Hibernian

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We asked for your views on Hibernian's 2-1 home defeat by Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their Conference League play-off.

Here's what some of you said:

Neil: I thought it was a very flat performance from the players for whatever reason. We have still got a great chance if they can just replicate their two previous away performances in Europe. A few changes in starting personnel and we can give this a good go.

David: Hibs' new signings with European experience should have started. The referee was inconsistent, dishing out yellows but ignoring persistent foul play. If Hibs had taken their chances, they could have won the game comfortably. Let's hope they get it right in Warsaw.

Scott: As the manager has said - it could have been better but could have been worse. So far, Hibs have gone toe to toe with three very experienced European sides and are still in with a shout of progression to the league stage. We can definitely win in Warsaw but need a better mix in midfield as the first half was too lightweight and pedestrian.

Kenny: This was a chance to get a few goals before the away tie but we never got started. Unlucky with the penalty but a very poor first half and losing the second one was down to poor defending. A better second half but the damage was done. The goal gives us a chance now but David Gray must get his selection bang on for this one.

Malcolm: Hibs portrayed a significant threat going forward and are still getting better. This threat exists at home and appears to carry well when away so this is not over.

Colin: Why does Gray keep playing Josh Campbell? He's as good as a man short, and I feel there are better players on the bench than his starting XI. We were at home and should have gone for it but we were a bit off it, at least we aren't out of the tie. With the right team selection we can still qualify.

Martin: I think Gray got the team selection wrong. I thought they were there for the taking. We could have been two up inside 10 minutes. Miguel Chaiwa and Jamie McGrath in for Campbell and Dylan Levitt from now on.

Alasdair: Need to cut out the schoolboy errors and start taking the chances created. Also need McGrath and Chaiwa to start. If we can do this we can still progress.

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Tribute have been paid to Rod Petrie following the former Hibernian chairman and Scottish FA president's death from cancer at age 69.

Petrie spent 28 years at Easter Road and led the board for 15 years before Ron Gordon's takeover in 2019. He then served a four-year term as SFA president.

During his tenure, Hibs won their first Scottish Cup in 114 years and also lifted the League Cup, while the club redeveloped Easter Road and built a new training complex.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: "Rod was a hugely respected figure right across the Scottish game and combined sharp intellect with a strong sense of principle, something I greatly admired.

"He was a key member of our board in the SPL era from 2003-2011 and helped drive important change for the league during that period.

"His true passion outside of his family and friends was Hibernian FC and he provided incredible service to the club in his 28 years there.

"He will be very sadly missed, and our thoughts are with Rod's loved ones at this time."

Former Hibs striker Tam McManus said on X: "Anyone who had dealings or knew Rod would know he had a dry sense of humour and could be a tough negotiator.

"Fined me a few quid for misdemeanours and when it came to contracts he was a tough nut to crack but despite that I still really liked and respected him. He was a good human being.

"A very sad day for everyone connected with Hibs. RIP Rod."

Hibs fans, share your tributes and memories of Petrie here. A selection of your comments will be published on this page tomorrow.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "Yeah, I think what you've just said there, I understand why you say that [could have been better, could have been worse].

"I think it started really, one thing I would say is this ties very much still alive, there's a lot of football still to be played.

"Josh's [Mulligan] goal is huge because it makes it only one goal in it again.

"We've already just said this to the players, we went over to Midtjylland, and we went over to Partizan, had huge performances and results away from home. We're going to need to do that again

"And it's big moments in the game today [again]... to lose the goal just before half time was a poor goal to lose. You can talk about the penalty and decisions and everything like that. We're not going to do that. It is what it is, we can't affect that now.

"Clearly the one that's the factual one on the offside was a big moment in the game.

"So if that goes 3-0, that's a very different night tonight. And I thought we had really good, clear-cut chances in the game, and should have done better with them.

"But I've just reminded the players, we've just gone toe-to-toe with a team that went to the quarter-finals of the competition last season, and I think we were very good value for it at times.

"I thought we were really brave, really got after it. I can't fault the effort, can't fault the application towards it.

"We'll need to be better in certain situations, but this ties is still very much alive, as I've just said."

On Legia's penalty award, he adds: "I don't know if they've seen it as a second phase, whatever phase, when that phase of play starts.

"I do think it is offside, I don't know if that counts in that phase, but at the same time, I've not seen it back with the lines or anything like that, so I'm not going to sit and moan about decisions that I can't affect now.

"I say that all the time, one thing I don't do is moan about refereeing decisions, so I try and worry about things I can affect, which is my team's performance.

"But again, I'll just reiterate to the players, as I've just done, there's a lot to be positive about.

"Now, [we] hate losing football games, I'll never accept losing games of football, but it's slightly different over two legs because it is only half-time in the tie.

