Hibernian

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Hibs have been frustratingly inconsistent this year.

Even within games our inability to stretch out a good performance over a full 90 minutes is seeing us drop points at a concerning rate.

On Saturday, the stats reflect Hibs' domination in the first 45 minutes. We had the lion's share of possession and created far more chances than Dundee United, yet we went in at half time with the score level.

The second half was hard to watch and it's not clear what Hibs' plan of attack is this season. Last year we could rely on Nicky Cadden swinging a cross into the box and finding Dwight Gayle on the end of it. On Saturday, all of Cadden's crosses evaded the strikers.

That's not to say we're not creating chances – 23 shots on goal on Saturday and Hibs having only been out-scored by Hearts and Celtic this season tells you that the team can attack, but there's a ruthless streak missing from the strikers that's stopping Hibs turning these attacking stats into wins.

With the Edinburgh derby looming, now would be a great time for Gray to find a solution to the issues of sloppy second halves and wasteful finishing. Chances are likely to be at a premium for both sides when Hearts visit Easter Road, and it's the visitors who look more capable of taking advantage of chances when they come.

We saw a debut for Zach Mitchell on Saturday, the centre-half on loan from Charlton has had to be patient for his chance to impact the first team, but he had an impressive debut on Saturday and will have given Gray some food for thought when it comes to team selection for the derby.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

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Hibs boss David Gray has praised the consistency of Premiership leaders Hearts - but insisted it is "very early to be talking about winning leagues".

Gray is aiming to inflict just a second league defeat of the season on Hearts - who have a six-point lead at the top - in Saturday's Edinburgh derby at Easter Road.

"One thing I would say is that the league doesn't lie at this moment in time," said Gray.

"They've been the form team, they've only lost one game, so that level of consistency has put them in a fantastic position.

"We know it's going to be a difficult game but it's the best game in the calendar for the players and they should be looking forward to that."

Gray is adamant Hearts' flying form does not put more pressure on his side heading into the game.

Hearts are 16 points better off than fifth-place Hibs, who have just one win in their past five outings.

"Regardless of where we are in the league, what division we're in, the magnitude of this game and what it means to the supporters, it wouldn't matter," he added.

"It could have been a friendly down the public park and it would still have the same meaning in terms of what's at stake.

"It's three points that are, if you can get them, really important. And it would be really important for us to then go and kick on, so I don't see it as more pressure on us.

"I think that pressure would always be there, regardless of where we find ourselves in the league.

"It's my job to make sure the players go into it and know exactly what to expect, but to go and relish that and really take the opportunity because it's an opportunity to kickstart the season and it would be a really good way to do it."

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Hibs boss David Gray has been speaking to the media before the Edinburgh derby against Hearts at Easter Road this weekend.

Here are key lines from his press conference:

• Gray is excited for the post-Christmas derby, saying it's a "brilliant game to look forward to" and the "one fixture you always look towards right at the very start".

• He adds: "As soon as the fixtures come out, you always check who's at home at Christmas time. I've been at the club long enough to know the importance and the magnitude of the game."

• Gray says he is not surprised by table-topping Hearts' form: "Derek McInnes, the way he sets his team up, they are always very hard to beat. They've got a lot of momentum behind them at the moment as well. Working incredibly hard. I watched the game yesterday, every single player on the pitch gave absolutely everything, and that's clear to see, so it's something we need to match."

• On whether Hearts can take the title: "I think it's very early to be talking about winning leagues. One thing I would say is that the league doesn't lie at this moment in time. I think they've been a form team, they've only lost one game. That level of consistency has put them in a fantastic position."

• The Hibs boss believes it doesn't matter if the clubs are "top, bottom or in different divisions" going into the derby and adds: "They're always fast, they're always frantic. And you want to try and use your home advantage as much as you can."

• Gray says beating Hearts can gives his side the momentum to "really kick on" and adds: "That's what I'm trying to get over to the players, trying to be more consistent and trying to put a run together. This is definitely an opportunity to try and do that."

• He denies Hearts being top puts more pressure on Hibs for the game: "It could have been a friendly down the public park and it would still have the same meaning to what's at stake... I think that pressure would always be there, regardless of where we find ourselves in the league."

• Gray says that while he could enjoy wins for days as a player, now he's a manager it is: "Great, we've won, a bit of relief, and then very quickly on to the next one."

• On the January transfer window, Gray says Hibs' owners are "always striving to move the club forward" and he will look to add to the squad if potential signings can "make the team better" but it won't be just be "numbers for numbers sake".

• Team news: Chris Cadden and Warren O'Hora are in contention to return to the squad after missing the draw against Dundee United. Rudi Molotnikov has returned to training following a two-month spell on the sidelines.

After a three-week injury absence, Nicky Cadden showed his quality as he returned to action in Hibs' 1-1 draw with Dundee United.

