Hibernian

Abject Aberdeen are now winless in 14 Scottish Premiership games as Hibernian continued their own revival with an ultimately comfortable win.

David Gray's side are now fifth, just two points behind their faltering visitors who somehow remain fourth thanks to their sensational early-season form.

Aberdeen's wretched run is well documented, with this their 10th loss during their 14-game rut, with a lack of attacking creativity and balance across the pitch evident again.

Hibs fans, what did you make of the result today? Have your say on the game here., external

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "I'm delighted for the players, today was a real challenge, it's always going to be a challenge because of everything that goes around the fixture.

"I think we've played a lot better this season, but full credit to the players, to win 2-0, clean sheet is fantastic.

"I thought defensively we were excellent and we still had a lot of probably the best chances in the game. So all in all delighted with the three points, and delighted with the form and the players deserve all the credit for that.

"The biggest thing I've always been very consistent with the way I think the group is always stuck together. I've always seen that every single day and that gave me the belief and the staff the belief that we would turn it around given the time.

"I'm delighted for the support that we've had from everyone involved and the effort for the players as I've always touched on has always been there and they fully deserve what they're producing at the moment.

"Our full target at the moment was always to catch the team in front of us.

"Now I know that's one game at a time, it's that mindset but I think with how tight the league is that's the way we need to be.

"Firstly, it's always going to be that the teams above us are always going to be catchable in the short term so we need to make sure we do that.

"We need to make sure we cement that top six place as quickly as we can because there's going to be a lot of challenging games between now and the split end and to make sure we do do that.

"We need to keep moving forward and if we can keep catching that team in front we're in a position, a fantastic position where European then becomes a possibility.

"So we need to not get carried away at all, we need to make sure we keep working hard, keep improving because we've still got a lot of that to do."

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hibs' home form has been crucial to their turnaround with them boasting a record of W4, D3, L0 when scoring the opening goal at home in the top-flight this season.

Their revival has flown under the radar slightly given all of the other Scottish football storylines over the past few months or so but they're now undefeated in the last nine top-flight games too.

David Gray always remained defiant he was the right man to turn it around and he's certainly got some serious 'I told you so' points in the bank now.

The Cadden brothers were influential once either flank once again this afternoon, with Martin Boyle also having a great game - despite his squandering his late chance.

A top-six spot is now in their hands and leapfrogging the Dons in the table is surely doable now.

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Nicky Cadden did.

A powerful header to double the lead and bags of energy all afternoon to drive his side forward. A superb display.

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Hibernian are waiting for paperwork before being able to field new signing Alasana Manneh. Joe Newell (groin), Elie Youan (foot) and Marvin Ekpiteta (thigh) are still out.

Aberdeen have no fresh injuries and remain without Jamie McGrath, Gavin Molloy (both shoulder), Ester Sokler (hamstring), Dante Polvara (leg), Dimitar Mitov, Vicente Besuijen (knee) and Jack Milne (ankle).

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Elie Youan is "still a Hibs player" for now, says manager David Gray, as speculation swirls around the French attacker.

Reports, external claim Blackburn Rovers have had a bid rejected for the 25-year-old and are weighing up whether to increase their offer before Monday's (23:00 GMT) transfer deadline.

French forward Youan, who joined Hibs in summer 2022, was subject of an offer from a Ligue 1 club last May.

"Elie is someone that, every window, attracts attention and speculation purely because of his attributes, his qualities," Gray said.

"There is a lot of speculation around Elie, but at this moment in time he's still a Hibs player and until that changes, there's no real news on it.

"He's injured at the moment, he needs to keep working hard to get himself back on the training pitch as quick as he can.

"If he's still here [after the deadline], then brilliant. But at this point, if he's not and something comes up that we think is right for everybody involved, then we'll have to be ready to react in whatever way we think makes the club better."

January has been a quiet transfer window for Hibs so far, with only Gambia midfielder Alasana Manneh arriving.

There have also only been two departures so far - midfielders Nohan Kenneh (on loan) and Jake Doyle-Hayes - despite the large squad size.

