Hibernian

We asked for your views on Hibernian's 0-0 draw against Celtic.

Here's what some of you said:

Scott: After a few poor defensive performances recently that one was immense. A little more belief and we could have stolen all three points as the crowd was apoplectic in frustration and constantly on the Celtic players' backs.

Kenny: Best defensive performance so far. Grant Hanley was in charge and controlled everything. Celtic had chances but we never looked in trouble. Going forward we were a bit thin at times but overall a very good point earned.

Stewart: Seems we set out to get a draw and earned it, we managed to keep the door shut.

George: Great point. That said, Celtic didn't really fire up today but perhaps that's also due to Hibs' defensive performance. Shame we couldn't nick a goal, but we take the point, learn from this performance and move on. Well done to the whole squad, and management.

Gary: Hanley was the difference. Showed his experience and led the defence well. Great confidence boost not to concede. Well done David Gray.

Celtic dropped Scottish Premiership points for the second time this season - and slipped to second place in the table - as they were held to a stalemate by a stuffy Hibernian.

Read the full match report here

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "I'm delighted for the players because myself and the players have been critical of the goals we've been conceding.

"When you come here you need to be at your very best defensively and I thought we were excellent. I thought the desire to defend, the concentration that's required when you come here but at the same time you need to ride your luck at times. I think we deserved the clean sheet.

"It's been a long time since a Hibs team have kept a clean sheet here. Celtic are very difficult to play against, this is the toughest test in Scottish football so we take a lot of confidence after today.

"We didn't carry that much of a threat, that's always the balance of putting in a defensively display.

"We're undefeated in the league. Could we have more points than we have at this point in the season? Could we have lost the game today? Absolutely. If you lose the game today nobody says much but it's about staying calm and humble in the moments you're doing well and really focussing on how you can improve every single week.

"Miguel [Chaiwa] felt his hamstring in the game but was able to continue to half-time so we'll get that assessed as quick as we can. We certainly weren't going to take a risk in the second half. Jamie [McGrath] felt his Achilles during the game, it was affecting him a little bit so we need to see how significant that is. We can't know until we look into that a little bit further but hopefully it's not too serious.

Hibernian midfielder Jamie McGrath aims to get close to Celtic captain Callum McGregor when the sides meet on Saturday but admits it's "easier said than done". (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Reo Hatate has a tight hamstring and will be assessed by Celtic.

Anthony Ralston is available again following a foot injury, having been on the bench against Red Star Belgrade in midweek. Auston Trusty returned to the training group on Friday after recovering from his foot problem, while Alistair Johnston (hamstring) and Jota (knee) remain out.

Hibernian are still without Joe Newell (groin), Elie Youan (ankle) and Alasana Manneh (hamstring).

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David Gray has challenged his players to change the "narrative" around Hibs following a six-game winless run.

After losing to Rangers in the League Cup quarter-finals, Gary's side squandered a 2-0 lead at Falkirk in midweek and had to settle for a fourth successive Premiership draw.

They visit champions Celtic on Saturday before heading to Tynecastle the following weekend for the opening Edinburgh derby of the season.

"We are a brilliant example [last season] of demonstrating how things can change in a positive way very quickly, but it can go the other way and I've always guarded against that," head coach Gray said.

"People will say we've not got as many points as we should have and we all agree internally that's the case, but I think we'll probably play worse in games and pick up more points.

"It's a very long season. We still need to remember we're undefeated in the league this season, although it could be a lot better. There's certainly no negativity within the training ground and on the training pitch and that's the most important thing for me.

"The noise will be the noise, it's always there and that comes with the expectation of the club, it comes with the narrative that gets spun every now and again and how quickly it can change.

"And if you go and recreate history tomorrow and be the first Hibs team in 15 years to go and win at Celtic Park, how quickly that changes. And then if you don't get the result, we've got a derby to look forward to after that as well, and that changes things.

"So every game, it's so important in terms of how quickly things can change."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Head coach David Gray has been speaking to the media before Hibs face Celtic in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the main lines:

• Gray says everyone has to take responsibility for performances and "it's my responsibility for results clearly" after six games without a win.

• On the concession of late first-half goals in recent games, the head coach does not want to "shy away from it" and has discussed it with the squad.

• But he is wary of players "looking at the clock and worrying about" it during games.

• Gray questions the notion that the timing of the lost goals is the issue, suggesting the defending has not been good enough.

• He adds: "I would be really disappointed with the goals we're losing anyway. And as a group we're disappointed in these moments. So that's the biggest bit. It doesn't matter whether it's the first minute or the last minute."

• Gray insists Hibs' form is "no disaster" and points out they are still unbeaten in the league.

