Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
Hibernian strengthened their grip on third place with an impressive win against Dundee United, and two of their stars make my team of the week.
At the back, Jack Iredale brought quality and assurance as he has done all campaign. He's had a superb season.
As has Martin Boyle, who took his goal tally to 18 - for club and country - in what could be his final term at Easter Road.
Image source, SNSJack Iredale's stunner secured an Edinburgh derby victory in March
Finishing third with Hibernian would cap off a dream season for Jack Iredale after the defender won the PFA's Scottish Premiership goal of the season award for his stunning derby winner against Hearts.
After a tough start to the campaign, the 29-year-old has become a key part of David Gray's side as a remarkable run of form has surged the Leith club up the top-flight table.
Iredale's beauty of a strike earned a 2-1 win over Hibs' Edinburgh rivals in March, which was part of a 17-game unbeaten league run.
A recent defeat at Aberdeen last month ended that record-equalling form, but Gray's men remain in the driving seat for third after responding with a 3-1 victory over Dundee United on Saturday.
On securing the goal of the season prize, Iredale said: "Incredible, it's one of the first individual trophies I've won in my football career.
"You could see by everyone's reaction that they didn't really expect it from me, so that's why it holds more weight. I've been trying to replicate it in training and none of them have come off yet."
And on the prospect of securing third spot this season, the defender added: "I'm confident in the team. Playing in Europe is any player's dream. It's definitely something we want to achieve in the dressing room."
Sportscene analysis: 'Balanced Hibs gave no encouragement to Dundee Utd'
The Sportscene panel analyse the performance of both Hibs and Dundee United after the Edinburgh side ran out 3-1 winners at Easter Road.
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Watch highlights of Hibs' 3-1 win over Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership
Watch all the highlights from Hibs' 3-1 victory over Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.
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We asked for your views on Hibernian's 3-1 win over Dundee United. Here's what some of you said:
George: Great all round performance. Back in the formation that, quite simply, works for these players. United had a good 20 minutes early in the second half when they scored their goal, but we didn't look like losing this at any juncture. Big one next week but we look strong and organised so we'll give Celtic a game.
Colin: Today was all about the bounce-back from last week's loss and we got the result we deserved. Dominant first half but lost control of first 15 minutes of second. Our subs stabilised our game and the third goal settled any nerves.
John: Brilliant and essential win in the race for third. Hibs were excellent in the first half and deserved to be ahead. Utd had to improve and they did for a spell but David Gray got his subs spot on - as he usually does - and they helped turn the tide back in Hibs' favour.
Allan: First half was exactly what was needed after last weekend. Controlled, disciplined, and simply better all over the park. The players were excellent in their attitude and desire to win. The players on our bench would start for most other teams in the league. David Gray changed it at the right time and fully justified why he's in the running for Manager of the Year. Third place is very much ours to lose.
Rory: David Gray has done something with this team that's so rare - we're calm and consistent, like the man himself. We don't feel panicked when we lose a goal and when our unbeaten run came to an end, we answered with a win the next week, which is more than can be said for some teams. November feels like so long ago...
Image source, SNSHibs have to make sure they finish in third place this season, says Hibs striker Myko Kuharevich.
The 3-1 win over Dundee United on Saturday moved the Easter Road side three points clear of Aberdeen in fourth after they were beaten by St Mirren.
Kuharevich, who was back in the starting line-up, scored Hibs' second goal of the afternoon.
"It was a massive win," he said. "We had to reflect on our loss last week and we did that well, and we fully deserved to win.
"The goal has given me confidence so I'm really happy for myself, I'm really happy to help the team with my goal."
Kuharevich scored the second goal in the win - his third goal against United in six appearances against them. It was also his first goal since he scored against the Tangerines in February.
"Every goal is massive," he added. "I want to thank the boys who support me every day and supported my goal like they scored themselves.
"It's a very good feeling for the team, we just try to enjoy it, we try to win every game and get what we can get.
