Hibernian

Hibs fans, were you at Ibrox to see your side's win against Rangers or were you following along from home?

Either way, we want your thoughts on the result and the performance.

Have your say on the game.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "It's huge. 2018 was the last time a Hibs team came here and won. The way we started the game was huge, the composure we showed and getting the goal.

"You put a game plan in place knowing Rangers are going to have a lot of the ball, so you have to be really disciplined without the ball. Every time there was a slight mistake, a teammate was there to bail them out. A massive collective performance - the subs came on and impacted the game.

"It's an incredible run and the players deserve all the credit for it. The big thing was trusting what we were doing. Not being too high when it's good and not being too low when it wasn't.

"I never stopped believing and it's been a huge collective effort from everyone involved.

"If we keep winning games, nobody can catch us and that's the mindset moving forwards."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hibs' season goes from strength to strength. They have won 11 of the 16 matches in their unbeaten run and show no sign of slowing, having been bottom in November.

This is their first win at Ibrox since February 2018, when John McGinn and Jamie Maclaren were on the scoresheet.

They were solid at the back, with Rocky Bushiri particularly impressive in the way he subdued Cyriel Dessers, and they also excelled in midfield, with Nectarios Triantis a model of composure and quality, ably assisted by Dylan Levitt, who got the ball rolling.

Hibs were a constant threat on the break, sitting in a solid defensive shape before utilising their strength and pace up top to hurt Rangers time and time again.

It is a result and performance which will give David Gray every confidence his side can maintain third spot and give European football a good crack next season.

Hibernian midfielder Joe Newell, 32, may not play again this season. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny is unlikely to be risked as he looks to recover from a hamstring problem. The Ibrox side are still without Neraysho Kasanwirjo (knee).

Hibs could have Nicky Cadden back but captain Joe Newell (pelvis) has suffered a setback.

Andy Campbell
BBC Sport Scotland

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The last time Rangers and Hibernian met, they drew 3-3. Since then, both have been involved in goal-laden games, which whets the appetite for this encounter.

Hibs are front-runners to finish third - quite the turnaround since November when they were bottom.

Only Celtic - in the league and Scottish Cup - have beaten them in the interim as David Gray's side have amassed 10 league wins and five draws.

They are also scoring goals for fun - 48 in the Premiership.

Rangers, on the other hand, are leaking goals. They've conceded 12 under interim head coach Barry Ferguson, who bemoaned "old habits" after the win at Dundee.

The former Ibrox captain is yet to enjoy an Ibrox victory since replacing Philippe Clement, but did celebrate a penalty shootout triumph over Fenerbahce in the Europa League.

The table is set, the ingredients are in place, it's over to Rangers and Hibs to serve up another football feast.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

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David Gray his urged Hibs to continue "changing history" by earning their first win at Ibrox in seven years.

The Easter Road men, having risen from bottom of the table to third place with an incredible upturn, are aiming to make it 16 league games unbeaten when they visit Barry Ferguson's side.

And Gray says victory at Ibrox would rank "right up there, right at the very top" of his achievements as head coach.

"It's a really tough game away to Rangers but it's one the players need to relish," he added.

"It's been a long time since a Hibs team has won there in the league, I think it was 2018, so that's the challenge for the players to go and do that.

"It's something [the unbeaten run] we're taking great pride in.

"Just changing history in a positive way is something I talk a lot about and I think it's something we've demonstrated a lot this season. It's something we can do again at the weekend."

Across all competitions, Rangers have lost four home games in a row for the first time in their history.

"The pressure will be on Rangers as well," Gray added.

"We can't go into the game in any better frame of mind, the players have been there already this season and we put in a good performance but didn't get the result [1-0 defeat in September], we've progressed as a team since then."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hibs boss David Gray has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to race Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

Here are the main points:

• On his third manager of the month award this season, Gray is pleased with the recognition but stresses it's a reflection of the effort the players and staff have put in and shows they're all "pulling in the same direction".

• Nicky Cadden has trained and could be in contention to play but Hibs will wait and see how he recovers from the work this week.

• Hibs are "taking great pride in" their 15-match unbeaten Premiership run but know they face a "really tough game" against Rangers.

• However, Gray insists his side "couldn't be in a better frame of mind" heading into Saturday's clash and notes the progress Hibs have made since the 1-0 defeat at Ibrox in September.

• Gray says Hibs are "desperate to keep the [unbeaten] run going" and adds every one of his players will "have to be at the top of their game" in order to get a positive result.

• On potential league reconstruction, Gray wouldn't be against change as long as it's "for a positive reason". He is not in favour of a smaller top flight and is keen to "protect what we've got because it's a very good product".

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Hibs boss David Gray has completed a Scottish Premiership manager of the month hat-trick by winning the award for March.

Gray takes the prize for the second successive month having also won it in December.

The 36-year-old steered Hibs to a 2-1 derby win over Hearts and 3-0 victory against St Johnstone either side of a 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock in March to extend his side's unbeaten league run to 15 games and lift them to third place.

