Hibernian

We asked for your views on Hibs' 1-0 win against Kilmarnock.

Here's what some of you said:

David: Terrific three points and a clean sheet without playing well. Expected a tougher afternoon given Killie had thumped the Dons last week. Rarely troubled and another excellent display from Nectar Triantis who's really starting to own the number six role. Fifth place on Thursday if results go our way. Well done David Gray.

Peter: A string of four wins can't be argued with. Defence looks better organised however attack must be more clinical. Personally impressed by the tremendous team spirit on show that was missing at the start of the season, they now fight for every ball and for each other: good to see.

John: The players have the talent and physicality to be a very decent top six team. What they needed to find was a cohesive way to play, a belief in each other and a determination to turn things round. Fair play to Gray and the players, after a switch to three at the back they have ticked all those boxes. Onwards and upwards.

Kenny: Another great result. We have stopped losing silly goals now and the team are playing with great confidence. All the players are working hard and that's what's getting results. We need to keep the work rate going and get another three points on Thursday. Good work.

Darren: The match wasn't a thriller by any stretch but who would have thought Hibs would win four games in a row? Not me, not anybody! Great credit must go to the manager and the players. Can we keep the momentum going now?

Dougie: Was never going to be the swashbuckling affair of Boxing Day, but we are now adapting to the teams we are playing, we look composed and our game management is excellent. Gray is bringing the correct substitutions on at the correct time. St Johnstone will be another challenge but we seem to play better away from home, four points from the next two games will do nicely.

Hearts' Zander Clark, 32, and Rotherham's Cameron Dawson, 29, are on Hibernian's list of potential goalkeeper signings. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Hibs midfielder Rudi Molotnikov, 18, has signed a new deal with the club that runs until 2029. (Herald - subscription), external

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes despairs about the red card shown to Danny Armstrong in Sunday's 1-0 defeat away to Hibernian. (Scotsman - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

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• Nicky Cadden has contributed to goals in his last three games in the Premiership (one goal, two assists).

• Kilmarnock have failed to score in seven of their 20 games, only Ross County (nine) have failed to score more often in the Premiership this season.

• Hibernian have scored in their last four games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of five games from 3 November 2024 to 30 November 2024.

• Kilmarnock have had seven players sent off in the Premiership this season, more than any other team in the competition.

Watch all the action from Hibernian's 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

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Nectar Triantis' glancing first-half header earned revitalised Hibernian a fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership win as they beat Kilmarnock.

David Gray's men were rarely threatened by Derek McInnes' side, who went down to 10-men in the second half following Danny Armstrong's dismissal.

After a miserable start to life as permanent boss at Easter Road, David Gray has now overseen four straight wins to lift Hibs three points clear of Kilmarnock in seventh - with the top six firmly in sight.

Hibs fans, were you at Easter Road to witness your team's victory or following along from home? Either way, we want to know your thoughts.

Have your say here., external

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "Today was always going to be a real difficult day. The conditions, the team we were playing against and because of the highs of the last two performances, especially the win at Tynecastle. Today was a big ask to push the players again. And credit to them, they found a way to win today.

"It was by no means our fluent best. But I'm delighted with the result and the clean sheet, and the way we handled the game. I would like us to be more clinical to make for an easier afternoon but, at the same time, good effort from everyone involved to return four straight wins.

"We need to keep it going, the positivity we have ended the year in. We need to always remember how quickly things can change, but they can also go the other way. We need to guard against that. We are now chasing down that top six.

"Right at the very end of the [first] half, [Joe Newell] went into a tackle and overstretched his groin a little bit. We will just see how he goes. Hopefully it is nothing serious."

Cam Wanstall
BBC Sport Scotland

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After a truly miserable start to life as permanent boss at Easter Road, David Gray has now overseen four straight wins to lift Hibs three points clear of Kilmarnock in seventh - with the top six firmly in sight.

While it was not a hugely-impressive attacking performance, a strong defensive showing - produced by the new-look back three - earned the points.

It was a sharp start for Hibs, with Martin Boyle and the Cadden brothers crafting space on the flanks to whip in threatening crosses.

