Hibernian

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• Last season, all six of Heart of Midlothian's goals against Hibernian came in the second half of games, with four of those coming in the 86th minute or later. Hibs, by contrast, scored three of their four goals in this fixture in first halves.

• Hearts have only won one of their last eight away league outings (D2 L5), although that was at rivals Hibernian in April (2-1).

• Hibernian have lost each of their last four home league games, their longest run in the top-flight since August 2011 (also four), while they last lost five in a row in August 2010.

• Hibernian have lost both of their last two league games against Hearts, but haven't lost three in a row to their Edinburgh rivals in the top-flight since March 2012.

• After their 2-1 win in April, Hearts could enjoy back-to-back away league wins over Hibernian for the first time since March 2020.

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Hibernian have signed Marko Ivezic after selling fellow central defender Warren O'Hora to Leicester City.

Capped once for Serbia, 24-year-old Ivezic arrives from German second tier side Holstein Kiel and has agreed a three-year deal.

Irishman O'Hora, 27, has also penned a three-year contract at Leicester and reunites with manager Russell Martin after their time together at MK Dons.

O'Hora made 85 appearances for Hibs and captained the side on several occasions.

"We're sad to see him go, but ultimately we understand that this is a life-changing move for him and his young family," said head coach David Gray of the departure for an undisclosed fee.

"He constantly set the standards in training ,and he is a true professional both on and off the pitch."

Ivezic is the eighth summer arrival at Easter Road and began his career with FK Vozdovac before joining Holstein Kiel in the summer of 2023.

He helped the club gain promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time and made 23 appearances in the German top-flight as their stay lasted just one season.

His sole cap came as a substitute in a 2-1 friendly victory over the United States in January 2023.

"He brings a really good combination of both physical defensive qualities and experience," said Gray of Ivezic, who is right-footed like O'Hora.

"He's very versatile, which gives us another option within the squad, and at 24 he has his best years ahead of him. We believe he is primed and ready to fit right into the squad."

Hibernian are keen on a loan deal for Nottingham Forest defender Zach Abbott but face competition from the English Championship for the 20-year-old. (Football Insider, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

We asked for your views after Hibernian earned a Scottish Premiership victory at Dundee on Sunday.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Ross: Much better - great tempo, good energy. Jacob Devaney is the missing number six link. Thought he was excellent. That's how we should play. Nathan Lowe is still a liability and should be dropped. Evergreen Martin Boyle superb again.

Niall: Frustrating last 10 minutes, but it cannot be allowed to colour the rest of the game. That was one of the best performances I've seen from Hibs under David Gray. The level of control with Devaney in midfield was so noticeable, especially when he went off. Could've scored more goals for sure, but the response after the gutting loss on Thursday needs to be praised for what it was.

Sandy: Strongest performance of the season. Midfield looked excellent and with a rotated squad. Only thing - we need some squad depth. Bring on the Jambos!

Martin: Following on from a very good second half on Thursday night, we took control of this game early on and never let go until about the 84th minute, when we let Dundee back into it. We should have been out of sight by then, but the positives far outweigh any negatives. Fantastic debut from young Devaney - he gives the platform for guys like Jamie McGrath, Boyle and Josh Mulligan to attack. Roll on Thursday and hopefully the same attacking set-up.

Neil: A great performance from Hibs. Devaney looks like he could be the missing piece in our midfield - excellent display. Should have been out of sight in this game, but once again we made it unnecessarily uneasy for ourselves towards the end of the match.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Jack Walton (Dundee United): Five saves and a clean sheet - job done.

Felix Passlack (Hibernian): An assist from the consistently impressive German.

Bert Esselink (Dundee United): Powerful performance and an away clean sheet.

Grant Hanley (Hibernian): Was it intentional? Who cares. Great assist for Martin Boyle.

Will Ferry (Dundee United): Glorious strike with his less favoured right foot as United put Kilmarnock to the sword.

Callum Wright (Hibernian): Another goal for the English midfielder just gives him the nod here over new addition Jacob Devaney, who was also very good.

Emmanuel Agyei (Dundee United): Two key passes and a goal from the Ghana international.

Alex Lowry (Motherwell): Five key passes and always looking to get Motherwell on the front foot.

Samuel Ramos (St Mirren): A goal and two assists from the Spaniard.

Camilo Duran (Celtic): The difference maker against Falkirk with two goals.

