Hibernian

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What now for Neil Lennon?

It's a question many, including ex-Scotland striker Lee Miller, are asking following the former Celtic and Hibernian manager's Rapid Bucharest sacking.

The 53-year-old had only been in charge of the Romanian club for six matches after being appointed three months ago.

A run of five draws and a defeat in those six games has Rapid sitting 12th in the 16-team SuperLiga.

After winning 10 domestic honours as a manager in two spells at Celtic, bookending a largely successful spell at Hibs, Lennon tested himself at Omonia Nicosia, where he won the Cypriot Cup, but he was also sacked there after just seven months.

This week's Rapid exit means the Northern Irishman, who had been at home earlier this month following the death of his mother, is out of work again.

As a former manager, Miller praised Lennon's ambition to work abroad, even if he had "nowhere near long enough to produce".

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, ex-Falkirk boss Miller said: "Lennon felt he wanted to try something different, he wanted to test himself, and good on him for doing that.

"But it's just the way he's been repaid... it annoys me as an ex-player and ex-manager. I just think managers need to be given time to work and get their point across to players and get a style in place.

"Three months isn't long enough, it's nowhere near long enough to produce. I don't know what's next for Lennon now, where does he go from here?"

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Ex-Hibernian striker Kevin Nisbet would be a good fit to replace Bojan Miovski at Pittodrie, says former Aberdeen forward Lee Miller.

The 27-year-old has struggled to make an impact at English Championship side Millwall since departing Easter Road in June last year.

And following Miovski's big-money move to Girona, reports have suggested Aberdeen are interested in bringing Nisbet back to Scotland.

Miller, who played more than 140 games for the Dons between 2006 and 2010, says he would be surprised to see the former Hibs man return north so soon but feels he needs regular game time.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Miller said: "He's 27, he should be in his prime. He needs to play games because he's a very, very good player. On the top of his game he can be really effective and Aberdeen could be a good fit.

"But I would be surprised if he came back up to the Scottish game because when you go down south, you kind of jump about in the merry-go-round.

"Although, I don't know his personal situation. He could be missing home, missing his friends, missing his family.

"But he's not featured as much as he probably thought he would down there. Sometimes you don't realise how hustle and bustle it is. You're playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday. It's a real long slog."

Former striker Lee Miller, who turned out for Dundee United, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock among others, recounts his experiences of being on the move on transfer deadline day during his playing career.

Listen and subscribe to the Scottish football podcast on BBC Sounds

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Having conceded a goal to Celtic within the first three minutes of their league meeting, Hibs were determined to avoid a similar fate at Parkhead on Sunday in the Premier Sports Cup.

Hibs lasted about a minute longer this time before Daizen Maeda put the hosts ahead. Hibs had, ironically, started quite brightly but familiar lapses in concentration at the back meant the pre-game strategy was binned almost immediately.

A second Maeda goal duly followed, and – as with the previous week – a rout looked on the cards. Hibs, though, found a way back into the match with a stunning header from Mykola Kuharevich that gave us an unlikely foothold in the game.

Hibs started the second half brightly before more calamitous defending saw Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn block Jacob Bursik’s clearance and the ball rolled into the net, killing the game as a contest.

A frustrated David Gray lamented the repeated mistakes from his players and vowed to make changes to a team that has been leaking goals this season.

He’ll need all his squad available soon if he’s to be able to do that, with new players at varying stages of fitness.

With Dundee and then Kilmarnock up next, Hibs don’t have time to dwell on two of the toughest games of the season.

We need to be heading into these match ready and determined to get the first points of the campaign on the board.

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers podcast, external

We asked for your views after Hibs bowed out of the League Cup with a 3-1 defeat at Celtic Park.

Here's what some of you said:

Kenny: We were always going to struggle against Celtic. The good thing is David Gray has now played Celtic twice so he should know where he needs to be with Hibs. He needs to sign at least two quality players before the end of the month.

Stuart: Not the management team for Hibs, another poor season on the horizon.

Darren: The season starts Saturday, everybody has a free pass so far! From Saturday if you're not pulling your weight then it's out the door you go! We deserve better as supporters.

Les: Pathetic defending has cost us the chance to get back in the game again. Five managers and we are making the same mistakes week in, week out. Playing three at the back with Rocky Bushiri and Marvin Ekpiteta was an accident waiting to happen. They need to get Ryan McGowan in as soon as possible and a decent centre-half to partner Warren O'Hora.

Mark: Ekpiteta and Josef Bursik seem to be competing to see who can make the worst mistakes. If Gray thinks we can pass out of defence with that lot, he won't last beyond September. The fact that we look like we need to sign more defenders and another goalkeeper after already signing a few in the summer shows once again what a mess the club is in.