"Naturally, the closer you get towards deadline, there's a lot of things that start to happen," Gray added. "The domino effect of people moving on at different levels and how that filters through. As I've always said, we need to be ready.

"If something comes up that we think can make us better, we'll definitely look to try and do that. But at the same time, if anything comes towards us, we've got quite a bloated squad as well.

"We need to be ready to react to that. The work's been going on for a number of weeks to make sure that we certainly finish the window in a stronger position than we started it."

Manneh, 26, arrived from Odense in Denmark having previously spent three years in Barcelona's academy.

"He's not available this weekend," Gray said. "We're still waiting on the admin side to get visas and international clearance and things, which we're hoping to try and get through today.

"Regardless if that does come through later today, he won't be available for the weekend but he'll join us early next week, worst case scenario, which is brilliant."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

When Hibs and Aberdeen drew 3-3 at Easter Road in November, the hosts were sitting bottom of the Premiership, 23 points adrift of a Dons side just two behind Celtic at the top.

Little did we know then that the previous week's defeat away to St Mirren was the start of a 13-match run without a league win for the side that started the season unbeaten in their first 16 games under new manager Jimmy Thelin.

That dismal run included a 3-1 home loss to Hibs in December and another win over the Dons would lift David Gray's in-form hosts to within two points of a side who, remarkably considering those poor recent results, remain fourth in the table.

Since that draw in Leith, Hibs have lost just once in 12 outings, are unbeaten in nine, six at home, and are up to sixth place, their eight-game unbeaten run currently being the longest in the top flight.

They have scored three times in five of those six home games despite their 35 goals from 39.2 'expected goals' making them the second most underperforming side in the Premiership behind Kilmarnock.

In contrast, the Dons have scored just once in their latest seven league games and have won once in 14 outings overall - and that was away to League 2 side Elgin City in the Scottish Cup.

Thelin's side will have to overturn the form book if they are not to go 10 games without an away league win and 13 overall without a victory since that last trip to Easter Road.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hibernian manager David Gray has been talking to the media before his side's game against Aberdeen on Saturday.

Here are the key points:

• New signing Alasana Manneh - the sole January arrival so far - is not available this weekend as Hibs still need to get international clearance. In a worst-case scenario, he will begin training next week.

• Of the Gambian midfielder, Gray says he "adds real strength in depth in the middle of the pitch" and has played at a very good level.

• Gray says fans should not "expect" any more ins and outs but the nature of the deadline might lead to a "domino effect" and Hibs will be ready if something comes up, also referring to his "bloated squad".

• He says "at this moment in time, Elie [Youan] is still a Hibs player" amid reports Hibs have rejected a bid from Blackburn Rovers, external for the French forward.

• The manager calls the 3-3 draw with Aberdeen in November "more than just a point" as it gave his players confidence and belief and as form turned around after that game

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Teenage Hibs forward Josh Landers has joined West Ham for a six-figure fee plus add-ons.

The academy graduate, 17, made three appearances for Hibs, the last of them a year ago.

Sporting director Malky Mackay said the move to the Premier League club was "difficult to deny" Landers.

"From a club perspective, we are pleased with the level of compensation we have received for Josh," Mackay added.

"We are proud that our academy has produced another player fit for an English Premier League side.

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

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• Hibs have lost just one of their past eight league games against Aberdeen (W4 D3), going down 4-0 at home in May last season.

• After losing three successive league visits to Easter Road from September 2022 to December 2023, Aberdeen have avoided defeat in their past two (W1 D1), scoring seven goals in the process – as many as their previous 10 such trips beforehand.

• Hibs are unbeaten in eight league games (W5 D3), the longest ongoing run in the Scottish Premiership, and their longest within a single season in the competition since going nine without defeat from September to November 2019.

• Aberdeen are winless in 13 league games (D4 L9) - the longest such run in their history - while losing seven of their past eight (D1) and scoring just one goal in their past seven.