• Celtic are "a fantastic team" with "fantastic individuals" and Hibs must "raise their game" to meet the challenge.

• Gray adds: "The one thing domestically that we've probably not done yet is put a complete performance in."

• Hibs have no fresh injury concerns.

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• Celtic have won seven of their past eight games against Hibs in all competitions, losing the other 2-1 in February last season in the Scottish Premiership.

• Hibs are winless in 22 visits to Celtic in all competitions (D4 L18) since a 2-1 victory in January 2010. Hibs have lost each of their past eight away games at Celtic, all by a 2+ goal margin.

• Celtic have lost just two of their past 84 home league games (W71 D11), and only one of their latest 31 (W27 D3), going down 3-2 to Rangers in March last season.

• Hibs have drawn six of their past seven league games (W1), drawing more games in the Scottish Premiership in 2025 than any other side (11). Indeed, with draws in each of their last four league games, they last drew five successive league matches in October 2019.

• Only Dundee United (nine) have recorded more fast breaks in the Scottish Premiership so far this season than Hibs (eight), while David Gray's side have scored twice from their six shots from those situations, more than any other team.

• Against Kilmarnock in their last league game, Celtic scored their third-latest winning goal (95:26) on Opta's records in the Scottish top flight (from 2013-14), after December 2021 v Ross County (96:06) and September 2023 v Motherwell (96:39).

• This game ends a run of five successive away fixtures for Celtic, their longest run of successive matches not played at home since November-December 2018 (also 5), and longest specifically in away matches (excluding neutral venues) since April-May 2003 (also five).

• Seven of Celtic's eight Premiership goals this season have come in the second half (88%), the highest proportion of any side this term. Indeed, three have come in the final 15 minutes, with only Hearts (four) scoring more in that period.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The midweek draw with Falkirk marked the first time this season David Gray looked angry and frustrated with his players at full-time.

Quite simply, Hibs should have been out of sight at the break, rather than leaking another poor goal which completely changed the momentum of the match.

The defensive frailties in the squad are there for all to see. A mix of options and systems have been utilised but the perfect solution has yet to be found.

And their task does not get any easier in the next two weeks with Celtic Park and Tynecastle being their ports of call.

There is no doubt the team create opportunities, so it must be a priority to solve their issues at the back.

Rocky Bushiri has become a cult hero with his scoring exploits but his concentration should be more on keeping a clean sheet.

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Defender Warren O'Hora says Hibernian's "brilliant squad" will "stick together" after a couple of recent set-backs. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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After shipping a goal for the seventh time this season between the 42nd minute and half-time whistle, David Gray admitted on Tuesday night Hibs have to ensure "conceding at poor times doesn't become an issue".

But it appears it already has.

Ross MacIver's easy finish for Falkirk in the dying embers of the first half was the third time Hibs have been breached between the 40th minute and the break in their five Scottish Premiership games so far, and the fourth in the 10 minutes before half-time.

No side have conceded more in that 10-minute period (Falkirk and Livingston have shipped three a piece).

And it's not just a league habit. On Saturday Rangers found the net in the 42nd minute thanks to Nico Raskin and five minutes later through Bojan Miovski to seal their semi-final spot in the Premier Sports Cup, while Partizan scored their second at Easter Road in the Conference League third-round qualifier in the 43rd minute.

Gray's side have actually faced the second fewest first-half shots in the league this season (17), but the joint-second most shots on target in the first 45 minutes (11, level with Kilmarnock).

"I thought it took us five or 10 minutes to adjust to the speed of the pitch," Gray added in the aftermath of the Falkirk draw.

"Once we got into our rhythm we probably got away with the fact they should have scored fist."

The Bairns didn't, of course, and though Hibs appeared somewhat comfortable two goals to the good, they dropped another two points from a winning position.

That's four in the early days of the season, only Dundee United (seven) and Motherwell (six) have lost more.

It's far from all doom and gloom, though, as Gray himself admitted.

Hibs are still creating an abundance of chances - 16 shots and eight on target on Tuesday - and have scored in their last nine league games, while they're still undefeated at the start of the season.

Start taking those chances and seeing things out until half-time and sunshine will start breaking through again in Leith.

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We asked for your views after Hibs squandered a two-goal lead to draw with Falkirk.

Here are some of your comments:

Colin: Soft, defensively naive and not learning from repeated mistakes. Losing points from 2-0 up again is inexcusable. Early-season optimism has evaporated. Thought players had learned lessons from this time last season?

Kenny: How long is it going to take to get this defence sorted out? Rocky Bushiri needs rested and Grant Hanley brought in. Rocky simply isn't getting back when he should be and is never goal side when it counts. David Gray has tried everything else and we are still losing goals.

