Hibernian

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Hibernian 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

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This 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

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Hibernian 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

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David 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

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David 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."

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A 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.

Read all the Scottish Premiership picks here

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.

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• After 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.

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It 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.

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers, external

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

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

Watch the Sportscene team analyse an "incredibly exciting" race for third spot after Aberdeen beat Hibs in the Scottish Premiership.

Hibs fans, we asked for your thoughts on head coach David Gray signing a new three-year contract at Easter Road.

Here's what some of you had to say:

William: Absolute legend, brilliant news.

Mark: Fantastic news. A few more teams need to be patient and trust in their manager. I've been a Hibs supporter for 57 years and this is some of the best news I've heard from Easter Road in that time. Congratulations, it is so well deserved.

Alan: I for one was against him getting the job but he and the players have been magnificent, a three-year contract is a big yes from me.

Malcolm: I very much doubted his appointment but I'm the first to say I was so wrong! I wish him all the best.

George: Given even more time he will become a really good manager. What he has done up until now is steady the squad he has and got them playing well.

Matt: It's only ever a good thing to tie down a manager doing as well as Gray, all the noises from the dressing room have been good. After a shaky start, he's got previously inconsistent players like Rocky Bushiri and Lewis Miller becoming some of the best in their position in the league, and a new deal hopefully makes it more difficult for a club to swoop for him in the summer. I'd be amazed if he's here at the end of the contract, but if he repeats his successes this season next time around, a big club will no doubt make a move for him.

Aidan: First of all it's very good news that the manager and assistants have agreed these new deals. Also, if Sir David can keep the momentum going for the rest of this campaign and into next season, we may be looking at memorable years to come and not just a one-season wonder.

Colin: Absolutely deserved. He believed in his players when the 'sack the manger' group were wanting him out. He's bought stability and continuity back to the club which is reflected in our league position and planning for next season.

Watch highlights as Aberdeen striker Kevin Nisbet downs former side Hibs with stunning winner.

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Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hibernian defender Warren O'Hora says it is "about how we react" after their 17-game unbeaten Premiership run came to an end at Pittodrie.

The 1-0 loss against Aberdeen was their first league defeat since the start of December and the result moves the Dons level on points with Hibs, who remain third on goal difference.

"It is a hard one to take, we knew the stakes going into the game, no doubt about it we are still in a good position but we haven't felt like this in a long time so it is tough," O'Hora told BBC Scotland.

"We were the first to say it in the dressing room, it is about how we react for next week. We need to react in a positive way, come Monday we will assess what happened and we will go through the positives and negatives and move on.

"If you look at the start of the season we were in a very bad place, but we go on this amazing run with the same group of players and it is the same staff, so it is definitely in us to have this character and this desire not to lose games.

"Of course today hurts, look it has to happen in football sometimes but we will never accept losing, as professionals we hate it."

After all the praise and plaudits that have been coming Hibs' way over the past few months, O'Hora was asked if what happened at Pittodrie serves as a reminder that there is still plenty of work to do between now and the end of the season.

"We were humble, we weren't getting ahead of ourselves at all," he responded.

"If somebody had offered us this at the start of the season, of course we would have taken somebody's hand off.

"We have got here from sheer hard work and being together as a group, there are amazing characters in that group and the staff have been amazing with us."

We asked for your views on Hibs' 1-0 defeat against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Sandy: What a run of games for David Gray and the squad, they created new history with it. Today we played well without finding that crucial finish. Jordan Smith was outstanding and he lost his series of clean sheets only to a good goal from an ex-Hibee. The run has ended but I'm confident we will run again. Onwards and upwards.

Michael: A really disappointing performance. Very tepid throughout the match I felt, and extremely lacklustre up top. I feel we played for a draw and it's backfired. Hopefully it's a blip and we can kick on next weekend.

George: Didn't look like losing, nor winning either as both huffed and puffed through the 90 minutes. Kevin Nisbet swings a foot out as he's falling backwards, so for me a tad lucky. The 17 superior goal difference now looking handy though.

Pat: Always disappointing to lose, well that's what my Hearts friends tell me. Possibly got this one wrong as felt we would happily settle for a draw only to forget about the curse of the ex-player. No need to be worried, we remain third with a significantly better goal difference. In SDG we believe.

Dave: David Gray should have kept with the same line-up he had the previous games. He changed it out of panic and it didn't work. Leaving Junior Hoilett out was a big mistake.

Kenny: We played well at times but never looked dangerous in front of goal. The Aberdeen defence looked shaky but we never took advantage. I have said from early on in the season we need a centre-forward. Four cup finals to go.

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• Aberdeen are undefeated in their last six games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 16 March 2024 to 9 November 2024, a run of 20 games.

• 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 St Mirren on 16 February 2025.

• Kevin Nisbet has scored 10 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Aberdeen player.

• Hibernian have conceded 17 goals in the last 15 minutes of second halves, only Ross County (18) have conceded more in the Premiership this season.

Did you take in Hibernian's defeat by Aberdeen or were you following from home?

Have your say on the match

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "It's obviously a feeling we've not had for a very long time. It's never nice when it comes around. I certainly don't enjoy the feeling, none of the players do.

"Did we do enough to win it? Probably not. The players gave me everything. Kevin Nisbet scored a fantastic goal that separated the two sides. We created enough chances without being clinical within that.

"It certainly makes it tighter and all to play for moving forward. We're still currently sitting in third position with four games to go. We've given ourselves a brilliant opportunity. It is about the reaction now, you can't dwell on this result, this performance. It's certainly all to play for for everyone."

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