• Hibs have scored 35 goals from 39.2 expected goals in the Scottish Premiership this season, a difference of -4.2; only Kilmarnock (-4.5) are underperforming more based on their xG in the division this term.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Despite the disappointment of shipping a late equaliser in Dingwall, Hibernian's unbeaten run rolls on.

It is now nine games without defeat and eight in the league - the club's longest such sequence for nearly four years.

While David Gray should be handed enormous praise, his team also deserve the plaudits as the resurgence comes at a time when there remains a lot of uncertainty about many of the players' futures.

More than a full team are out of contract this summer so fair play to everyone involved in parking their futures for now.

Some may already know their time at Easter Road is over come the end of May, but it is not showing in recent performances.

One person who has already headed for the exit is chief executive Ben Kensell.

Ron Gordon brought Kensell up from Norwich City in 2021 and off the pitch there have been undoubted improvements around the stadium.

The matchday experience been vastly improved for supporters and Kensell was pivotal in introducing Bill Foley and his Black Knights to Hibs. Foley's £6m investment should also help the club make the changes required at HTC.

On the pitch, however, things have been tumultuous. The sacking of Jack Ross in December 2021 still puzzles many and since then Shaun Maloney, Lee Johnson and Nick Montgomery have all come and gone.

But with Gray now at the helm they should find the stability required to build for the next few years.

Hibs fans may be split about the departure of Kensell, but just like when a manager moves on, there will be many candidates who fancy filling his shoes.

Being in charge of one of the big five teams in Scotland is not easy. There are big expectations with these jobs and rightly so. Its now up to the board to decide who is the right person to take the club forward.

Hearts and Hibernian are both keeping a close eye on Jamie McGrath's situation as Aberdeen continue to push for the 28-year-old midfielder to sign a new contract beyond the summer. (Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

With Celtic announcing the return of Jota on Monday, Hibs were left as the last team standing in the "We've not signed anyone yet" race.

David Gray has pointed to the return from injury of key players such as Mykola Kuharevich, Kieron Bowie, Joe Newell and Marvin Ekpiteta as being like new signings, and there's no doubt he now has enhanced options.

But I doubt any Hibs fan is convinced the return of those players alone is enough to finish the season strongly, particularly when the teams around us are bringing fresh faces in.

Garvan Stewart joined the club last year as head of recruitment and he is tasked with improving the quality of signings identified, as well as aligning Hibs' recruitment with that of the Black Knight group – his experience working at Bournemouth was a key factor in his appointment.

So far, though, we're yet to see the fruits of his labour. There is a line of thought his input might have stopped us going forward with targets below the standard we want.

There's probably some merit in that suggestion given the hit-and-miss recruitment of previous windows, plus we all know the line about January being a notoriously difficult month to sign players (though it's never stopped us or other teams).

Hibs fans are anxious to see new faces in the door sooner rather than later as the end of the window draws near. Will it be the case of good things come to those who wait, or will we be left hoping Gray's revival with this group of players continues to take us up the table?

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers Podcast, external

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Nectarios Triantis: Deftly set up the opening goal for Hibs. The on-loan Sunderland player continues to be a standout.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Hibs' 1-1 draw against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

Watch highlights of Ross County's 1-1 draw against Hibs in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Hibs' 1-1 draw against Ross County.

Here's what some of you said:

Scott: A point away from home isn't bad but we deserved more, denied by a truly awful penalty decision. The ball had been played out for a goal kick before the forward initiated contact with Jordan Smith, and VAR, as usual, merely rubber stamped the referee's decision. That being said, the team should have enough nous by now to see out the game.

Sandy: Dylan Levitt's goal has to be a contender for goal of the month, what a ball from Nectar Triantis. Really hard slog of a game after the pitch took a hammering from the storm. But still on an unbeaten run, penalties were terrible decisions. We deserved more from the match. Onwards and upwards.

Peter: Team looked disjointed and not focused enough on what was at stake, too many misplaced passes and misunderstandings. Not impressed at all. David Gray thinks we "controlled" the game but we dropped two points here because we were simply not good enough on the day. We might well rue these dropped points later on in the season.

