundee United with a goal and two assists.

Hibs fans, we asked for your views after Sunday's 2-1 victory against Rangers at Ibrox.

Here's what some of you said:

Kieran: This is what happens when you make positive changes throughout a match. David Gray got his subs spot on, minus Felix Passlack's moment of madness which he then makes up for. We aren't asking for world class football every week but that performance has to be the benchmark moving forward.

Scott: Organised, resilient and dangerous on the break - much more like it. I thought Gray had blown it with the three subs as to me it just invited pressure but we hung in there and took our chance. A positive result midweek in Europe would top everything off nicely.

John: Outstanding performances from our back four and Callum Wright got Passlack out of jail. I agree with Gray we have to utilise the whole squad and once they all gel we'll be a force to be reckoned with.

Aidan: You felt that Hibs just needed one more opportunity to get a smash and grab winner from the game. Fair play not buckling when it went 1-1 and after losing a late goal last Sunday to then win the next two games by scoring late on shows a shift in character which I hope continues.

Finn: Super performance off the ball, punished Rangers in the little moments. The result brings momentum into a really important couple of weeks for Hibs.

Alan: Perhaps the supporters continually calling for a change of manager will get off David Gray's back. Sunday was tough on the players and we should be proud of them and the management team for the way they defended, attacked and played for the club and each other.

Genoa have expressed an interest in 23-year-old Hibernian midfielder Josh Mulligan. (Sky Sports, external)

Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.

Derek McInnes' wait for his first win as Rangers manager goes on after Hibernian claimed back-to-back Scottish Premiership wins at Ibrox and their third win there in as many seasons thanks to Callum Wright's late breakaway goal.

Read the match report here.

Have your say here.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray tells Premier Sports: "Rangers put us under severe pressure for the second half, the character was really tested but we made an attacking substitution to try and have that mentality of not just sitting in even with the Rangers pressure.

"[The winning goal] was a brilliant moment. I'm delighted for the players because we made a lot of changes and the players that came in did really well, it builds that character.

"The type of game suits Josh Mulligan. To a man I think it would be difficult to single anyone out because they were all so good.

"I've been through adversity at the start. The demands and expectations are always going to be there. The biggest thing is sticking together as a group. Internally we know we're in a good place, there's more to come."

Neil Farrugia's absence from recent Dundee United games was planned as he manages his way back from groin trouble. (Courier - subscription required, external)

Sunday's Scottish gossip

Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin believes Hibernian are trending in the right direction under head coach David Gray. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Sunday's Scottish gossip

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• Rangers lost their last league meeting with Hibernian 1-2 at Ibrox in May but have not lost successive top-flight matches against Hibs since November 2005 under Alex McLeish.

• Hibernian have won two of their past three league visits to Rangers (L1) and could win successive trips in the top-flight for just the fourth time, previously doing so in September 1902, October 1985, and February 2018.

• There have been 35 goals scored in Rangers' past seven league games at Ibrox, an average of five per game. Their most recent game was a 2-1 defeat by Hibs in May – they have never lost consecutive home league games against the same team both times. They last duplicated the same result and opponent in April/August 1990, back-to-back wins against Dunfermline Athletic.

• The past six results in Hibernian's Scottish Premiership matches have been away wins – they have lost four home games and won their two away games in this streak. The last side to have a longer run was Rangers between February and April 2025 (7), with the seventh game in that run ending Rangers 0-2 Hibernian.

• Thelo Aasgaard has scored in each of his past three Premiership appearances for Rangers – the last Ibrox player with a longer streak was Cyriel Dessers in April and May 2025 (5 in a row).

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Derek McInnes will assess his Rangers squad following their Europa League qualifying defeat by Jagiellonia Bialystok in Poland. Defender Ben Godfrey is out for the next three to four weeks with a hamstring issue. South Africa centre-back Olwethu Makhanya, the new signing from Philadelphia Union, could make his debut.