Neil: We need to stop trying to play a brand of football associated with higher calibre teams. Our players are decent but they need to be more effective and get the basics right. We're good going forward, so go forward, stop inviting teams into our half and then faffing about until we screw up and concede. Failed attack is easier forgive than defensive blunder.

Bill: Who is signing these duds? Bursik and Ekpiteta are bombscares. Is it a case of, if they are free, we will try them? Surely Malcolm Mackay and Gray can see the weaknesses the fans can. It will be interesting to see the line-up against Dundee, they have to get it right. Let's go with two up front.

David: Same story, same mistakes I am afraid. Need to get the defence sorted and our ineffectual midfield need to do more. Players still to come into the picture but are they any better? We shall see.

Malcolm: When Celtic can turn down a €23m bid for a single player, and arguably not their best, that speaks volumes regarding the difference between them and other clubs. Discount the two Celtic games and move on. That is all we can do here.

Scott: The team cannot defend and they're not confident to play out from the back. Sadly the manager sounds like a broken record each week. Losing is habit forming, he looks lost in the dugout and so does his team of mediocre players.

Millwall and Standard Liege are among a number of clubs who have registered their interest in signing Hibernian centre-half Rocky Bushiri, the 24-year-old who could be available for a cut-price fee in the region of £250,000. (Football Insider), external

Former Hibernian striker Kevin Nisbet is wanted by Aberdeen, who want to see if a potential loan deal can be agreed with the 27-year-old Scotland international having fallen down the pecking order with Millwall. (Daily Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Goalkeeper Josef Bursik's blunder leading to Celtic's third goal in Hibernian's League Cup defeat highlights how much football has changed, says Jackie McNamara.

Click here to listen to more on Monday's episode of the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "We found ourselves very quickly in the same movie again, which is extremely frustrating.

"For the first two minutes of the game, we were front-footed but individual errors have cost us again. We've lost a goal after three minutes again.

"Until we get back into the game from a set piece completely against the run of play, we fell back into being passive.

"When we got to 2-1 I felt the players got confidence from that. Between then and half-time we were more aggressive and started doing the things we wanted.

"We didn't deserve to be where we were at that point but we had a second chance to make sure we built on that.

"But then it's an error again. One mistake becomes two and we lose a goal and from that moment on Celtic dominate. You can't do that against this level of opposition.

"There's no excuses for the level of performance and the goals we're losing at the moment. There's going to be competition and there will have to be changes because we can't keep making the same mistakes."

Celtic set up a meeting with second-tier Falkirk in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals by brushing aside Hibernian for the second time in a week.

Daizen Maeda tucked in the opening goal after just three minutes and added a second barely 13 minutes later as the Premiership champions coursed with confidence.

Mykola Kuharevich's superb diving header from Martin Boyle's free-kick got David Gray's side back in the game and shifted the momentum.

But Nicolas Kuhn capitalised on a mistake at the back by Marvin Ekpiteta to ensure Celtic comfortably qualified for the last eight.

Were you at Celtic Park or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here., external

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Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

Hibs were asked by new head coach David Gray to be "miles better" than a week ago at Easter Road.

They lasted only a further 65 seconds without conceding. A switch to a back three made little difference as they were tormented for most of the first half.

However, Mykola Kuharevich's header was superb and after it Hibs looked more menacing as they went direct and looked to unsettle Celtic physically.

That was blown up by Marvin Ekpiteta's horrible error, which added to a growing list for the defender even at this stage of the season.

It's early days but Hibs don't look like a team with the personnel to play from the back, and it's unclear exactly how Gray envisages his team operating.

However, with nine new faces in and potentially more on the way that could be a slow process for the Hibs boss, who should not be judged so early on back-to-back games against Celtic.

David Gray makes two changes as he attempts to reverse last week's league defeat by Celtic in the League Cup last-16 tie.

Dylan Levitt and Rudi Molotnikov make way from midfield, and Rocky Bushiri bolsters the defence to make it a back three.

Nathan Moriah-Welsh is added to the middle of the park as Hibs aim to get more legs in the team.

New signing Hyeok-kyu Kwon can't play against his parent club.

Hibernian XI v Celtic: Bursik, Miller, Bushiri, Ekpiteta, O'Hora, Obita, Newell, Moriah-Welsh, Campbell, Boyle, Kuharevich.

Substitutes: Smith, Levitt, C Cadden, Amos, McKirdy, N Cadden, Bowie, Megwa, Molotnikov.

• Follow the action

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Hibs head coach David Gray insisted his side will learn from last week's 2-0 loss to Celtic as they prepare to take on the reigning league champions again in the Premier Sports Cup.

First-half goals from Nicolas Kuhn and Callum McGregor were enough to beat Hibs at Easter Road, with the sides meeting at Parkhead on Sunday.