"And listen, it's all the play for going over there, because of that goal it is only one goal in it, and we know, we felt it ourselves in a positive way this season and in a negative way already, that big moments in games and momentum within that and we've got the momentum now after back of that goal."

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Josh Mulligan's late strike resuscitated Hibernian's hopes of progressing to the Conference League as they emerged from the first leg of their play-off with Legia Warsaw at Easter Road trailing 2-1.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

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Josh Mulligan is flattered by comparisons with John McGinn as he "strives" to emulate the Scotland midfielder and former Hibs hero.

Mulligan, a summer arrival from Dundee, has impressed in his early Easter Road career and scored a stunning strike last weekend to seal the 2-0 win over Livingston and set up a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final trip to Rangers next month.

The 22-year-old is now looking to help Hibs build a first-leg lead over Legia Warsaw in tonight's Conference League play-off.

"Obviously McGinn was a great player, he's still a great player," said Mulligan.

"To be compared to someone like him is a really good compliment. But I just thought I'd focus on my own game and not try to get caught up in that or start comparing myself to other players.

"It's a nice comparison. In the last five years, he's been a massive player for Scotland as well, probably one of the most influential.

"To look at him, he's someone you want to look at and strive for."

With Hibs' exploits in Europe catching the eye, Mulligan hopes it can help him break into Steve Clarke's Scotland squad and become an international team-mate of McGinn.

"There's other players my age that have managed to break in," the Under-21 midfielder added.

"You try not to think about it too much. You just think, play well in the next game. If you keep doing that, you never know.

"The European stuff has definitely helped because you're playing against better teams and more exposure and all that stuff.

"Hopefully in the next two games against Legia, we can get a good result and make a bit of history as well."

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Hibs head coach David Gray wants to use a teeming Easter Road to his side's advantage as they prepare to host Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their Conference League play-off tie.

Both of Hibs' previous European ties this season have started away from home - to Midtjylland and Partizan Belgrade - but they welcome the Polish side to Leith first in their final qualifying tie.

Their previous home legs have been at a packed and raucous home ground, with Gray now hopeful that the side will thrive in another bustling atmosphere.

"We've already had two sell-outs, soon to be three sell-outs tomorrow, I'm sure, at Easter Road, and how good that is to play in that environment and coach in that environment myself," Gray said.

"It's a big game, everybody wants to make themselves available as you'd expect, bumps and bruises and knocks go away.

"I know they're all feeling good about themselves as well, after a really good result and performance at the weekend, and everything's gearing up now, there's no distractions, there's no game in between, which is another real positive step that we can really focus on.

"A brilliant opportunity, a brilliant game to look forward to, but a real tough test at the same time."

Despite being at home in the first leg and wanting his players to enjoy that special "environment", he is keen to emphasise that they cannot get lost in the emotion of the night and must remain focused on their game plan.

"It's slightly different for us this time," Gray said. "We've been away in the other legs first, which maybe changes the psychology behind it.

"But, to be honest, it didn't really because my mindset was to try to start the game well. and that will be exactly the same challenge again tomorrow night.

"We just want to make sure that if the players go out and give the account of themselves that they have been doing, the level of performance we've had."

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Hibs head coach David Gray has been speaking to the media before the first leg his side's Europa Conference League play-off against Legia Warszawa.

Here are the key points from his news conference:

• The challenge to the players at the start of the season was to make history and qualify for the group phase of the competition, with Gray saying "it is certainly an exciting time" to be connected with the club.

• Gray says the club are "where they want to be" when they compete against "top European sides", with the challenge of facing "top European coaches" something that energises him.

• The head coach expects "top side" Legia to be "very aggressive" in the tie, adding that it will be a "tough test" for his side.

• He says that the "mentality" of the players has to be positive, as there will be periods in the game where they will suffer.

• Hibs being able to postpone their domestic fixture that fell in between both legs is a "real positive step" for Scottish football, as it brings the nation in line with other European leagues, Gray reckons.

• Hibs "want to make sure the tie is still alive" going to Poland and that they are "in a strong position" for the second leg, says Gray.

• He hopes the atmosphere inside Easter Road is similar to that of the last two ties in the competition, with another sell-out crowd expected.

• Hibs' previous two first legs have been away from home, but Gray says the mentality stays the same and they won't "shut up shop" at home to try to stay in the game.

• Joe Newell is the only player unavailable with all other squad members fighting to be in the matchday squad.

Hibernian manager David Gray has challenged his squad "to create history" by qualifying for the league phase of a Uefa competition when they face Legia Warsaw for a place in the Conference League. (The Scotsman)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

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Miguel Chaiwa believes his experience of playing in last season's Champions League can help him thrive at Hibernian.