John: Yet another exhibition of ball watching with defenders switching off at crucial moments. Hibs should have been out of sight by half-time but spent the second half without a leader on the park to control the game. The next two games will really test the mentally of this team.

Neil: Constantly chasing the game, poor decision-making and lack of commitment from some players. Unlike the manager I take no solace from creating several missed chances and losing a two-goal lead to draw a game.

Scott: Gray saying we're still undefeated totally misses the point. We finished the season strongly and recruited well so we should be doing better - especially against the promoted sides. Too much tinkering, especially in defence.

John: Very slow start to the season after a lot of hype from within and outside the club. We need to play our new signings in their best position and stop being so soft.

James: Everyone is desperate to play Hibs at the moment, we're leaking goals every week and are very poor defensively.

Watch highlights as Falkirk hit back from two down to draw with Hibs in the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)

Falkirk roared back from two goals down to snatch a Scottish Premiership point against Hibernian and make it four successive draws for David Gray's side.

Read the full match report here

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Hibs head coach David Gray: "I thought Falkirk actually started the better side.

"I thought it took us five or 10 minutes to adjust to the speed of the pitch. Once we got into our rhythm we probably got away with the fact they should have scored fist.

"I think we had enough chances to put the game to bed and that's the frustration.

"We gave away an inexcusable goal from a set piece. It felt like if a team was going to win the game, it would have been Falkirk from the momentum and noise in the stadium.

"It feels like two points dropped but being away from home, we'll take the one point.

"We can't come away from the fact we're conceding goals at poor times, making sure it doesn't become an issue and the players don't feel anxiety from it.

"There's pressure every week to win games of football and perform well. We have a lot of strength and depth, defensively especially, so players need to perform to a level all the time.

"We're still undefeated in the league, and we're creating enough chances to win games of football at this level and if we can take those chances, we will start winning."

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

What a meagre performance we saw from Hibs at Ibrox.

Maybe things would have been different had Martin Boyle's goal stood, but Hibs' habit of conceding close to half-time came back to haunt us again. And when the second goal went in, the game was done.

I expected more of a fight from Hibs in the second half but it never materialised, and we have too many players struggling to find top form.

Although this was our first domestic defeat of the season and we're still in third place going into Tuesday night's game against Falkirk, there is already a shift in how the stats are being pushed - with the emphasis less on how few defeats we've had and more on the lack of wins.

David Gray needs to get the team showing the fighting spirit and cohesion that served him so well last season to stop any talk of a slide in its tracks.

A win in Falkirk will definitely have folk feeling better about the season's prospects, while a defeat might set hares running among the support.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

• Falkirk are winless in their past 10 top-flight meetings with Hibs (D4 L6), with this their first since a 3-1 defeat in March 2010. Their last win over Hibs at this level was in December 2006 (2-1).

• Hibs have won their past two league meetings with newly-promoted opposition, last winning three in a row in the top flight in October 2012.

• Falkirk's Scottish Premiership games this season have included 96 shots (51 for, 45 faced), the joint-fewest of any side in the division (level with Aberdeen).

• Hibs have drawn five of their past six league games (W1), as many as their previous 22 beforehand (W14 D5 L3). Hibs could draw four successive top-flight matches for the first time since October 2019, when Paul Heckingbottom drew his last five league games in charge.

• Since the start of May, 11 of Hibs' 16 league goals have been scored in the first 45 minutes, the most first-half goals of any Scottish Premiership side in this time. Falkirk, meanwhile, have scored all five of their league goals this season in second halves.

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Falkirk welcome back Tom Lang, Barney Stewart and Finn Yeats to their squad for Tuesday's Scottish Premiership match against Hibernian.

However, Coll Donaldson, Aidan Nesbitt, Ethan Ross, Jamie Sneddon and Kyrell Wilson remain out.

Hibs have no fresh injuries.

Alasana Manneh and Joe Newell are still unavailable.

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David Gray says "humble" Hibernian are glad to have a midweek game so soon after their Premier Sports Cup exit.

Gray's Hibs lost 2-0 to Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday and face Scottish Premiership hosts Falkirk on Tuesday.

"It's important to move on quickly, which is the benefit of having a game coming so quickly," said the head coach.

"But you can't just sweep it under the carpet and not look back and address areas. We have done that, it's always about how you can improve and learn about situations we found ourselves in.

"After a defeat you need to stick together and look at areas to improve. But how quickly things can change again. If we get three points, that would be nine points after five games, sitting third in the table. That certainly wouldn't be a disaster, it would be a good start."

Gray says that, so far as the league is concerned, it's "natural" that "expectations rise" following Hibs' third-placed finish last term.