Mehdi Merghem (Dundee United): The Algerian more than played his part in an outstanding away display with two assists.

A goal in each half gives Hibernian a deserved Scottish Premiership win at Dundee (UK only).

Hibernian soothed their midweek European blues with a deserved Scottish Premiership win over Dundee at Dens Park.

MATCH REPORT

HAVE YOUR SAY

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "Usually, people say we're looking for a reaction after a disappointing result. It was more about maintaining our standards.

"The players were outstanding, given the disappointment and everything that went in to Thursday night [losing to Gent]. As a group, I thought we were outstanding and fully deserved the win.

"For 80 minutes, complete control, probably should've scored another goal to kill the game out completely. They get the goal right at the very end. The players found the answer to make sure we seen it out.

"That's certainly the right way to bounce back.

"I'll certainly add to the squad whilst the window's open, you're always looking as well."

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Dundee could include new defender Matai Akinmboni but strikers Simon Murray and Ashley Hay (both knee) are out.

Hibs midfielder Josh Campbell is hoping to recover from illness while Owen Elding is doubtful with a calf issue.

Rocky Bushiri (Achilles) is still out.

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• The past eight Scottish Premiership matches between Dundee and Hibernian have featured 30 goals (3.8 per game), with seven of these seeing more than goals scored. Their last league meeting was a 3-3 draw in February.

• Dundee have only won three of the past 30 top-flight meetings with Hibs (losing 15 and drawing the rest), although all three did come on home soil.

• Dundee defeated rivals Dundee United 2-0 last time out despite facing 25 shots. They were the first side to win and keep a clean sheet in a Premiership match despite facing 25+ shots since St Johnstone against Celtic in April 2025 (26 shots faced).

• Hibs have won their past three away league outings, their longest run on the road in the Premiership since winning four on the spin from August to September 2020 under Jack Ross.

• Dundee have won five of their past seven league games (losing two), including four in a row at home, and both of their latest two overall. The Dark Blues last won three successive top-flight matches in December/January of last season.

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Warren O'Hora has denied Hibs have a mentality issue after their "very cruel" Conference League exit to Gent.

David Gray's side blew a 2-1 lead in the closing stages of Thursday's play-off second leg at Easter Road, with Miguel Chaiwa's stoppage-time own goal giving the Belgians a 3-2 aggregate victory.

"Football is very cruel at times," said defender O'Hora. "Sometimes you don't get what you deserve. I'm heartbroken. We deserved more, the fans deserved more, the club deserved more, but ultimately we didn't get there. It's a hard one to take."

For the second year in succession, Hibs let a Conference League play-off slip from their grasp after they suffered an agonising 4-3 defeat by Legia Warsaw at the same stage last August.

O'Hora, though, defended his side's mentality and said: "I don't think that's in question, to be honest.

"I think we've been asked questions from the start of the season. We were 2-0 down in the first game [against Malisheva]. Asked the big question, come to Easter Road and turn it round, and we did.

"We won the first leg against the Macedonian team [Shkendija] and had to go away in conditions that we're not used to, and we got through.

"Then we go to Gent, an historic club, and put a performance in and get a result. In between that, we've had Rangers away - asked the big question [when Rangers equalised] and we get a result [2-1 victory].

"We had a Premier Sports Cup game in between that as well, and got through that. We gave everything against Gent and we didn't get what we deserved, especially on the second-half performance.

"I don't think the mentality is questionable for this group of players. We all know that we had a right chance. We didn't take it, but I don't think we can fault the effort or anything like that."

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We asked for your views after Hibs' Conference League hopes were ended when they conceded two late goals to lose 3-2 at home to Gent in the play-off.

Here are some of your comments:

Robert: I'm a Hibs supporter of over 70 years and even when we were winning near the end you expect this to happen. It always does.

John: Players gave everything as usual but lack of leadership in midfield cost us again. I'm sorry to say that Nathan Lowe is completely out of his depth at this level. Gent's winner came from a poor free-kick into their box.

Rab: Same again, how much can us fans take? David Gray didn't make the changes when needed. They did and won. We need a manager that will win games, not just giving the fans a high then a low.

Tom: How many times have we lost games with late goals? It is as if they bottle it when the pressure is on. So disappointing for loyal supporters but we should be used to it by now.