"It's massive for the club. No one said it before but we just wanted to achieve as much as we possibly can. We have made a platform to finish the season very well and we need to make sure we finish in third place."
Image source, SNSMartin Boyle scored his 12th goal of the Premiership this season, more than any other Hibernian player. The forward has contributed to goals in his last five home games in the Premiership (three goals, two assists).
Hibernian have avoided defeat in their last 13 matches when scoring first in the Premiership, since a 1-4 loss to Dundee on 23 November 2024. They are also unbeaten in their last 27 Premiership matches when leading at half-time (W20, D7) dating back to 18 March 2023 against Celtic (L1-3).
David Gray's side have stopped the opposition from scoring a first-half goal in 21 of their 35 games, only Celtic (25) have done this more often in the Premiership this season.
Nicky Cadden has assisted his sixth goal at the Premiership this season, no Hibernian player has more.
Hibernian have scored 16 goals via substitutes in the Premiership this season, only Celtic (22) have scored more.
Dundee United have failed to win any of their last six matches when conceding first in the Premiership, since a victory over Dundee on 2 January 2025.
Jim Goodwin's side have failed to score a first-half goal in 23 of their 35 games, only St. Johnstone (25) have failed to score more often in the Premiership this season.
Hibs fans, were you at Easter Road on Saturday or following the action from home? Either way we want your views on the performance. What did you make of the game? How confident are you of a third placed finish?
Image source, SNSHibernian head coach David Gray: "The result was the most important thing, the reaction from the players to the defeat last weekend.
"Everyone was looking to see how this Hibs team would bounce back and I got that today.
"Credit to Dundee United in the second half, they got a bit of a foothold in the game and we lose a really poor goal. For what we had done in the first half we knew it was half a job, we knew we needed to go out with the same mentality in the second half. For United to get the next goal, the players showed me massive character to make sure we saw the game out. It was a massive team performance.
"I'm delighted for the players, they gave me everything I asked them to do before the game. I challenged them for a reaction and for the three points today and they delivered that.
"The fans have been on this rollercoaster season with us and they were massively pushing the side forward. There were lulls in the game and you could hear them singing to get the players over the line.
"Until it's mathematically done [third place] we need to keep pushing and taking it one game at a time because there's still improvements to come."
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSThis was just what the doctor ordered for home boss David Gray, who'll have done his manager of the year credentials no harm at all with the way he got his side to bounce back from last week's tough defeat by Aberdeen.
His side had energy, ideas and organisation - in stark contrast to their opponents in the first 45. It's not difficult to see why Hibs have risen to favourites for third: strong and calm in midfield, pacy and dangerous up front, they have goals all over the team and a solid foundation at the back with Warren O'Hora, Rocky Bushiri and Jack Iredale.
Yes, Hibs were given absolute gifts by United but you still have to be clinical enough to take them, with Myko Kuharevich keeping his cool to score on the run for the second.
The momentum built up by their long undefeated streak hasn't been punctured too badly by that Pittodrie defeat, and on this evidence, Hibs won't fear anyone, even if their next match is another trip to face champions Celtic.
Head coach David Gray reminds his Hibernian players "we've not done anything yet" as they aim to maintain their position of third in the league and qualify for the Europa League. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external
Image source, SNSHibernian pair Elie Youan and Lewis Miller are back in contention after injury, but captain Joe Newell (groin) and Kwon Hyeok-kyu (ankle) are set to remain sidelined.
Dundee United are without Ross Graham (hamstring) and Luca Stephenson (hernia) but Lewis Fiorini could play some part.
Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSDavid Gray says he's "very flattered" to be nominated for PFA Scotland's Manager of the Year award.
Brendan Rodgers and John McGlynn make up the shortlist alongside the Hibernian manager who has team in third place and pole position for European football.
Thirty-six-year-old Gray says "there's no higher accolade," and insists it is a reflection on his players after a difficult start to the season.
"I'm very flattered, there's no higher accolade than fellow managers voting for you," said Gray.