The 21-year-old midfielder made an eye-catching debut for Hibs in Sunday's League Cup win at Livingston after joining earlier this month from Young Boys.

The Zambia international featured as a substitute in the Swiss side's Champions League play-off win over Galatasaray a year ago and then in their league phase matches against Celtic and Red Star Belgrade.

"It has helped me a lot," Chaiwa said. "We played good teams in the Champions League.

"I've got one or two experiences playing against top teams, so it was a really, really good platform for me."

Chaiwa made his Hibs debut on the same day Thibault Klidje, who scored the opener, made his first start.

The Togolese forward had been restricted to four substitute appearances prior to Sunday, but Chaiwa expects his fellow African to make a big impact at Easter Road.

"We played against each other in Switzerland," he added. "I knew him personally, he's one of the good guys and has a little bit of shyness in him.

"But I know what he's capable of doing. He's energetic. He can run, he can jump, even though he's short. He's willing to give everything.

"I think he will do well at Hibs once he gets a run of games, absolutely."

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

It's been a great few days as a Hibs fan.

Thursday night saw a sell-out Easter Road crowd roar the team into the Conference League play-offs before a more subdued affair on Sunday saw the Hibs go marching on into the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup, where we'll meet Rangers in Glasgow.

It was brilliant to see the strength and depth that David Gray has at his disposal on Sunday. Miguel Chaiwa made a hugely impressive debut alongside Alasana Manneh in the middle of the park. Scotland hall of famer Grant Hanley stepped in for the rested Rocky Bushiri, while record signing Thibault Klidje made his first start for the club, helping himself to a goal to cap a terrific performance.

Gray used his squad superbly on Sunday as he negotiates the Thursday-Sunday- Thursday schedule of European football, and despite six changes, his side didn't skip a beat in the blistering heat on Livingston's new pitch.

Josh Mulligan hit what would have been a contender for goal of the season, if everyone wasn't still talking about Keiron Bowie's wonder-strike at Easter Road on Thursday. That was genuinely the best goal I have seen scored live, as soon as it left his boot I knew it had a chance, and when it nestled in the top corner I don't think I've heard a Hibs crowd roar so loud since Bowie's gaffer got his incredible napper onto Liam Henderson's corner at Hampden Park back in 2016.

There's a lot of noise and optimism around football in the capital this season, and Hibs are doing their bit to ignore the bluster and just quietly get on with the job in hand. It's great fun.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

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Hibernian midfielder Miguel Chaiwa says he has "no choice" but to "adapt quickly" to Scottish football as he made his debut on Sunday afternoon, nine days after arriving in Scotland.

The Zambia midfielder joined Hibs from Swiss Super League side Young Boys on 8 August and put pen to paper on a three-year deal.

With a busy schedule, boss David Gray rotated his squad for the League Cup tie against Livingston on Sunday that included giving Chaiwa his first start.

And the midfielder helped Hibs to a 2-0 victory over Livi.

"First time in a new environment, in a new city, in a new club so I just had to give everything," the 21-year-old said.

"What the coach told me, I had to prove it on the pitch.

"The coach had to tell me it would be more intensive, more duels. So I had to adapt it, even in training, even the very first day I came here.

"At the moment, speaking of it, it's quite difficult to adapt it. I have no choice but to quickly adapt to the style of play in Scotland."

Chaiwa will be hoping for more minutes in Thursday's Conference League tie against Legia Warsaw.

"For me, I might say they are a really, really good team," he added.

"Conference League football, it's all about results. So we have to make sure at our home ground we win. So we just need to focus on the next game."

"It's quite an amazing atmosphere [at Easter Road]. It's wonderful, really. As a player, you have to work very hard to give to the fans what they really expect from you."

We asked for your views on Hibernian's 2-0 victory against Livingston in the Scottish League Cup.

Here's what some of you said:

Andrew: Absolutely delighted with the performance considering the fact we had just played one of the most draining and emotionally exhausting ties we'll have all season. Thibault Klidje was a threat and well worthy of his goal but I think Miguel Chaiwa was outstanding in midfield. He is so composed and physical and a real asset to the team. Onwards and upwards hopefully.

John: I'm glad David Gray trusted his new guys to get the job done and gave much needed rest to key players. Some very decent performances and some very inconsistent refereeing as several Hibs players victims of bad tackles

Stevie: Hibs are the next level right now, the squad is strong and the future is bright, good season ahead.

Allan: Really professional job done by Gray and the boys. Never looked in danger of conceding. Excellent man management by Gray by resting some players and giving much needed minutes to players who have been unfortunate not to play more. Brilliant headache for the gaffer to have as all the players that came in performed very well. Chaiwa looks a great find, alongside the other new recruits. Credit to the recruitment staff and management team. Potential to be a special season with special players.