"Sometimes you can go 10 or 12 weeks without playing them again, so one of the positives to come from this is that we know exactly what to expect," Gray said.

"We can learn from the things that we can be better at, we have talked about the areas we need to improve on and all those feelings will be fresh in the mind for this weekend."

The new head coach was also adamant that the Premier Sports Cup is a winnable competition for Hibs.

Gray captained the Leith side in the 2016 League Cup final loss to Ross County, and famously scored the winner in the Scottish Cup final two months later.

"I have been strong with the players from the very start, when you join this football club, there is an expectation and demand to go and win a trophy – that has to be the ultimate aim," Gray added.

"There is a genuine opportunity to do it at this club, but to do that you need to beat the best and that is what we need to try to do this Sunday.

"In a one-off game, with the magic of the cup, there is no reason why we can’t go there and win. But we need to make sure we massively improve on where we were last weekend."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Premier Sports Cup last 16 weekend concludes by handing Hibernian the chance of quickfire revenge over Celtic.

That is easier said than done considering Sunday's 2-0 league defeat was on their own patch and this time they have to visit the home of Scottish champions who have scored six and are yet to concede in their two games so far this season.

David Gray's side found the net 14 times in three group-stage outings, but defeat by League 1 side Kelty Hearts and two Premiership losses without scoring have heaped early pressure on the man confirmed as head coach after his spell as caretaker last season.

While Hibs will be unable to field latest midfield loan recruit Kwon Hyeok-kyu against his parent club and have fewer forward options after Dylan Vente joined Zwolle on loan, Celtic's firepower is boosted by the return of Adam Idah.

Now he has made the switch from Norwich City permanent, the Republic of Ireland striker will be looking to continue the scoring rate that bagged him nine goals, including a double against Hibs, in 19 games on loan.

With him in tow, Brendan Rodgers' hosts will be even stronger favourites to continue their 18-game unbeaten run - and four straight wins - over Hibs at home and take their place in the quarter-final draw shortly after full-time.

Read the Premier Sports Cup preview in full here.

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New Hibs forward Kieron Bowie says his time spent with Fulham has made him a better player, even though he didn't break into the first team.

The 21-year-old joined the London club from hometown team Raith Rovers four years ago and featured at Under-18 and Under-21 level but failed to make a first-team appearance.

Having signed a four-year deal at Easter Road, Bowie thinks he's now ready for the Scottish top flight.

"I had never left home, I’d been in Kirkcaldy my whole life so it was a big change to go down to London, one of the busiest places in the world," he said.

"It was surreal going down there without any family. It was definitely a good move for me even though I didn’t break into the team.

"I went down from Raith and it was a very different environment. It was a lot more technical than I was used to so I definitely developed a lot there technically, with my touch and things like that.

"They were really focused on that aspect. When I was up here before, playing in Scottish League One, I was on the right wing and I was just a young lad, a lot smaller than I am now.

"Coming back up now, I’m bigger and I’ve got a lot more of a presence.

"I think that’s why Hibs have brought me in, because they know I can be that focal point up front or I can play off either side because I’ve got that versatility."

Hibernian have made a third bid of £750,000 for Dundee captain Luke McCowan, with Celtic closely monitoring the situation but yet to make an official approach for the 26-year-old midfielder valued at around £1m by his club. (Anthony Joseph on X), external

Hibernian head coach David Gray will look to sign another striker after Dylan Vente headed back to the Netherlands to join Zwolle on loan. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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The draw for the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup will take place on Sunday after the Celtic v Hibs tie, which kicks off at 15:00 BST.

The draw will be shown live on Premier Sports following their coverage of the game from Parkhead.

All quarter-final ties due to be played on the weekend of September 21-22.

Hibernian forward Dylan Vente has arrived in the Netherlands before his loan move to Zwolle, with the paperwork on the 25-year-old's move poised to be completed. (Sky Sports)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.

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David Gray has confirmed Hibs have received interest in Dylan Vente, but says it's "too early" to say if the Dutch striker will leave.

Vente, who joined the Edinburgh club from Roda JC on a three-year deal last summer, has reportedly travelled to his homeland for talks with Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle.

"Yeah, there has been a little bit of interest there, but at the moment he’s still very much a Hibs player," head coach Gray said.

"It’s too early say just now if he will move on. At the moment, whilst he’s still a Hibs player, I’m just concentrating on how I can get the best out of him.

"That’s something I’ll continue doing unless that situation changes."

Gray was delighted to add South Korean midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu on a season-long loan from Celtic this week.

"We've seen straight away, the last two days on the grass, the quality and technical ability he has, but also his physicality," he said.

"He's a real good athlete who covers the ground well. He was somebody I was really impressed with when he went on loan to St Mirren last season."