Kenny: Not a great performance but a point up there isn't a bad result. We had a lot of the ball in the first half but we never got started in the second. Both penalties were questionable but a point is a point. Ross County only ever tried to stop us playing with some rough tackles but we kept trying to play football.

Mark: More points thrown away against teams we should be beating. It seems we have learned nothing from our past failures against Ross County. New signings are needed but going by the players we have been strongly linked with it seems we have learned nothing from the mistakes of our last few windows either.

Gordon: Good to keep the unbeaten run going. Only five points behind Aberdeen now. Massive game against them next week considering our dreadful start to the season. Onwards and upwards.

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• Hibernian are undefeated in their last eight games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 12 May 2021 to 26 September 2021, a run of nine games.

• Hibernian have lost 18 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• Hibernian have scored in each of their last eight games in the Premiership, scoring 17 goals in that run.

• Ross County have scored in each of their last eight games in the Premiership, scoring 12 goals in that run.

• Hibernian have scored in their last eight games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 12 games from 7 February 2024 to 4 May 2024.

• Ross County have scored in their last eight games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 11 games from 11 December 2021 to 9 February 2022.

• Ronan Hale has scored six goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Ross County player.

• Nectarios Triantis has assisted three goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Hibernian player has more.

Ronan Hale's 88th-minute penalty rescued a draw for Ross County at home to Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership on a difficult pitch in Dingwall.

Dylan Levitt stroked in the opening goal three minutes before half-time after brilliant work from Nectarios Triantis to set him up inside the box.

Ross County struggled to create chances in response, and it looked as though they would rue Jordan White's missed penalty when the game was goalless.

The striker's tame effort was saved by Hibs goalkeeper Jordan Smith, after Nicky Cadden was penalised when the video assistant referee spotted a handball from Noah Chilvers' cross.

But they were given a second chance from the spot when Kieran Phillips was felled by Smith, and this time Hale smashed the ball low and hard past the Hibs goalkeeper.

There was a frantic finish as both sides flung the ball into the respective boxes from set pieces in stoppage-time, but there was no late winner.

Hibs extended their unbeaten league run to eight matches and stay sixth, while Ross County are 10th, eight points clear of bottom side St Johnstone.

Hibs fans, were you at the game on Saturday or following the action from home? Either way we want your thoughts on the performance.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "A point away from home is not a bad result especially given the pitch and the conditions.

"But once we got ourselves in front we were in total control and managed the conditions well. We played in the right areas and restricted Ross County to no chances bar the two penalties they got.

"When you're only 1-0 up you always run that risk of being pegged back, but right now it feels like two points dropped given the way the game went. We also have to be better in moments as well."

On the first penalty call, Gray says: "Nobody appealed for it, which makes it hard to take. By the letter of his law his arm is away from his body. I'm not going to stand and make excuses, we gave away two penalties, which were avoidable.

"It was poor defending from Nicky Cadden at the back post - he knows that - he allows James Brown to get inside him.

"We should probably lose a goal there. But the moment he misses it and it goes past him, when you let the ball bounce it's impossible to turn with your arm at the side you naturally turn to open out.

"But there was nobody behind him, which adds to the frustration as to why it was given. The second penalty is avoidable again. It's a poor decision to dribble out from the back, then not stop the cross.

"So there's definitely areas we need to improve - albeit I think it's an extremely soft penalty."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hibs have let 18 points slip from winning positions this season, the most in the league.

The bulk of those were before November when they were bottom of the league and struggling, so the frustrating thing for Gray and his rejuvenated team will be the relapse into old habits.

They looked as though they had the perfect balance of grit, determination and quality on a horrible surface after Levitt got them in front.

It was a classy finish from a player whose Hibs career was petering out until recently, and Triantis showed his growing influence with another assist.

The way the Australian plucked the ball out of the sky from a corner, held off a defender and flicked it to Levitt demonstrated his quality.

They looked more likely to add to their lead than concede, but the tempo dropped in the second half and poor play from Smith to react late to a cross cost them.

The Hibs goalkeeper did well to save White's penalty in the first half and has been part of their turnaround, but there is still a sense it is a position of weakness.