"I'm delighted - this award is a reflection of the run we've been on and all the effort that has gone into that," Gray told Sky Sports News.

"We've been through difficult times at the start of the season, but the staff, the players and everyone at the club has gone through real adversity and stuck together through that.

"When you think back to the start of December when we were bottom of the league, to get to where we are now is a fantastic achievement and we need to keep pushing forward."

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• Rangers are unbeaten in their last 24 league meetings with Hibs (W17 D7) since a 2-1 defeat in February 2018 under Graeme Murty.

• Hibs have lost their past 11 league visits to Rangers by an aggregate score of 27-7 since a 1-1 draw in December 2018 under Neil Lennon.

• Rangers have lost their past four home games in all competitions – the longest losing run at home in the club's history.

• Hibs are unbeaten in their past 15 league games (W10 D5), the longest unbeaten run within a single season in the Scottish top fight in the 21st century by any side other than the Old Firm clubs. Hibs started the day of the first game in this run (14 Dec) bottom of the table, but now find themselves third.

• Rangers have conceded 2+ goals in each of their past five league games (11 conceded in total); in their entire history, only from December 1893 to April 1894 have they ever conceded twice or more in six successive league fixtures.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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For Hibernian fans, the gloriously chaotic 3-3 draw with Aberdeen in late November was the moment their faith in the team they love was restored.

But, even throughout a pulsating game, their patience and resolve was tested to its maximum.

The last six minutes will live with me and everyone who was inside the stadium for a long time.

Pressure had been mounting on Gray after a series of costly late concessions, but then the most unlikely of heroes emerged.

Rocky Bushiri had never really won over the Hibs support. He made mistakes and opponents targeted him.

In his previous 78 games, he had never scored. But he did that night and it was the moment that changed a season.

The goal probably kept Gray in a job, given defeat would have left them languishing at the bottom of the table.

However, since then, only Celtic have been able to get the better of Gray and his team and a third-place finish is now a distinct possibility.

Read more on the six-goal epic that changed two teams' seasons

Hibernian head coach David Gray would be open to Bournemouth goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, the 22-year-old currently on loan to Auckland, joining on loan next season as part of the Black Knight FC network. (Scottish Sun), external

Hibs head coach David Gray has targeted a new goalkeeper as a position he would like to strengthen this summer. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The victory against St Johnstone was as comfortable a three points as Hibs have earned this season.

It's also another indication of just how progressive the club have been over the past few months, with confidence oozing from the players and no fear or doubts in how they play.

The win secured the top-six place that in the early part of the campaign looked unachievable given the wretched start. The players gave themselves a mountain to climb and should be proud of what they have achieved since mid-November.

The prize now is finishing off the campaign in similar style and securing a lucrative European spot.

With stability in the management and behind the scenes, everyone is pulling in the same direction.

Next up is a trip to Ibrox where it's difficult to know exactly what Rangers will turn up. Under Barry Ferguson the Ibrox side have shown a fragility in defence that Hibs will look to exploit.

But in other games, especially in Europe, Rangers have produced some incredible performances that few would have thought possible with their squad.

However, a key aspect is that Hibs now enter these games with a confidence and belief they can triumph. Since the end of November, only Celtic have beaten David Gray's side. That's just two defeats in 21 outings. And in the league, they are unbeaten in 15.

So can Hibs maintain their impressive momentum with a first victory at Ibrox in seven years?

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Is the Scottish Premiership in need of a shake-up? If so, how do you go about it?

News emerged on Tuesday that the SPFL is considering changing Scotland's top flight to a 10, 14 or 16-team division in an attempt to help reduce fixture congestion.

In its current 12-team form, the clubs split into a top and bottom six after 33 rounds of matches, with 38 rounds played altogether.

That format has been in place since 2000-01 and retaining that model is also an option, but reports have also suggested the split could be scrapped.

For any fresh structure to pass, it needs the backing of 11 of the 12 Premiership clubs, and eight out of 10 from the Championship plus 75% of League One and League Two combined.

And judging by the fan reaction to the mere thought of reducing the league to a 10-team division, you would have to assume that idea is already unlikely.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, former Premiership players Cammy Bell and Cillian Sheridan provided their views on a potential restructure.

Expansion is the only option for former Rangers and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Bell, while ex-Celtic striker Sheridan would like to see the split retained.

"I think we need a little bit of freshness about our game," Bell said. "So, if we can expand that league, then absolutely do it. We've got big enough clubs now that can generate good crowds.

"We're at a time just now where we've got the potential of trying to change it and certainly for me it's got to be expansion."

"The split works now," Sheridan added. "When I first came over and saw the whole split thing, I just never really got it. But in the past few years it has been quite interesting.

"If the league is wrapped up, if relegation is wrapped up, it does add a little bit of excitement to things in terms of teams getting into the top six and having to get European football."

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Moments before Keiron Bowie sealed Hibs' win over St Johnstone on Saturday, three of the Easter Road stands serenaded Rocky Bushiri.