Adam: Hibs have established an ideal squad with good defensive players and a strong midfield. Kieron Bowie is an outstanding young centre forward who can only improve.

Sandy: Two great goals, one from debutant Klidje and a hammer strike from the bargain of the season Josh Mulligan. This Hibs performance was miles above anything from just a season ago. David Gray has one huge problem, who to pick and where? What a squad. Onwards to Thursday and the European match.

Record signing Thibault Klidje marked his first start with a crucial goal as Hibernian defeated Livingston to secure a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox.

Read the match report here

Have your say on the game

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "It was very much job done, a real professional performance. I have spoken a lot about needing to use the squad and they all delivered today. A clean sheet at a very difficult place to come and now our attention turns quickly towards Europe which everyone will be excited about.

"Thibault Klidje was excellent, delighted for him on a personal note. That will do his confidence the world of good. We've been patient with him, we'll continue to do that. He's a work in progress, he needs to settle. I credit the group because of how quickly he has settled in.

"We've got players that can come on and affect the game, it was a real team performance today.

"There is still loads to improve on but as far as we're concerned it was a very professional performance and we can look forward to Thursday."

On Grant Hanley, Gray adds: "I think that might be only the second game of his career on astroturf, he's got his first blister of his career today. I said 'welcome to Livi away, that's what happens'. He was solid, really composed. The whole back five today, I don't want to single anybody out, because it was a real collective performance."

Chris Cadden expects Hibernian team-mate Kieron Bowie to be lining up as Scotland's number nine soon. (Record), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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After a draining 120 minutes against Partizan Belgrade midweek, Hibs head coach David Gray has called on his side to seize their "opportunity" in the League Cup.

Hibs travel to face Livingston in an all-Premiership clash just three days after their dramatic European progression, with Gray hopeful his side can recover in time as he targets silverware this season.

"I think that's the challenge now, as a staff, to make sure we get the players recovered and get them ready for the League Cup, which is an opportunity," he said.

"You come to this club to try and win something. We've demonstrated already this season in one-off games that if we play at our level, we're a really good side and really hard to beat.

"We'll need to be bang at it for Livingston. It'll be a real difficult test. And then when the European stuff comes round again, it's a brilliant opportunity again."

Recent signing Miguel Chaiwa could be handed his Hibs debut against David Martindale's side, but Jamie McGrath is set to remain sidelined along with captain Joe Newell.

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Teenage right-back Rory Whittaker has left Hibernian to join Southampton.

Hibs say "terms for the 18-year-old's transfer will remain undisclosed".

Whittaker, who became the Easter Road club's youngest player at 16 years and 44 days, had entered the final year of his contract.

He scored once in 14 Hibernian appearances and spent time on loan at Spartans last season.

"As always we have to make difficult decisions regarding our young players, taking into consideration their wishes, their development, their contractual status, and other details," said sporting director Malky Mackay.

"There was a lot of interest in Rory from clubs down in England, and as he had a year left on his contract, we decided this was the right deal for Hibernian FC.

"While the main aim for our academy is to produce players for our own first team, when a move like this comes up - it is difficult to deny a youngster that opportunity."

We asked for your views on Hibs' pulsating extra-time win over Partizan Belgrade to reach the Conference League play-off round.

Here are some of your comments:

Gary: A bit like Tina Turner, Hibs don't like to do things easy, they like to do things hard!

John: I need a lie down. If i was not already grey and balding I would be after last night. What a rollercoaster of a night, team spirt and never-say-die attitude, the boys showed great self belief. As for Kieron Bowie's goal, eat your heart out Brazil.

Keith: I'm glad Jordan Smith redeemed himself with some brilliant saves in the second half. Bowie and Josh Mulligan both outstanding, but all in all excellent Hibs who never gave up and ran themselves into the ground. They've made me proud yet again.

John: Wowie Bowie, the guy is unplayable, and his special goal gave Hibs belief after losing two despicable goals. Great team effort to make the play-offs.

Kev: Unbelievable night at Easter Road. Smith hands them two goals, Bowie scores a goal of a lifetime. Then both teams go toe to toe in a pulsating match which left everyone shattered in the stands. But we are through to the next round. Well done Hibs.

Dave: Hibs have ridden their luck in this tie but no one can doubt the character of the group. One of the most exciting nights at Easter Road in years.

Sandy: Genius, sheer genius. Bowie has the potential to become one of the truly great centre forwards. Icing on the cake of a team performance filled with passion commitment and promise of much more to come. Even our goalie came good second half and extra time with tie-saving stops. Great time to support the Hibees.