Hibernian

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• Hibernian have won just one of their last 24 meetings with Celtic across all competitions (D7 L16), a 4-2 league win in May 2023 under Lee Johnson.

• Celtic have won both of their last two league visits to Hibernian, this after only winning two of their previous 12 away league games against Hibs beforehand (D7 L3).

• Hibernian are unbeaten in 10 league games (W6 D4), the longest ongoing run in this season's Scottish Premiership – although their last defeat was to Celtic in December (0-3). Hibs last went longer without losing in the competition in May 2018 under Neil Lennon (12 games).

• Celtic have won six of their last seven league games (D1), including each of their last three in a row by an aggregate score of 12-1, scoring at least three goals each time. They last won more Scottish Premiership matches in a row while scoring 3+ goals in each in March 2023 under Ange Postecoglou (run of 6).

• After his goal against Dundee United last time out, Celtic's Callum McGregor now has 49 goals and 49 assists in the Scottish Premiership. Since the competition's rebrand in 2013, only two players – James Tavernier (83 goals, 79 assists) and James Forrest (58 goals, 55 assists) – have reached both 50+ goals and 50+ assists in the division.

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Hibernian will face holders Celtic at Parkhead on Sunday, 9 March at 15:00 with a place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup the prize.

David Gray's side left it late against Ayr United earlier this month to progress to the quarter-finals, and now have a tricky trip to the league leaders home in Glasgow.

The game will be televised on Premier Sports.

Hibs, of course, last won the Scottish Cup in 2016 courtesy of now-head coach, Gray's header against Rangers.

Hibernian banked £1.2m in tax credit earmarked for research and development last year, the news coming after it was revealed that Dundee United are staring down the barrel of a £600,000 repayment to HMRC after receiving £1.28m during the financial period of 2021-22. (The Courier), external

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo described his visit to Europe very beneficial after meeting Celtic winger Yang Hyun-jun and Hibernian midfielder Kwon Hyuk-gyu, who is yet to make a full debut. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

A point away to St Mirren shouldn't really be sniffed at, given we finished the game with ten men and have lost twice to the Saints already this season. But with Aberdeen winning and Hearts and Dundee United losing, there was a real opportunity for Hibs to lay a claim as genuine third-place challengers this weekend, so it's frustrating that we didn't head back along the M8 with three points in the bag.

Not as frustrating as it would have been for debutant Alasana Manneh, though.

The Gambian managed just 13 minutes in his first taste of Scottish football before falling foul of referee, Ross Hardie, who sent Hibs' new boy off for an innocuous looking challenge, having already booked him seconds after Manneh came on as a second-half substitute.

I have a huge amount of sympathy for Manneh. It wasn't a game for midfielders as it was, and he must be wondering what he's let himself in for as he watched the ball sail back and forward over his head for the short period of time he was on the pitch.

Hibs now go into a tough couple of fixtures against Celtic and Dundee United, before Hearts come to Easter Road.

With the season approaching the business end, Hibs need to find better form than they showed on Sunday if we're to achieve those top four ambitions.

Matty Fairnie can be found at the Longbangers podcast, external

Hibernian defender Warren O'Hora prioritises points above plaudits when his side take on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic on Saturday. (Record), external

O'Hora says December's 3-0 loss at Celtic Park "feels so long ago", with Hibs having gone on a 12-match unbeaten run since. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Sportscene pundits Steven Naismith and Stephen McGinn discuss Alasana Manneh's red card 13 minutes into his Hibernian debut.

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Hibernian's goalless draw with St Mirren was "a little disheartening" to Warren O'Hora, despite the defender helping to make it three clean sheets in a row.

The Hibees are 12 unbeaten in all competitions but O'Hora felt it was a missed opportunity to move away from the group of teams in the middle of the table.

"It's a tough place to come, it was hard to play on a surface like that," O'Hora told club media. "You're away from home so first and foremost you don't want to get beat, but we know we can play miles better than that.

"We go down to 10 men with 10-odd minutes left so we'd take a draw at that moment. But, going into the game we knew it was an opportunity to push away from some teams in the league and catch some teams, so it's a little disheartening.

"It's nothing that we'll cry about. A point in the end is probably a fair result so we'll move onto the next one."

Both managers suggested the game lacked a little bit of quality as Hibs failed to record a shot on target in the entire match. Instead, it was St Mirren who were denied by two fantastic Jordan Smith saves.

"St Mirren are very direct," O'Hora continued. "They have willing runners and big boys up top so it is a tough place to come, there's no doubt about it. We dealt with it well, defended well. If we're being harsh, we could play a bit better on the ball. It's such a difficult place to play. We'll take the point and move on.