The left wing-back was a main feature of his side's attacking play as he sent over a plethora of dangerous deliveries, although his team-mates failed to capitalise.

Cadden created a game-high five chances and had 17 crosses, 15 more than any other Hibs player.

Sportscene pundit Neil McCann said the 29-year-old gives Hibs "so much ammunition" and has "thunder in his boots" as he praised his direct crossing ability and willingness to take players on.

Watch highlights of Dundee United's 1-1 draw against Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Hibernian's 1-1 draw against Dundee United.

Here's what some of you said:

Ringo: A point away from home isn't a disaster. The only positive I can take from the game was Zach Mitchell played well, but a draw isn't good enough, we need wins and I am not looking forward to the derby.

The team has no backbone and misses too many chances and David Gray can dress it up any way he wants, his management skills are not working for me. A draw here and there doesn't cut it for me I'm afraid.

Darren: Not the worst result in the world but for a season that promised so much, we just haven't been good enough. Maybe David can get a tune out of them finally in the derby or I feel it could well be the beginning of the end for our legend manager.

George: Okay first half and a mixture of loose marking and bad luck cost us a goal. Otherwise, looked a banker to get three points. Second half was grim - simply grim. But, we hung on for a point. However, we're sliding down this league and while it looks like we'll stay top six by May, I suspect we'll be outside European places unless we can push on.

Niall: One win in five and dropping points to teams we should be beating. Want David to succeed so badly but at this rate we're heading for a bottom half finish. Starting to run out of credit after that unbeaten run last year. Would almost say that he needs a derby win next week in order to maintain his position, dire scenes all round.

Trevor: Unfortunately Hibernian have been too soft for too long, not just this squad. Watching them it's obvious, it is the same under-performing, should be called out more. They should fight more.

Scott: This is simply not good enough from Hibs. Gray is not getting the best out of this squad which is arguably the third or fourth best in the Premiership. They flatter to deceive against the bigger teams where their goals scored is appalling - we need someone else in charge to take them to the next level.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hibernian centre-half Zach Mitchell says he is "grateful" to have made his debut after a "frustrating" lack of game time since arriving on a season-long loan from Charlton Athletic this summer.

The 20-year-old made his first appearance on Saturday, laying on Martin Boyle's equaliser in Saturday's 1-1 draw away to Dundee United.

"It has been a frustrating period coming on loan and not being able to get the minutes that I would like but very grateful to have the opportunity to get on today and make my debut," Mitchell, who had a spell on loan at St Johnstone last season, said.

"As a Hibs player, that comes with a great amount of responsibility but also a great sense of pride with being able to wear that shirt today and I thoroughly enjoyed it and hopefully more to come.

"Probably the aim of a loan is to get as many minutes as possible, but I think the learning can be done in other ways – on the training pitch, the manager and the staff have been brilliant and I have learned in many other ways.

"Perhaps that has not necessarily been on the pitch, but hopefully that can come from now and I will always be ready for these opportunities and I think it is always about being ready at any point, like today you never know what can happen, when you need to be called upon."

Warren O'Hora missed Hibernian's Saturday draw at Dundee United because of illness while Chris Cadden did not feature as his partner had just given birth to their first child. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

Dundee United and Hibernian settled for a point apiece at Tannadice after Luca Stephenson's opener was cancelled out by visiting forward Martin Boyle before the break.

Hibs head coach David Gray was a bit "frustrated" as his side had the better chances but thought a draw was a fair result.

Read the match report.

And give us your thoughts.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray has been left "a wee bit frustrated" but says "a point away from home is never a disaster" after the draw at Tannadice.

"I can't stand here and say we fully deserved to get three points," he told BBC Scotland after the 1-1 draw away to Dundee United, .

"We shaded it in terms of big chances created - and clear-cut chances created - but it was a wee bit of a scrappy game.

"It certainly doesn't help when you go one goal down after a decent start.

"We talked about them having played on Wednesday night [against Celtic] and the efforts they put into that - can we have a really fast start and get after Dundee United? - and I thought we were a little slow and we lose a goal from a set-piece.

"The positive to take from that is the players reacted well, got the equaliser and hit the bar just after it.

"From then, it was a wee bit scrappy. A point away from home is never a disaster, but a wee bit frustrated.

"But it might be big point if we can back it up next week and there is no better place to back it up than next week [derby against leaders Hearts]."

On-loan Charlton Athletic centre-half Zach Mitchell was handed his debut with Warren O'Hora missing out through illness and the 20-year-old got the assist for Hibs goal as well as striking the crossbar with a header.

"He's done really well," Gray added. "I am delighted for Zach because he's had to be patient. He's been ever-present in training and training really hard.

"He has been out on loan to get first-team experience and he knew there was good competition for first-team places. He had to be patient and he's been patient, but he's trained properly and he certainly didn't let himself down."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hibs midfielder John Mulligan believes a place in Scotland's World Cup squad is a realistic goal.