"I'm very humbled to be in that position, when I think about how difficult the job is at every single level, every single club.
"It's also a reflection on the group, the hard work of the players. The players are the ones that go over the line every week and have to try and put the game plan in place to try and get the positive results.
"They're the ones that have to deliver it and then the hard work of every single member of staff in the building every single day and the stadium.
"They are all pulling in the same direction. I'm the one that when things are going well people will talk about, the players as well, and when things go wrong it falls on my responsibility so that's something we've done really well.
"I'm very flattered but also very appreciative of all the hard work of everybody at the football club, because it's a reflection on that."
Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSDavid Gray has been speaking to the media ahead of Dundee United's visit to Easter Road on Saturday.
Here are the key lines from his press conference:
On their 1-0 loss against Aberdeen last weekend, their first league defeat in 2025, he says "nothing's different except the mood after the game, a feeling we've not had for a while."
Despite Dundee United's 5-0 defeat against Celtic, Gray is expecting "a really tough game" but one that will be "brilliant to be involved in."
On adding to the squad in the summer the Hibs boss maintains his "full focus is on the next four cup finals between now and the end of the season."
Gray says he's "very flattered and humbled" to be nominated for manager of the year and it reflects "on the hard work of the group."
He wants to "take advantage" of being at home at the weekend and "get the crowd right behind us."
On being favourites to win he says "it's two teams with everything to gain and everything to lose."
As the league table is so tight he says "every single team has got something to play for, you want to try and finish as high as you can, as best of the rest."
Lewis Miller and Elie Youan are back in training and he says "we're all positive and moving in the right direction."
Image source, SNSA first Premiership defeat of 2025 for Hibernian at Pittodrie last weekend has opened the door for Aberdeen and Dundee United in the race to finish best of the rest.
With four games remaining, just three points cover the trio, so this is a biggie at Easter Road.
Did the pressure of extending their unbeaten league run to a club record 18 games get to Hibs last time, or was it overconfidence in their game management?
Either way, David Gray's side appeared cautious away to the Dons and were undone by a special goal from Kevin Nisbet.
Expect the approach to change this time as Hibs aim for a seventh successive home league victory, something they haven't done in more than seven years.
Those six previous matches on their own turf have yielded 16 goals, with a mere three against.
A highly dubious VAR-awarded penalty late in the game earned Jim Goodwin's side a third consecutive draw at Easter Road in November and United have lost just one of their past 14 top-flight trips to EH7, winning five of those.
A forensic VAR intervention at Tannadice in February denied United a second goal, with Hibs making the most of that lucky escape with two late goals in a 3-1 win, so maybe it's true what they say about decisions levelling out across the season.
United's thumping by Celtic has extended Hibs' handsome goal difference advantage, so a home win here could leave the visitors with too much ground to make up.
Goodwin's side are seeking a third away win on the bounce and kept three successive clean sheets before the champions turned it on for their title party.
The visitors have already exceeded the expectations of a promoted side and much of that success has come from a defensive stodginess.
United may be guarded after shipping five goals to Celtic, but that doesn't mean they can't mix it.
And, with five of the 11 goals these two have dished up in this season's three prior matches coming on or after 90 minutes, don't even think about leaving early to beat the traffic.
Hibernian defender Kyle McClelland is attracting interest from the Scottish Championship as the 23-year-old nears the end of his contract while on loan to Coleraine. (Daily Record), external
Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.
Image source, SNSAfter their 3-1 win in February, Hibs could pick up back-to-back top-flight victories over Dundee United for the first time since winning three in a row over them in 2006.
Dundee United have only lost one of their past 14 away top-flight trips to Easter Road (W5 D8), going down 2-1 in November 2012.
Hibs have won their past six home league games, their longest run in the Scottish Premiership since winning seven in succession from January to April 2018 under Neil Lennon.