"Smudge [Smith] has been brilliant for us since he's come in. He's really kicked on for us, done really well over the last 12 or 15 games. I'm very happy for him, couldn't happen to a nicer man."

Hibs' fantastic record is under threat next weekend when they host league leaders Celtic in Leith.

"The last time we got beat was against Celtic so it's definitely something to look forward to," O'Hora added. "We have to back ourselves. We'll go to Easter Road, put on a performance and hopefully take home all three points."

Hibs fans, we asked for your opinion on the goalless draw with St Mirren, that also Alasana Manneh sent off 13 minutes into his debut.

Here's what you had to say...

Bea: A poor game but a good point for a battling Hibs team. Kieron Bowie should have been on earlier as we needed his presence up front against a big bruising defence.

Peter: Poor performance overall on a tough pitch to play on. Some decent individual performances, but I don't see any real structure and intent going forward in the team. St Mirren pressed us successfully out of the game first-half and we had no answer. Second half, we still didn't have any answers.

Kenny: It was a poor game, not helped by some very poor refereeing. A point each was about right.

John: Really poor performance from Hibs. Virtually no football played, mostly hoof-ball.

Scott: Awful game but St Mirren have had our number of late so it's a good point. Hoping Alasana Manneh isn't one of those 'looked good on YouTube ' signings.

John: Poor officiating spoiled the match for both teams. Like last week, Hibs were poor up front and we clearly missed Dylan Levitt in midfield. Special mention for Jordan Smith, who improves every game.

George: Poor game on a 'glue-pit' of a pitch. Spoilt further by the worst display of refereeing I've seen in years. Nuff said. We take the point and move onto Celtic next week.

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• Hibernian are undefeated in their last 10 games in the Premiership, their last joint longest unbeaten streak was from 16 February 2019 to 28 April 2019.

• Hibernian failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premiership since facing Celtic on 11 August 2024.

• St Mirren have failed to score in 11 of their 26 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

Watch highlights from Paisley as St Mirren and Hibernian play out a goalless draw in the Scottish Premiership. (UK users only).

Alasana Manneh was sent off just 13 minutes into his Hibernian debut as David Gray's side made it 12 games unbeaten with a goalless Scottish Premiership draw at St Mirren.

The Gambia midfielder, a graduate of the Barcelona youth academy, came on in the 70th minute, was booked a minute later for a trip, then saw yellow again for a reckless challenge.

The visitors held on with 10 men for a point and remain in fifth place while St Mirren jump to sixth, above Kilmarnock on goal difference.

Give us your thoughts on Hibs' draw here., external

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Hibernian head coach David Gray told BBC Scotland: "It certainly wasn't a classic. There was no real quality in the game, we can play miles better. We've played a lot better this season and lost games, so that's a positive to take.

"The way we finished, down to 10 men, is disappointing but to make sure we kept a clean sheet is a big positive.

"Clean sheet and a point, the run continues - one defeat in 15 is brilliant, and the position we've put ourselves in.

"There were moments in the first half where we did create chances and they came from having a bit of composure on the ball. We didn't do that enough in the game. it was too much of a fight, the ball was turning over too much.

"Credit to the boys, defensively. My goalkeeper made a big save. Rocky Bushiri got man of the match and rightly so. It shows the kind of performance it was today.

[On Manneh's red card] "It was a shame. He's trained really well this week to get his opportunity. He's worked really hard to get himself up to speed as quick as he can. He's very unfortunate. I don't think it's a second yellow and the frustration is we can't appeal that, you can't go to the monitor and check."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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While Gray may have fixed Hibs' vulnerability at the back, his side failed to muster an effort on target in Paisley.

They came close. Warren O'Hora's first half-header really should have rippled the net, and the effort that Hemming saved in the second half would have been ruled out for offside anyway.

It was a slow start, too. St Mirren flew out of the blocks and Hibs were under the cosh but crucially, they survived. Six months ago, they would have wilted.

There is a new confidence in the backline and although there have only been four clean sheets on this unbeaten run, Smith has become a vital figure in goal - highlighted by his incredible double save to deny Toyosi Olusanya and then Mark O'Hara on the follow-up.

Impressively, Hibs' stretch of 10 league games without defeat is their joint-longest unbeaten streak in the top flight in six years. The new-found resilience looks likely to cement a top-six place.

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Rocky Bushiri. In years gone by, he has been a figure of fun for opposition fans. Today, he was rock solid.

Toyosi Olusanya and Mikael Mandron are known as a dual threat for St Mirren but Bushiri handled them both, with Olusanya only getting in behind once.

