Hibernian

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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In a match which mattered not, Hibs' summed up their season rather quaintly. Start dreadfully, slowly grow into it, and finish by thinking of what could have been.

The first Rangers goal came from comical play at the back, with keeper Smith chipping the ball onto the head of Raskin, who played in Dessers to score.

This was the Hibs' of September, October and November. Fragile, a little all over the place.

Rangers' really should have been 2-0 up, but instead it was Hibs who made the chances count.

Bowie took his opportunity, tapping in a Boyle cut back, while the second goal exhibited Nicky Cadden's deadly delivery. At the other, Smith produced seven saves to continue his role as unheralded hero.

The fightback in the game against at times a rampant, flowing Rangers, epitomised the unbelievable journey they've been on.

At the heart of it, David Gray - a man who knows the meaning of the word perseverance. His head was on the chopping block on a couple of occasions, but each time he escaped.

As for next season, only a fool would predict what type of campaign Hibs will have. Just keep an eye on the ride.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "We gave away a bad goal and put ourselves 1-0 down very early on. It was never going to be a nothing game, there's always a wee edge to these games.

"It was a bit frantic, both teams were desperate to win. We didn't want to just fade away, it was full commitment from both sets of players. There was everything in the game.

"It was probably fitting, the way our season has gone. To not lose is another positive, the players could enjoy 'Sunshine on Leith' again, fully deserved for their efforts.

[On the not-given Rangers goal] "It's always going to be one of these ones. Until you can categorically prove whether it's over or not, it's a very difficult one to give. It's harder when the ball is in the air as well.

"I understand why the frustration is there. We've benefitted a couple of times this season but it balances itself out. I've not complained about decisions, and I'm not going to do that on the last day of the season.

[On his season] "I think of the last three years, the experiences I've gained in such a short period of time, constant change. I'm the one that has benefitted most.

"I've learned a lot about myself, about my players and staff. To come through that took a lot of perseverance and belief that we would turn it round. I got that from the players.

"They bought in, demonstrated why it would turn. The players' achievement is incredible, the league doesn't lie at this stage of the season. I can't speak highly enough of the players. To end it the way we did takes some character."

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Jordan Smith. An under-rated goalkeeper in this league, the 30-year-old produced seven stops to deny Rangers.

Without him, the visitors might have run away with this game but - perhaps spurred on by his early mistake - he denied Cyriel Dessers and Danilo a few times.

Sunderland midfielder Nectar Triantis, currently on loan to Hibernian, is not a transfer target for Portsmouth despite stories linking them with the 22-year-old Australian. (The News), external

Hibernian striker Dwight Gayle insists he is sticking to his decision to retire after Saturday's Scottish Premiership curtain call against Rangers at Easter Road and the 35-year-old plans to become an agent and spend more time with his family. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Hibs pair Joe Newell and Rudi Molotnikov (both groin) are still out while head coach David Gray reported that a couple of others are doubtful with "bumps and bruises".

Barry Ferguson will assess his Rangers squad but Ianis Hagi, Ridvan Yilmaz and Dujon Sterling remain out.

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"Outstanding servant" Martin Boyle is staying at Hibs for next season after the club triggered the one-year extension clause in his deal.

The Australia forward had attracted interest from abroad amid his most productive campaign for the club, registering 19 goals and 10 assists across all competitions as David Gray's side clinched a third-place Premiership finish.

But with European group-stage football secured, Boyle will extend his Hibs career into a 12th season, having made 361 appearances and scored 98 goals across two spells.

"We're delighted to extend Martin's contract, and this decision makes complete sense for the football club," said head coach Gray.

"Boyler has been an outstanding servant to Hibernian and his contribution on the field has been demonstrated yet again this season with his invaluable goals and assists.

"Not only that, he has also stepped into the role of captain in Joe Newell's absence and has demonstrated his leadership qualities with extra responsibility.

"Having played with him and coached him, he is the type of player that knows exactly what it means to play for Hibernian FC, and he will be a real asset for us next year."

Hibs fans, is keeping hold of Boyle a real statement of intent by the club as they look to build on an impressive season?

Let us know your thoughts.

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Hibs head coach David Gray says beating Rangers on Saturday for a ninth successive home win would be a fitting end to a magnificent season.

Gray's side overcame a difficult first half of the campaign to soar up the Premiership table and guaranteed a third-place finish with their draw at St Mirren on Wednesday.

With a match in front of their own fans to end the season, Gray has called for his players to sign off with victory.

"That's the challenge to the players - can you finish the season in style?" Gray said.

"We've clearly achieved everything we've set out to do in the league campaign, but we want to finish the season with a win at home.

"Really difficult game, they always are, but a really good game to look forward to and I'm sure the atmosphere will be good as well."

Gray played down the notion of this game being a dead rubber, with Rangers long since out of the title race and Hibs secure in third place.

"There's no such thing as a nothing game," he said. "Rangers will be coming to try to win and these games are always feisty.

"We want to win again against them. The way the season has went and all the accolades the players are getting, you want to finish it as well as you can."