Dundee United have won their past two away league outings, last winning more in a row in the Scottish Premiership on their travels in August 2020 (four). However, the Tangerines are winless in 16 away games in the competition against the four sides currently above them in the table (D6 L10) since a 3-0 win at Hibs in October 2021.
Hibs remain unbeaten in their past 16 top-flight home games against newly-promoted opponents (W6 D10) since a 1-0 defeat to Ross County on Boxing Day 2012.
Hibernian are keen on former Ross County winger Regan Charles-Cook, who will soon be out of contract with Belgian second tier side Eupen. (Daily Record), external
Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Well, it had to end at some point. Hibernian's unbeaten league run, which began last December when Celtic notched three without reply, was halted at 17 games.
And it had to be a former Hibs favourite that brought an end to that club record.
Kevin Nisbet's strike was "world class" according to my BBC colleague Willie Miller and fit to win any game.
The task now for David Gray and the players is to start again. There may only be four matches left this season, but the goal that looked so unlikely at the start of the campaign is still very much in their own hands.
Dundee United travel to Easter Road on Saturday and the visitors will still be licking their wounds after a horror show against Celtic.
A Hibs victory would take them six points clear of their opponents and all but guarantee some sort of European place for next season.
And with both of the Old Firm still to face, the last thing Hibs need is to rely on anything from those fixtures.
Whilst there is turmoil across the city, Hibs have gone about their business quietly. David Gray - deservedly shortlisted for PFA Scotland manager of the year - and his backroom team have agreed new deals.
Jack Iredale has also extended his contract and others will no doubt follow in the coming weeks.
For the first time in a number of years, a serene summer beckons at Easter Road.
Image source, SNSIt will come as little surprise to anyone that the latest attempt at reconstruction of the Scottish Premiership has failed to get off the ground.
A change from the current 12-team set-up to one of 10, 14 or 16 were the options being discussed but the SPFL said "there was no reasonable prospect of achieving consensus".
Maintaining the status quo is a consequence of there being "no perfect option" for change, according to The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan.
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, McGowan said: "If you look at the options for expanding the Premiership, for 14 you would have to have probably a top six and a bottom eight and a different number of fixtures. So that's less than ideal.
"Look at the 16, which is the one that supporters really want. But Neil Doncaster has been saying consistently that you would then have to find a way to still preserve your four Celtic v Rangers games because Sky sports are not a charity. They're a subscription network who want to get the biggest numbers for games. So they want more Celtic and Rangers games.
"So it's how you square that circle with the 16 that's the problem. So it's not so much I don't think there's no great desire for expansions. There's no such thing as a perfect option and one that they can all vote for. That's the problem basically."
Former Scotland defender Maurice Ross, meanwhile, has accused Premiership clubs of "self-preservation".
"If they're going to remain the same, okay, let's put two clubs [automatically] down then and have a third-place play-off," said Ross.
"And we'll see what the reaction is of the clubs in four or five years' time. Then they'll want reconstruction."
Matty Fairnie
Fan writer
All good things come to an end. And so it was for Hibs on Saturday as their unbeaten league run was finally burst by a wonder strike from former Hibee Kevin Nisbet.
It's hard to be too despondent about the result or too frustrated at the team after such a historic run.
And while the defeat was disappointing, it was far from catastrophic as we ended the weekend still in third place and with our destiny firmly in our own hands.
It's incredible to think Aberdeen could have gone 25 points ahead of us back in November had Rocky Bushiri not found a way to score an equaliser in that incredible 3-3 draw at Easter Road.
Since then, Hibs have been fantastic, and it's testament to this team's fighting spirit that Aberdeen's win on Saturday wasn't enough for them to reclaim third spot.
All focus now shifts to another huge game on Saturday as we welcome Dundee United to Easter Road.
United also have ambitions of third place and I'm sure there are plenty more twists to come in the race over the final four games of the season.
As Hibernian consider triggering the option of an extra year on the contract of Martin Boyle, there is interest in the 32-year-old forward from Australia, the Middle East and England. (Daily Record), external