Hibernian goalkeeper Jordan Smith has been "blown away" by the standard of Scottish football. (Scotsman - subscription), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hibs midfielder Dylan Levitt believes early-season bonding trips away from the training ground have been vital to the team's impressive form.

There were 12 signings to integrate into the squad last summer and it took a while to bed in, with one win in the first 14 league games. But now David Gray's side haven't lost since the start of December.

"We've had a couple of days out with the staff, players, togetherness at the start of the season," Levitt revealed.

"Obviously, pre-season is a big one as well when you get a lot of new faces in the building and try and go away for a week or whatever it is and try and stay away from everything and just focus on what you've got going for the season.

"One day we went to the beach after training when it was a nice day and had a meal after it. Just things like that. That's good to try and get away from the training ground as a group as well.

"It was a little bit in and out of the water. It was a good, fun day and everyone enjoyed it. It's a subconscious thing that just helps on the pitch when you're all looking out for each other and have each other's backs.

"Any bonding off the pitch helps massively when you're under pressure. You just know everyone's trying to dig each other out if it's a tough part or when we're scoring or something. The whole team's celebrating, the bench included and all the substitutes."

Hibs, who visit St Mirren on Sunday, are up to fifth in the league - but just six points separate them from 10th.

"We're going really high in confidence right now but you know in this league anyone can beat anyone if you're not at it," Levitt added.

"I feel like there's no complacency. I think just focus on what we need to do and block out all the noise that comes around with the training ground. We know what we need to do to get to where we want."

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St Mirren's Conor McMenamin (calf) remains out. Alex Iacovitti (hamstring) will join in training next week while Scott Tanser is a doubt.

Recent signing Alasana Manneh is in contention for a Hibernian debut. Joe Newell (groin), Elie Youan (foot) and Marvin Ekpiteta (thigh) are closing in on comebacks but not this weekend.

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• St Mirren have won their past three Scottish Premiership games against Hibs, as many as their previous 19 beforehand (W3 D5 L11).

• Hibs have conceded at least twice in each of their past five league meetings with St Mirren (D1 L4), shipping 13 goals in this run – as many as they conceded in their previous 17 Premiership games against the Buddies before this.

• St Mirren have suffered defeat in each of their past three home league games, but haven't lost four in a row since Stephen Robinson lost his first four such matches in charge from February to April 2022.

• Hibs are unbeaten in nine league games (W6 D3), last going 10 matches without losing in the Premiership in April 2019 under Paul Heckingbottom.

• Hibs' Nectarios Triantis has three goals and three assists in his past eight league appearances. The only players currently aged 21 or younger in the competition with more than his six goal involvements in 2024-25 are Lennon Miller (8 – 2 goals, 6 assists) and Arne Engels (11 – 8 goals, 3 assists).

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David Gray insists Hibernian are still "in a very, very good position" and does not believe the club's latest financial results will have a negative impact on his squad.

The Easter Road club released their annual accounts last week, with a loss of £7.2 million reported.

The head coach was backed in the summer, with ten signings made, but midfielder Alasana Manneh was the sole signing in January.

"When you think of the number being where it is, it's probably due to the support I got at the start of the season," Gray said as he previewed the weekend's league game with St Mirren. "To back me and to give me every possible chance.

"The number of players that are out of contract at the end of the season were still going to be out of contract at the start of this season.

"Future planning was also something I talked about at the start of the January window. It's not a case of just signing players for now, it was always about the longer term, seeing what was coming around the corner and knowing players would naturally be moving on."

Gray confirmed, naturally, the wage bill will come down in the summer with the amount of bodies moving on, but it's an "exciting" time to improve the group.

"We're still in a very, very good position," he added.

"I'm excited about what can be done to try and improve the group. The work has gone on and the future planning conversations we've already had about where can get the squad by the start of next season.

"Clearly, my full focus, though, is between now and the end of the season, and trying to finish the season as strongly as we can. Everything we've set out to do is still achievable."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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David Gray addressed the media before Hibernian's Scottish Premiership match with St Mirren on Sunday.

Here are the key things he said:

• The head coach said Hibs' Scottish Cup win last week will help the club's finances given last weeks accounts which reported in excess of a £7 million loss.

• Gray said talks will now begin with players who are out of contract in the summer, but the wage bill will be lower.

• Believes the club are "in a real good place" to finish the season strongly.

• He said "every objective is still achievable," including European football which could come with a top six finish.

• "Everyone still has a chance at top six," so it's a race to cement the spot as quick as you can.

• Gray said there are no fresh injury concerns, while Joe Newell and Elie Youan remain unavailable.