"It's something we talked about at the very start of the season," Gray added.

"Off the back of what we did last year, the expectations were always going to rise, and when you see how we performed in Europe at times against some top sides, people say a lot of good things about you. That's natural, and expectations rise.

"But they are a very humble group that are hard working and want to improve all the time.

"That's something as a coach that is brilliant to work with and it makes sure the players keep their feet on the ground as well, because they are not thinking they have completed it at all.

"We are right back in looking at why we felt we didn't get the right result at the weekend and how we can put that right on Tuesday. That's a good habit to get into."

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Falkirk midfielder Dylan Tait has a "point to prove" in Tuesday's Premiership match against former club Hibs.

He played just 13 minutes of first-team football during three years at Easter Road after signing in August 2021.

Tait, 23, was loaned back to Raith Rovers and also had temporary spells at Kilmarnock, Arbroath, Hamilton and Falkirk, before joining the Bairns permanently in summer 2024.

Successive titles followed under manager John McGlynn as Tait made his way back to the top flight.

"Obviously it was a bit disappointing because when I signed there I had expectations to go and do well," Tait said, reflecting on his time with Hibs.

"When I was at Hibs there was a lot of change. I had five managers in two years so I didn't really get that consistency.

"It's just one of these things in football,, sometimes you need to take a step back down to get going again. That's what I'm doing at the moment.

"Obviously, playing against your old club, there's a wee point to prove that I can play at this level and I didn't quite get that opportunity when I was there."

Tait, who has five goals in all competitions this season, said: "Obviously when I moved here it was my intention to try and play in the Premiership but I had to go a longer route. Now I'm here, I appreciate it a lot.

"It's down to the manager that's given me the opportunity to come play at this level and I just want to repay him.

"Obviously I worked with the manager when I was younger and I just really enjoy working with him and Smudger (Paul Smith). They get the best out of me. They let me play my football and give me a freedom in the game. Right now it's paying off."

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Hibs manager David Gray has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Scottish Premiership game against Falkirk.

• Gray said there are "a few bumps and bruises" in the squad but nothing major and that there is nobody returning to the squad, so it will be as it was against Rangers.

• The Hibs boss emphasised it is "important to move on" after the League Cup defeat against Rangers and that "this is the benefit of a game coming so quickly - you've got the opportunity to try to rectify that defeat".

• Gray said Falkirk "will be a different type of test, against a team that has won back-to-back promotions" than Rangers were and expects a "really difficult" game because the opposition "have been together for a while and been very successful".

• The Hibs manager knows Bairns boss John McGlynn very well, having been coached by him as a youngster at Hearts - and said "he is a very good coach who knows exactly what's going on".

• Gray added that the adversity the squad faced at the start of last season will stand them in good stead as they try to bounce back from the defeat at Ibrox.

• He said the fact they are "really disappointed shows they actually did believe they could go to Ibrox and get into the next round of the cup".

• Gray is not looking beyond Tuesday night but acknowledged a victory - which would put Hibs on nine points from five games - would make the table look very different.

• He said that his players will have to "contend with the astro turf" but they have experience of it at Livingston and that "it's not an excuse - we're ready for it".

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Former Rangers and Scotland winger Neil McCann on BBC Sportsound

It's a difficult game for Russell Martin and the team - demonstrations before the game, apprehension in the stadium.

When they got the second, they were comfortable. Hibs looked a bit lethargic and Rangers adjusted how they defended at times.

It's a big relief for Martin and his players.

I don't think there was ever a doubt from people who know Nico Raskin that you'd get the right reaction.

He's gone from sitting in the stands to the starting line-up and you can see why. He bossed the game today in terms of the energy required.

It took Nico's header to take the nerves away from the team.

What's happened within the bowels of Rangers, we're not privy to the details, but what fallout there might have been, you have to find a way as a manager to resolve it and do the best thing for the team.

Nico showed today that he's a big player for Rangers.

Former Hibernian midfielder Scott Allan on BBC Sportsound

The way Rangers started the second half, they looked to really pin Hibs in at times.

The only way Hibs were getting out would be a ball turned down a channel, hoping Kieron Bowie could spring from there.

They looked more hopeful than definitive in terms of how they were going to create chances. They had chances from set pieces, but the delivery wasn't on the money when you know the quality they possess.

Rangers defended well the second half but it all comes from how they played. They dominated the ball and moved the ball well.

Hibs ran out of ideas and didn't look the same as they have done since the start of the season.

There's no question David Gray will be disappointed in the goals that they lost, especially after the disallowed one.

It's the poorest I've seen Hibs this season, I can't lie.