David: A really good second-half performance ruined in a few minutes with needless mistakes. Gray has set a standard of effort which the players match, he now needs to set a standard for quality otherwise we won't take the next step.

Daryl: No European football could give them a chance to hurl themselves at the Premiership instead. Fine in theory, time will tell.

Hibs fans, we asked for your views on the late, late loss to Gent in the Conference League play-off. Here's an early taste of what you had to say...

Ken: Hibs were certainly not shamed tonight. No Malmo catastrophe and we came really close.

Nic : David Gray and conceding late goals. Name a more iconic duo.

Niall: Cheers Hibs, ripping the spirit out of my soul as always.

Alex: Hibs have lost 10 goals in nine games this season, six of them from the 84th minute onwards. Serious questions about strength of mentality.

Rob: Late goals keep killing us. Happens too often and there seems to be no change to this pattern over the last few years. Sad to say we need a change of coach as there is no visible change at Hibs to stop late goals

Ross: Hibs go from heroes to zeroes again. Can't defend crossballs or the last 10 minutes of games to see the game out. Where's the mentality and leaders?

Ben: Just when you think life is going well, Hibs find a way to utterly destroy you. I've literally never felt joy inside an Edinburgh football stadium and I'm a 30-year old Hibs season-ticket holder. Gutted once again.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "It's really mixed emotions right now. Clearly disappointed and gutted for the players for what they put into the game.

"There's nothing I'm going to say after the game that will make the players feel better.

"First half we were a wee bit passive, needed to be a wee bit more aggressive. Second half, I told them them to make sure they gave everything and have no regrets when they came off. Every player gave me that.

"You don't always get what you deserve in football, and unfortunately it came down to two huge moments in the last five minutes of the game in both boxes, and we were on the wrong side of both.

"At this level, you get punished. We gave away a needless corner and don't defend a set piece, which we generally defended well across both legs.

"We go straight up the pitch, have a huge moment at the other end and should score. That was the difference. We didn't take that chance and we were then hit on the break.

"It's really hard to put that into words, it's hard to be really critical of the players.

"I'll take the criticism because it's my job to win games of football and we've come up just short right at the very end.

"These are brilliant nights to be involved in. Football has a habit of kicking when you're down but we need to make sure we bounce back as quick as we can."

Hibernian endured Conference League play-off heartbreak for a second successive year as Miguel Chaiwa's 91st-minute own goal gave KAA Gent victory to conclude a miserable night at the end of a depressing week for Scottish football.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Could Hibs' hopes of reaching the Conference League hinge on the fitness of Owen Elding?

The talented Irish striker, who has three goals in eight appearances this season, is an injury doubt for tonight's play-off second leg against Gent at Easter Road.

Elding, 20, had a penalty saved in the goalless draw in Belgium last week, but Hibs legend Joelle Murray says the striker's availability will be crucial as David Gray's side bid to make history.

Murray, the current Hibs women head coach, told the BBC's Scottish football podcast: "It's a massive concern.

"He has really been a standout so far this season. Not only his goals, but his workrate.

"And it's not just workrate in and around the box, but his ability to recover the ball deep in the pitch, play forward, support forward.

"So it's a concern because I think we need his energy.

"We need his goals. He was unfortunate to miss the penalty last week but he had the confidence and bravery to step up."

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hibernian head coach David Gray has been speaking to the media before his side's second leg of the Conference League play-off against Gent.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Owen Elding missed "a bit of training" in the past week and there are a few other niggles from the first-leg goalless draw that they didn't see at the time.

• Gray will give Elding "every chance" to feature at Easter Road on Thursday but the striker remains a doubt.

• The Hibs boss says his players have "earned the right" to have a real go in the second leg and they take a "cup final mentality and attitude" into the game.

• Gray has urged Hibs to seize their "brilliant opportunity" to advance to the Conference League, which would make them the first Hibs side to progress from European qualifiers.

• He adds: "I'm pretty sure this will be one of the most memorable nights in the club's history if we can go and achieve group-stage football."

• Gray stresses his side don't believe the hard work is already done: "It certainly won't be one where we think because we've had a positive result away, that means you've got to tap in at home. Absolutely not."

• The head coach expects a "more open" game than the first leg, owing to the stakes involved for both sides.

• Gray says Hibs have been "really pushing towards" league-phase football for a couple of years, adding: "I know the owner [Ian Gordon] is desperate to try and see his team playing in Europe."