Callum Wright battles for possessionImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Hibernian will now face Gent for a place in the Conference League proper

At a glance

  • Hibs progress to Conference League play-off after goalless draw in Skopje

  • Elding and Lowe miss best chances for visitors in sweltering heat

  • They will now face Gent for a place in the competition proper

ByGeorge O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

Hibernian progressed to the Conference League play-offs with a gritty goalless draw against Shkendija in sweltering Skopje.

Having won 2-1 at Easter Road last week, David Gray's side knew anything other than defeat would take them to within one tie of European football proper.

And they delivered with a disciplined defensive display that limited their North Macedonian hosts largely to potshots from distance.

Nathan Lowe and Owen Elding both shot straight at home goalkeeper Ferat Ramani as Hibs spurned two golden chances to extend their aggregate lead.

However, those misses proved irrelevant as the visitors managed the game expertly, slowing it down and repelling everything Shkendija threw at them.

The best opportunity to force extra time fell to home striker Fahd Ndzengue, but he fired into the side netting after going clean through on Raphael Sallinger in the Hibs goal.

Off the back of Sunday's Scottish Premiership win at Ibrox, it has been a productive week for the Easter Road side, who will now face Gent in their play-off after they beat Gothenburg 2-1 on aggregate.

Job done for Hibs - analysis

This was a 90 minutes that won't live long in the memory, but that will matter little to Gray and his players.

They have responded admirably to last month's away defeat by Malisheva and an opening league loss against Motherwell, snatching three points at the death against Rangers and backing that up here.

Hibs were slack in possession at times and wasteful when they did create chances, but they got the job done on a tricky pitch and in energy-sapping heat.

They worked hard and held their shape against a side who reached the knockout stages of this competition last season.

They now stand on the verge of doing what no Hibs side has done before, progressing through European qualifying.

Gray's side got to the Conference League play-offs last season before a heart-breaking aggregate defeat by Legia Warsaw after extra time.

They will need to improve on their performance if they are to go one better this time around, but for now, Gray can reflect on a job well done.

What Gray said

Figure caption,

Gray looks forward to another European night at Easter Road

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "I'm delighted for the players. A brilliant time to get our first clean sheet of the season.

"Don't underestimate how big an achievement that is against a really good side.

"It wasn't a brilliant game, but bodies on the line and our players stepped up. A really positive win, especially off the back of Sunday.

"Over the course of the two legs, I don't think anyone could say we don't deserve to go through."

What's next?

Hibs host Partick Thistle in the Scottish League Cup on Sunday (14:00).

The first leg of their play-off against Gent is in Belgium on 20 August before the return leg at Easter Road on 27 August.

Player of the match

Number: 21 J. Obita
Average rating 8.45
Number: 5 D. Islami
Average Rating: 4.60
Number: 2 A. Trumçi
Average Rating: 4.40
Number: 7 B. Ibraimi
Average Rating: 4.33
Number: 10 E. Krasniqi
Average Rating: 4.33
Number: 30 F. Ramani
Average Rating: 4.20
Number: 23 B. Dimoski
Average Rating: 4.00
Number: 26 A. Meliqi
Average Rating: 4.00
Number: 11 A. Kryeziu
Average Rating: 3.75
Number: 17 A. Zejnullai
Average Rating: 3.75
Number: 29 F. Tamba
Average Rating: 3.75
Number: 9 F. Ndzengue
Average Rating: 3.75
Number: 55 J. Manev
Average Rating: 3.50
Number: 8 Rafael Freitas
Average Rating: 3.50

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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