Owen Elding has penalty savedGetty Images

Owen Elding had his first-half penalty saved for Hibs

At a glance

  • Elding has first-half penalty saved by Gent captain Roef

  • Hosts have best of chances but fail to convert

  • Sides meet again next Thursday at Easter Road

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Planet Group Arena, Belgium

Hibernian are well-placed to reach the Conference League proper for the first time - despite Owen Elding's missed penalty - after holding KAA Gent to a goalless draw in their play-off round first leg in Belgium.

The Scottish Premiership side would surely have taken such a result pre-match, but when Elding was gifted the chance to score from the penalty spot after 15 minutes, they must have been dreaming even bigger.

However, the 20-year-old Hibs forward had his effort superbly saved by Davy Roef after Warren O'Hora was clattered in the box.

It was the only noteworthy event of a low-quality first half.

For all of Gent's dominance in possession, they did very little with it, until they turned the screw after the hour.

Wide-man Tiago Araujo audaciously tried his luck from just inside Hibs' half, though his Kenny McLean-esque effort just drifted wide.

That was before former Falkirk loanee Kyrell Wilson - completely unmarked - got his feet all tangled and touch all wrong with a gaping goal waiting for him inside the six-yard box and Mathias Delorge nodded wide.

But, David Gray's side were defensively strong and will be quietly confident of completing their early-season objective of creating history in next Thursday's second leg at Easter Road.

Analysis: Defence on top but what could have been?

In their quest for history - a first league phase qualification - Hibs will take this draw with a one-game shootout at Easter Road to come.

For the most part, it was all about their defensive stability. As expected, boyhood fan Jason Kerr has settled seamlessly into the heart of the back-three with O'Hora and Jordan Obita either side of him.

They had to deal with a heap of pressure, particularly in the opening stages, but comfortably dealt with everything that came their way.

Josh Mulligan and Miguel Chaiwa impressed in midfield, while Josh Campbell brought exactly what Gray said he would pre-match - "freshness and real legs".

Throw in bite and aggression and his inclusion was beyond justified - he might have even thought he'd be given the chance from the spotkick, given his heroics at Ibrox not too long ago.

But it was high-flying Elding who took responsibility and will be ultimately ruing his miss.

There will, rightly, remain a belief Hibs can progress. Gent lacked potency and you'd expect Gray's side to be more front-footed at home.

But what a bonus they could have banked in Belgium had that penalty been converted.

What they said

'It's a brilliant away performance' - Gray on Gent draw

Hibs manager David Gray: "A brilliant away performance at this stage. The player executed the game plan well, managed it well, third clean sheet in a row as well.

"It's a really good start to the tie, we've kept it alive and it's all to play for in the second leg.

"One thing we can't do is affect things that happen in the past. These things happen, we've missed the penalty. What I like is the reaction from that, real control in the game.

"We didn't carry enough threat, but the players showed real courage and we were worth the clean sheet. Massive performance and massive result, away from home in Europe against a very good side."

What's next?

These sides do it all again on Thursday at Easter Road (20:00 BST), with both having a free weekend in between.

Player of the match

M. Chaiwa
7.87
33 D. Roef
6.83
44 S. Van der Heyden
5.83
5 E. Ngom
5.17
8 L. Bénes
5.00
57 M. Volckaert
4.80
16 C. Burgess
4.60
17 M. Delorge
4.60
47 J. Vergara
4.50
20 Tiago Araújo
4.40
27 T. De Vlieger
4.40
11 M. Sonko
4.40
75 I. Cisse
3.50
3 M. Paskotši
3.50
59 E. Seck
3.50
14 K. Wilson
3.25
22 Leonardo Lopes
3.00
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