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Hibernian head coach David Gray has been talking to the media before his side's final Scottish Premiership match of the season, against Rangers on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his news conference:

• Challenged his players to finish the season "in style" and expects a good atmosphere having sealed a third-place finish.

• Says beating Rangers would be a fitting end to the season Hibs have had.

• Wouldn't be drawn on the budget he might have at his disposal over the summer. Hibs will be guaranteed European group-stage football if Aberdeen lose the Scottish Cup final against Celtic.

• Joked about how his squad have tried to convince striker Dwight Gayle to extend his playing career, but says the former Newcastle and Crystal Palace man deserves to retire on his own terms.

• Gray says there have been "lots of positive conversations" with Rocky Bushiri and Martin Boyle, who are both out of contract this summer. He emphasised that both players have performed to a very high level in the past six months despite the ongoing speculation over their futures.

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• After their 2-0 win in April, Hibs could pick up back-to-back top-flight victories over Rangers for the first time since November 2005 under Tony Mowbray.

• Rangers are unbeaten in their past 25 top-flight away games against Hibs (W16 D9) since a 2-1 defeat in September 2006 under Paul Le Guen.

• Hibs have only won their final game in one of their past eight top-flight league seasons (D4 L3 – including curtailed 2019-20), a 4-0 victory over St Johnstone in 2021-22.

• Rangers have only lost their final game in one of their past 16 league seasons (W9 D6 – including curtailed 2019-20 season), a 2-1 defeat to Kilmarnock in 2018-19.

• Cyriel Dessers is now the top scorer in this season's Scottish Premiership with 17 goals, scoring in each of his past four games in the league (five goals). The last player to score in five successive appearances in the competition for Rangers was James Tavernier in April 2024, and the last forward to do so was Alfredo Morelos in March 2021.

Hibernian have expressed an interest in midfielder Ryan Ledson, who is leaving Preston North End this summer, but his former club, Oxford United, Bolton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town and Plymouth Argyle also want the 27-year-old. (Daily Record), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss Hibernian's turn around.

We asked for your views on Hibs' 2-2 draw against St Mirren.

Here's what some of you said:

Josh: For Hibs to have third secured with a game spare after the gap of 12 games in is truly remarkable. We were such an attacking threat, and it's that consistency of scoring multiple in games that gets us where we are. David Gray deserves every plaudit that comes his way, as do many of the players who were written off far too early. Sure, there'll be a few sore heads at Hibs training centre, but it's deserved!

Craig: Very disappointed with the draw, going two nil up the way we've played recently. A cracking save from Jordan Smith in goal near the end, at least preserved a point and ultimately secured third place. Knowing that makes up for the throwaway lead, and the turnaround since November has been magical, something that few could have predicted. If only we had a more solid start, we could have given Rangers a real push for second. Get the passports out, Hibs are on their way!

Stephen: What a fantastic season from everyone at the club. Hibernian showed trust in Gray, and he delivered. The sun is shining on Leith.

John: The turnaround has been exceptional and huge credit to David for his tenacity and determination to prove people wrong. He has huge potential and, with the right investment from the board, can sustain the position we are in, which is never easy when playing Thursday and Sunday.

Kenny: We got the job done with a game to spare. Everyone can enjoy the Rangers game now without looking over our shoulder. Huge congratulations to everyone at Hibs for an outstanding second half of the season. Just think what might have been if we could have started like that. Champions League? Well done, lads.

Paul: St Mirren are a huge team of NFL proportions. They play route one, in-your-face, physical football, which is really difficult to play against. Hibs just couldn't cope with this in the second half.

Watch highlights as St Mirren draw 2-2 against Hibs in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.

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• Hibernian have lost 25 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (28) have lost more.

• St. Mirren are undefeated in their last 5 games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 6th August 2023 to 30th September 2023, a run of 7 games.

• Martin Boyle has contributed to goals in his last 3 games in the Premiership (3 goals, 0 assists).

• Martin Boyle has scored 14 goals in the Premiership this season (1 in this game), more than any other Hibernian player.

• St. Mirren have scored in their last 5 games in the Premiership, their joint longest scoring streak this season.

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Were you in Paisley or following the match at home?

Either way - we want to hear your views on Hibernian's 2-2 draw with St Mirren - have your say here.

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Two assists for Junior Hoilett who was superb tonight.

He played a lovely pass through to tee up Martin Boyle's opener and he was again the provider for Hibs' second.

His perfect cross set up Mykola Kuharevich to double the visitors' lead in what was one of their best first half displays of the season.

And a special mention for Martin Boyle who caused the St Mirren defence problems all night. His sharp finish put his side ahead within three minutes, before he had another effort ruled offside and could have put the game away in a one-on-one with Zach Hemming all inside the first twenty minutes.

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Hibs manager David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "It's an incredible achievement, especially when you think back to how the season's went, the start we made, finding ourselves at the bottom of the league.

"So, to turn that around, the hard work, the dedication, the commitment, the togetherness, all the things you need for a successful team, I've definitely got that from my players this season and they've given me absolutely everything.