Hibernian trio Jack Iredale (appendix), Nicky Cadden and Jamie McGrath (both calf) are pushing for a return but may miss out again, along with Rocky Bushiri (Achilles).

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Chris Cadden described his move to Aberdeen as the "perfect fit", admitting: "I was ready for a new challenge."

The right-back arrived at Pittodrie on a two-year deal at the end of last month after five years at Hibernian and made his Dons debut in last weekend's Scottish Premiership win over Hearts.

"In terms of the stage in my career, my age - I think I am just coming in to my prime years hopefully," said the 29-year-old Scotland cap.

"So all that from my side of things, but also the size of the club, the fan base, everything that comes along with that, I know how big Aberdeen is, I played up here against them plenty of times away from home, I know how big the club is so as soon as I heard about the interest it was something I was really keen to get done and just sort of felt it was a perfect fit for me at this stage of my career."

Cadden played 166 times for Hibs and was asked if it was a wrench to leave Easter Road.

"That is maybe partly why I needed a change," he explained. "I loved my time at Hibs, it was great, we had a really successful time there but I just think sometimes you need a little bit of change in a career and a fresh start and Aberdeen is the perfect club for me to do that.

"I wasn't just going to jump ship, it had to be the right move and the right club and I feel this is.

"The manager was a big part of it as well. I played under him before with successful times at Motherwell as well and really enjoyed his football and what he brings.

"He really wanted me, which was big for me so yes, I'm excited and I can see what the gaffer can bring and that success to a football club and that continuity he can create at a football club so I am really excited."

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Hibernian midfielder Callum Wright loved his first Easter Road outing, two months on from joining the Edinburgh club.

The 26-year-old signed as a free agent in June and made his competitive debut during Thursday night's Conference League third qualifying round tie at home to Shkendija.

Wright was subbed on in the second half and set up Owen Elding for the opening goal as Hibs went on to win 2-1 in the first leg of the European tie.

"Obviously it's only halfway in the tie," he told Hibs TV.

"But it was a nice experience at Easter Road for the first time on a European night, which was a big part of why I came here.

"I was a bit more out wide, which I don't mind, as long as I'm getting on the ball that's fine. I enjoyed myself.

"Last year I played a lot inside the pitch, but as I say, I enjoyed it, and hopefully I can bring assists and goals to the team."

Hibs fans, we asked for your views after Thursday night's victory in North Macedonia against Shkendija in the Conference League third qualifying round.

Here's what some of you had to say:

David: A tough watch but got the win in the end. We lack creativity in the midfield without Jamie McGrath and need more direct wingers. I feel the recruitment has thrown David Gray under the bus this summer.

Lee: I feel that a run of results will be good for this squad. Gray needs this because at the moment Hibs fans are being guilty of showing signs of impatience, even when the team are on top. Fans are correct to have high expectations but they need to know when it is time to support and when it's time to ring out the booing. Last night some of the support were guilty of being edgy and this only feeds onto the pitch and impacts players negatively.

Kev: Another scruffy performance from Hibs but a win is a win. Gray has to get more out of this group of players or his time at Easter Road will end very quickly

Scott: For such an important game the team was flat and lacklustre in the first half. Hibs were in "don't lose" mode as usual. The second half showed improvement but we were fortunate to come away with a victory. We are a dreadful watch.

Gordon: No intensity, no pace, no urgency, excruciatingly slow in the build up and constantly passing across the back four. Eye bleeding at times. Gray has to get them to improve all areas mentioned above and get them playing with much more urgency or he's going to find himself under severe pressure.

Kieron: Yes we won but the performance was really poor. There's a huge gap in that midfield, I was seeing players getting frustrated because they were looking up wanting to pass but no was showing for it, so instead we had to hit it long which meant we lost the ball a lot. It's as if they're playing like they've never played with each other before.

Hibernian take a crucial advantage to North Macedonia for their Conference League third round qualifier second leg after Warren O'Hora's 90th-minute goal snatched victory against Shkendija.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "In terms of being at home and trying to have that home advantage, it's a big moment to go in front.