Mulligan, 23, was called into the national squad earlier in the year but has yet to earn his first cap at senior level. He did feature for Scotland Under-21s from 2022-24, scoring twice in 16 appearances.

"Yes, I think so," he said.

"I obviously got called up, not the last one but the one before that. It was good just being among it.

"You see the standards set and it just makes you more hungry. It makes you want to get in there again. That's definitely something I want, to be in that squad.

"Firstly, I need to do the performances here, that's the most important thing. If that happens, then that's a dream come true. You can't look at that just now, you need to focus. It's a long way to go until [next year's World Cup].

"If I can get on that plane, then that's great but right now, the most important thing is the games for Hibs."

Hibs head coach David Gray believes there is more to come from Mulligan after the midfielder's impressive form following his summer arrival on a free from Dundee.

"He's still very young, he's got a lot of growing and developing to come," said Gray before Saturday's home Premiership match against Dundee United.

"He's settled in really quick in terms of coming to a new club, settled in well. [He's had the] benefit of having played in the league and having a little bit of an understanding of what he's like as a character, and as a boy, because you do your work, speaking to players he's played with, and coaches that he's worked with before.

"So you almost get a bit of reducing the risk when you bring a player in, because I think there's always risks when you sign players, as to exactly how quickly they can settle, he's certainly one that's hit the ground running.

"He's enjoying his football, and rightly so, because of the level of performance he's doing at the minute.

"The biggest thing for us is keeping him working hard, and improving him, because there's a lot more to come for Josh, we know that."

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Dundee United remain without defender Iurie Iovu (muscle) along with Dario Naamo, Pan Camara (hamstring), Isaac Pappoe (knee) and Yevhen Kucherenko (calf).

Hibs wing-back Nicky Cadden is pushing for a return while Martin Boyle has recovered from the illness that limited his involvement against Rangers.

Jordan Obita, Miguel Chaiwa and Rocky Bushiri are on Africa Cup of Nations duty while Rudi Molotnikov (ankle) is injured.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hibernian head coach David Gray has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership trip to Dundee United on Saturday.

Here are the best bits from his news conference.

• Reflecting on defeat by Rangers last time out, Gray says they lacked end product and that was a frustration. "We're coming away from the game thinking we could have done more."

• Expects a really "difficult test" against United after their 2-1 victory against Celtic on Wednesday. Equally expects a reaction from his players and wants to see the attacking threat they lacked against Rangers.

• On Josh Mulligan, Gray says the midfielder still has a lot of growing to do, but praised his performance levels since signing from Dundee in the summer. "He's learning all the time, but he's rightly feeling good about his performances."

• Mulligan has been linked with Premier League sides Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, but Gray says speculation is only natural when players are playing well.

• With the World Cup looming in the summer, Gray thinks it is a big "carrot" for all of his players, not just Scottish players like Mulligan, Kieron Bowie and Grant Hanley.

• The Hibs boss is only thinking about the Dundee United match, but is well aware of how a strong run of form can propel a team up such a tightly-contested division.

• Team news: Rocky Bushiri, Jordan Obita and Miguel Chaiwa are away at Afcon, while Rudi Molotnikov is out injured. Both Nicky Cadden and Thibault Klidje have had a full week of training in the lead-up to the game.

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• Both sides have scored in each of the past seven Scottish Premiership meetings between Dundee United (13 goals) and Hibs (15), with those matches featuring a combined 28 goals (4.0 per game) and sharing an even head-to-head-record (two wins each, three draws).

• Hibs have won four of their past seven top-flight visits to Tannadice (L3), more than their previous 18 beforehand (W3 D8 L7).

• After beating Celtic 2-1 last time out, Dundee United are looking to win back-to-back league matches for the first time this season, having last done so in April. The Tangerines could also win two home league fixtures on the bounce for the first time since November 2024.

• Following a 2-0 defeat at Motherwell and 1-0 loss at Rangers, Hibs could suffer three successive away league losses for the first time since January 2023 (run of 6), while they last lost three in a row on their travels in the Premiership without scoring in May 2014 (4 in a row).

• Dundee United have recovered a league-high 10 points from losing positions in the Scottish Premiership this season, coming from behind to beat Celtic 2-1 in midweek. On six of the past eight occasions United have avoided defeat in a league game, they have done so despite conceding the first goal.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Defeat at Ibrox on Monday night felt like another missed opportunity for Hibernian - and that's becoming a worrying theme.

Coming on the back of a much-needed win over Falkirk, this was a chance to build momentum. Instead, Hibs left with nothing and familiar frustrations after a third loss in four.

Once again against Rangers, the opportunity was there to take points, and once again it slipped away. What will hurt most is not just the result, but the manner of the goal conceded.