"I'm delighted for the players, and I'm delighted for the club because I think they deserve it.

"It's always the objective at the start of the season. Top six is an absolute minimum but can you finish in Europe and can you have a good run and try and win a cup?

"Unfortunately, we didn't get quite the luck of the draw in the cups, but to go and finish third with the big two and how powerful they are and everything that goes with that, it's almost like winning the league for us.

On securing European football next season: "It's why you would want to come and play for Hibs, to try and get into the European stuff. You've seen what Hearts did in Europe this year.

"You want to test yourself against good players and different ways of playing, and I've said it to a lot of the players that when you're down south potentially you don't always have a fantastic career but never play in Europe so this is something that is brilliant on your CV, it's a brilliant different experience.

"I've been fortunate enough to have a couple of games myself and they're brilliant nights to be involved in and it's brilliant for the club as well."

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Hibs defender Warren O'Hora admits Wednesday's Premiership trip to St Mirren carries a "little bit more magnitude" as they attempt to secure a third-place league finish.

The Easter Road outfit have only achieved that feat three times in the 21st century, under Alex McLeish in 2001, Tony Mowbray in 2005 and Jack Ross in 2021.

David Gray's side are three points clear of Aberdeen in fourth with a vastly superior goal difference, meaning a win in Paisley would effectively secure third spot.

"It is an exciting game for us to be involved in, it will definitely be a tough game as St Mirren have it all to play for as well," O'Hora said.

"These are the types of games that players want to play in, especially in this league and at this club.

"St Mirren have done very well against us this season and have taken a lot of points off us, so we are using that as an incentive.

"If we were to go over there and beat them then that would be a big moment for us this season. It would mean we have beaten every team in the league this season, I don't know the last time that has happened for Hibs.

"The end goal is to achieve European football next season so the incentive is there for us. You always want to win every game, but this game definitely has that little bit more magnitude."

Even if they fail to finish the job against St Mirren, Hibs will have another opportunity to secure third place against Rangers on Saturday given their goal-difference advantage.

"It is all in our hands," said O'Hora. "We are in control of our destiny and our own outcome, that is what every player wants. We will be going into the game knowing that if we win this game, it will put us in a really strong position.

"We want to finish this season as strongly as possible with two wins. We owe the fans that for the way they have stuck with us this season.

"To get the job done and secure third would be a big moment for us. We are going into the game with the right mentality."

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• St Mirren have avoided defeat in all six of their league matches against Hibs since the start of last season (W4 D2); they had lost three in a row against Hibs before this.

• Hibs have only lost two of their past 12 Scottish Premiership away games at St Mirren (W7 D3), although are winless in their last three (D2 L1).

• St Mirren have only lost their final home league game in one of their past nine top-flight seasons (W3 D5 - including curtailed 2019-20 season), although are winless in their last four (D3 L1).

• Hibs have only won their final away game in one of their past eight top-flight seasons (D2 L5 - including curtailed 2019-20 season), a 1-0 win at Aberdeen in 2020-21.

• St Mirren have won three of their past four home league games (D1), as many as their previous 11 beforehand (W3 D2 L6).

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St Mirren captain Mark O'Hara will have a late fitness test, while Owen Oseni remains unavailable.

Hibernian pair Joe Newell and Rudi Molotnikov (both groin) are still out but Kwon Hyeok-kyu is available to return.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Despite the defeat at Parkhead, Hibs came out of last weekend's fixtures in a marginally stronger position than we went into it.

St Mirren's win over Dundee United means we can't finish lower than fourth, and with Aberdeen's defeat damaging their goal difference more than Celtic did to Hibs', it means Hibs will finish in third place if they better or match Aberdeen's result against Celtic when we face St Mirren on Wednesday night.

Nicky Cadden won the club's men's player of the year award on Sunday night; he's had a great impact on the team and is a deserving winner.

My own vote went for Jack Iredale, but I could have picked from four or five players, so there are no complaints for 'Nadden' picking up the award. He can feel slightly aggrieved at not winning the 'moment of the season' award for his injury time equaliser against Aberdeen in November.

Aberdeen, of course, went ahead again that night, only for Rocky Bushiri to steal a late equaliser with seconds to spare and subsequently pick up the award.

It was a pivotal moment in the team's season, and it's brilliant to see Rocky get the recognition after also picking up the players' player of the year award. We're all hopeful he extends his stay at Easter Road beyond this summer.

Finally, the Hibernian family were rocked with the sad news that Sir Tom Farmer had died on Saturday morning. Sir Tom is a hugely significant figure in Hibs' history, stepping in at a time of crisis to save the club from the clutches of then Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer, who sought to wipe the club out.

Not only did Sir Tom keep the lights on at Hibs, but he also facilitated the rebuild of Easter Road into the modern ground we have today - the biggest football stadium in Scotland's capital - and the build of our training centre in East Lothian.

He also helped deliver, finally, the Scottish Cup in 2016. The Hibs support will be eternally grateful to Sir Tom and my thoughts go to his family and friends.

Matty can be found at Longbangers, external