"It's hard to win games in European football as we know so to be winning after the first leg is very positive.

"It'll be very different when we go over there but I think we'll be different. I can't stand here tonight and say we deserved to be further in front. It will be a very different game with us being in front, they'll have to come out a little bit.

"Huge credit to the players, that's the third time the team has been selected to go again and it was a massive effort from everybody. I think we deserved to go in front but I think there's more to come from everybody.

"There were a lot of unforced errors from us tonight. We were trying to force things a little bit too much and probably ended up having to run a lot more because we lost the ball unnecessarily.

"Credit to the players because when it goes 1-1, the character then to make sure to get that goal and be in front in the tie, that was a big moment in the game. It is only half-time, I'm not getting carried away but I know we can be better.

"You need to enjoy that winning feeling. The players can be happy with the fact that we've won the game. We'll play better, I thought we played better on Saturday even though we lost the game. The biggest thing is you take the positives and the confidence from that but we'll have to quickly put that to bed and look forward to Rangers on Sunday.

"Playing Thursday and Sunday every week, it's relentless but we want this for as long as possible. There's no better feeling than winning games of football but it's only half-time."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

David Gray could have done without Sunday's Premiership defeat by Motherwell.

The opening weekend of a new season is supposed to be filled with optimism, fresh starts and the belief that this could finally be your year. Instead, Hibernian left Easter Road to a chorus of familiar questions.

That's football.

One defeat should never define a season but expectations have shifted at Hibs. Consecutive back-to-back European campaigns have raised the bar. Supporters no longer simply want progress – they expect it.

Few understand that expectation better than Gray.

His place in Hibernian folklore was secured long before he became head coach. His winning goal in the 2016 Scottish Cup final ended 114 years of hurt and ensured his name would forever be woven into the club's history. Had a statue of 'Sir David', as some supporters affectionately call him, appeared outside Easter Road, there would have been few objections.

But sentiment only carries you so far in football management. Gray's task now is not to relive past glories but to create new ones.

There is a strong case to suggest Hibs have enjoyed a successful couple of seasons. Consecutive European qualifications represent clear progress and, although they narrowly missed out on reaching the Conference League proper last term, they more than held their own against experienced continental opponents in Midtjylland, Partizan Belgrade and Legia Warsaw.

Those performances earned respect, what they did not earn was patience.

Football supporters are rarely willing to wait, particularly when they believe their team is capable of more. Every setback invites scrutiny and every defeat increases the noise.

Gray is no novice. This is his third pre-season in charge and he has had ample opportunity to shape the squad in his own image.

There is plenty to encourage him. Owen Elding looked increasingly assured towards the end of last season and continued that form against Malisheva last week. The hope is that further development follows.

Keeping hold of Josh Mulligan and Miguel Chaiwa before the transfer window closes could prove just as important. Both provide energy, balance and control in midfield, while Martin Boyle's decision to remain at the club for another season gives Hibs a proven match-winner capable of making the difference in tight games.

The next seven days already feel significant.

First comes Thursday's Conference League qualifier against the unfamiliar but potentially dangerous FK Shkendija. Hibs will want to take a healthy lead to North Macedonia and avoid leaving themselves with an uphill task in the second leg.

Then attention turns to Ibrox. It was a happy hunting ground in May but Rangers have changed considerably since then. Derek McInnes is now in charge, while familiar faces Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin will be waiting in blue. It promises to be another stern examination.

Football has a habit of changing the mood remarkably quickly. Win the next couple of matches and the doubts surrounding Gray will disappear almost as quickly as they surfaced. Fail to do so and the questions will only become louder.

Shkendija arrived in Edinburgh for Thursday's Conference League third qualifying round first leg with Hibernian without head coach Artim Polozani amid documentation issues but the visitors hope to have him in the Easter Road dugout for the match. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Thursday's Scottish gossip