Defensively, it was simply unacceptable. Failing to prevent the cross is one thing; allowing a free header in the box with eight players present is quite another.

David Gray will rightly highlight these issues, and with three crucial fixtures remaining before the end of the year, the message has to land. There is little room left for repetition of the same mistakes.

A trip to Tannadice on Saturday offers a chance at redemption. Dundee United are struggling, confidence is fragile, and their recent record of one win in 11 reflects that.

For Hibs, the path back to winning ways is clear but not easy. The strikers must start delivering, and while Rocky Bushiri's absence to the Africa Cup of Nations is not ideal, there is enough experience in the squad to cope defensively.

Victory this weekend would not only steady the ship but also provide momentum before the second Edinburgh derby of the season.

Hibernian hope to have wide man Nicky Cadden back in the starting line-up for their festive fixtures. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

It was another disappointing result in Glasgow for Hibs on Monday night.

Despite a first half where Hibs more than matched their hosts, the second half was for the most part completely unacceptable.

Hibs registered a meagre three efforts on target – a header cleared off the line and two shots that Jack Butland might have been worried about being penalised for handling under the passback laws.

Hibs' lack of creativity is a huge problem. Kieron Bowie was praised last week for finding himself in scoring positions, but he was everywhere other than in front of goal at Ibrox.

Josh Mulligan, lauded for his performance against Falkirk, struggled to make any impression on the game and Grant Hanley will lose sleep over his part in Rangers' winning goal.

David Gray has come under criticism for only playing one way and that accusation is not entirely without foundation.

His side is most effective with three or five at the back, depending on how he plays the wing-backs, but the squad is limited when moving to other systems so unless he gets backed in the January window, there's not a lot he can change.

Before that, he has three massive games - Dundee United, Hearts and Aberdeen - and with Hibs heading down rather than up the table, pressure will surely mount on the boss.

Hopefully the club's owners can recall the turnaround Gray performed last season and don't rush to make a change at the first sign of trouble since then.

Gray, more than anyone, deserves the time to get out of this rut.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

We asked for your views after Hibs lost 1-0 to Rangers for a third defeat in four games.

Here are some your comments:

Lee: I'm sorry - this isn't good enough. Hibs are now in a cancel-each-other-out pack of teams sailing very close to bottom six. Caught by Aberdeen, three points ahead of Falkirk and 14 points off Hearts. With a squad that's supposedly better than last years - the return is not acceptable. Would an experienced manager do better with this squad? Maybe time to start considering this option.

Ringo: Time for Gray to go, he can't take the team any further. We have a lot of good players in the team but they aren't playing for Gray. Hibs fans can surely see there's not one bit of fight in the team. They just accept getting beat, that comes from the manager, time for change. Fourteen points behind Hearts is embarrassing.

John: There's something in the water at Easter Road as there's just no other excuse for the club not kicking on. Years of frugality and selling our best players and yet today, with all the investment in players and infrastructure we are still sitting mid-table. Worst league in decades and we still can't progress. No excuses!

Mark: Too predictable. Gray doesn't have enough tricks up his sleeve to outwit the Old Firm. We have some decent players, but we need better options up front and better wing-backs as well. It's time for Gray to put his foot down over the type of signings we make, as the summer ones proved again which type work for us and which don't, and I think the ones that don't are being forced on him.

Alan: The worst Rangers side in my lifetime and yet we can't beat them and we've beaten far better Rangers sides in the past. Hibs are going nowhere under Gray and his coaching staff and he seems tactically niave.

Colin: Underperforming and inconsistent. Our league position doesn't lie. Our results against the fur teams above us isn't good. Definite improvement over next three games a must.

Watch highlights from Ibrox as Rangers edge out Hibernian 1-0 to move third in the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)

Rangers moved up to third in the Scottish Premiership with a nervy and narrow victory over Hibernian at Ibrox.

Read the match report here.

Have your say here.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "Real frustration because how we started, we asked players the to be brave and start on front foot.

"I thought we played well up until the final third and that was a theme of night - and that's my biggest frustration because I know what's in there and how dangerous we can be. We got into good positions and our quality let us down.

"Very rarely does creating chances elude this side and that's the real frustration. We've not been outplayed or passed off the pitch or dominated.

"In terms of quietening the crowd and being on the front foot, up until we lost the goal, we were very comfortable and the better side. The goal we concede is very poor and we had a wee wobble after that.

"Rangers were more aggressive in the second half and we didn't have the answers. We gave up more chances towards the end by opening up rather than forcing Jack Butland into making saves.

"The biggest thing I asked the players to do was to believe they could come here and go toe to toe with one of the best sides in the league and we done that.

"There's a lot to work on and work with but we have to quickly move on and work on the areas where we let ourselves down tonight.

"We can be miles better than that and we've showed that before."