It was done partly in the hope he'd be handed the ball to take the penalty that had just been awarded, and partly to recognise his storming foray forward that had set up the opportunity for the spot-kick to be given in the first place.

Rocky is in the final few months of his contract and the imposing centre-half must be loving life at the moment.

He has been an integral part of Hibs' revival this season and the love from the stands on Saturday was a far cry from the taunts of the Hearts support back on Boxing Day following his unfortunate own goal in the Edinburgh derby.

Rocky, of course, had the last laugh that day and he's barely stopped laughing since. "He's got a mistake in him" is a statement often thrown out when Bushiri's name is mentioned, but that's a lazy observation these days – those mistakes are few and far between and while he will still make them, that goes for any footballer at any level.

The 25-year-old has not always been this popular with the support. His signing was clumsily announced by Hibs shortly after the club had announced his exit following the completion of an initial loan spell, and the rumours (incorrect as they may be) were that he'd been signed by accident.

He's been scapegoated and made a figure of fun by commentators and pundits who really should know better, so it's a huge credit to Rocky that he has come through such adversity to prove himself a key player in a squad sitting clear in third place.

I hope Hibs can keep him. No doubt Rocky will have many suitors and he'll have his own ambitions but if he does leave, he will go having won round a Hibs support who have taken a real shine to him.

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers, external

Lewis Miller: The Australian international has improved in recent months to become an important player in the Hibs back three.

Junior Hoilett: His class was clear to see at Aberdeen last term and he has taken that skilful assurance to Easter Road with great effect.

Watch all the highlights from Hibs' 3-0 victory over St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

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Junior Hoilett has hailed head coach David Gray as the driving force in Hibs' turnaround this season.

Despite a difficult start to the campaign, the Edinburgh club made it 15 Premiership games unbeaten with their 3-0 victory over St Johnstone on Saturday making it their longest unbeaten streak in the competition in over 10 years.

Hoilett got Hibs up and running with the first goal at Easter Road, Martin Boyle got the second and Keiron Bowie's converted penalty in injury time made it three.

"It's credit to the staff, the players and the manager of course," the winger said.

"We've been resilient day in day out, working hard and supporting one another and you can see how we play and how we turn it around.

"He gives us the confidence to go out and express ourselves and play to our strengths and that's what we've been doing to turn the season around so quickly.

"It's a massive achievement."

Hibs fans, we asked for your views after Saturday's victory over St Johnstone secured a top six spot.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Paul: In season's gone by, and even earlier this season, games like that would end in a drab draw or disappointing loss but the composure, control and result feels like a significant step forward in mindset. Hats off to David Gray and the players!

Les: A completely dominant performance from start to finish. It was a pleasure to watch the confidence flowing through this Hibs team and get the result they fully deserved. A far cry from the abject displays earlier in the season. Well done to the manager and players for making us proud again.

Drew: Two rainbows meant the sun was definitely shining on Leith, but the three goals made it worth singing. Hibs were clumsy at times but St Johnstone couldn't capitalise. The penalty was icing on the cake but the real sweetness was seeing Hibs staying strong. David Gray's made a real difference to the mentality of the team it seems, we didn't look like a team who were looking for a way to lose. It seems impossible that we've moved from worries about relegation to hopes of Europe, but that's the difference a Gray makes.

Tim: What a turnaround from the beginning of the season. Hibs look so assured and confident on the pitch. They look well drilled, disciplined and creative. With the right signings over the summer, we'll be a real threat to the Old Firm.

Craig: Top six secure and now to wrap up European football for next season. Who'd have thought in November we'd be here? Junior Hoilett's goal was superb and he was defensively sound all game. It was good to see Alasana Manneh get some minutes, hope he continues to improve the more game time he gets. Anniversary year going well to date.

Alan: Very professional performance from Hibs. Can't believe that this is the same team that was struggling at the beginning of the season.

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• Hibernian are undefeated in their last 15 games in the Premiership, their longest unbeaten streak in the competition (since at least 2013/2014).

• David Gray's side have scored in each of their last five games in the Premiership, scoring 11 goals in that run.

• Mykola Kuharevich attempted six shots in this game, the highest total for a Hibernian player in the Premiership this season.

• Martin Boyle has scored 10 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Hibernian player, as well as scoring in his last three games.

• Hibernian have won eight penalties in the Premiership this season, no team has won more.

• They have scored 12 goals via substitutes in the Premiership this season, only Celtic (19) have scored more.

• The Easter Road club are unbeaten in their last 24 Premiership matches when leading at half-time (W17, D7) dating back to 18 March 2023 against Celtic (L1-3).

• St. Johnstone have conceded 11 goals to opposition substitutes in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (13) have conceded more.

• St. Johnstone have failed to score a first-half goal in 23 of their 31 games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Premiership this season.

• The Saints did not attempt a single shot in the first half.

Hibs fans, were you at Easter Road on Saturday or following the action from home? What did you make of your side's performance?

Have your say on the game.