A slump ensued, however. A barren 30-minute spell without attempting a single shot carried over into the second half, before unlikely offensive pair Lewis Miller and Rocky Bushiri had efforts denied after the restart.

Following Danny Armstrong's red card, Hibs were able to maintain their lead by putting in a spirited, fighting performance for the remainder of the match - a quality they lacked at the start of the season.

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Lewis Miller was a dominant force in both defence, attack and in transition.

The Australian defender made six interceptions, won 10 of his 11 duels, and attempted two of Hibs' seven shots.

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Elie Youan misses out entirely following Hibernian's Edinburgh derby victory. Junior Hoilett beats Boxing Day hero Dwight Gayle to the Frenchman's spot up top.

David Gray also opts to bring in Lewis Miller as a replacement for defender Warren O'Hora, who has been nursing an ankle issue in recent weeks and drops to the bench.

Mykola Kuharevich, Rudi Molotnikov, Kieron Bowie and Marvin Ekpiteta each remain sidelined by injury.

Follow our live coverage here.

Hibernian: Smith, Miller, Bushiri, Iredale, C Cadden, Triantis, Newell, N Cadden, Campbell, Hoilett, Boyle.

Substitutes: Bursik, O'Hora, Levitt, Amos, McKirdy, Hyeok-kyu, Obita, Moriah-Welsh, Gayle.

Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Wright, Ndaba, Armstrong, Watson, Polwarth, Lyons, Murray, Vassell, Wales.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Burroughs, Deas, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Magennis, Cameron, Anderson, Donnelly.

Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark is on the Hibs list of potential transfer targets for next season, while the Easter Road club intend to sign a new keeper in January and are keen on a loan move for Rotherham United's Cameron Dawson. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

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Hibs striker Mykola Kuharevich and midfielder Rudi Molotnikov could return after missing out recently with groin issues.

Defender Warren O'Hora will be checked after playing through recent games with an ankle issue, but Marvin Ekpiteta and Kieron Bowie are still out.

Kilmarnock welcome back defender Robbie Deas after suspension, while winger Matty Kennedy could return after injury.

But Stuart Findlay is a long-term absentee.

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Hibs head coach David Gray challenged his players to keep improving after a recent run of results catapulted them up the Scottish Premiership.

Gray's side have taken 13 points from their last six games, and have climbed to seventh in the table having previously sat bottom.

Gray now wants his team to look up rather than down, as they prepare to take on Kilmarnock at Easter Road on Sunday.

"We need to keep moving forward," Gray said. "But as I've already demonstrated when we were down the bottom end and going through adversity, the narrative can quickly change.

"We've demonstrated that in the last three or four weeks, which is great, but we still can't rely on thinking we've just turned the corner.

"We need to keep improving, we need to keep getting better, keep working on these areas that we need to improve and guard against complacency.

"Every game in this league, as you've seen, everyone can beat everyone and it can quickly change. But we're in a real positive moment at the minute.

"We've got a massive game against Kilmarnock to look forward to, to end the year. If we go and do that with another three points it would be a real positive end to the year and something we can take into the new year."

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• Hibernian have only lost one of their last 12 Scottish Premiership meetings with Kilmarnock (W7 D4), going down 0-1 in November 2022 under Lee Johnson.

• Kilmarnock are winless in 10 Scottish Premiership visits to Hibernian (D3 L7), losing their last five in a row and failing to score at all in their last four.

• Hibernian have lost their final league match in five of the last six calendar years, winning the other 3-1 at Dundee United in 2021.

• Excluding years in which they were relegated, Kilmarnock have only lost their last Scottish Premiership match of a calendar year in one of their last seven such games (W3 D3), a 0-1 defeat to St Mirren in 2019.

• Kilmarnock's Bruce Anderson has scored in three of his last five Scottish Premiership appearances against Hibernian, including once in both of his last two against Hibs.

The Sportscene team analyse Dwight Gayle's winning goal in Hibs' 2-1 win against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.

Liam McLennan from The Hibs Ramble podcast believes third place in the Scottish Premiership is still a realistic target for the Easter Road club.

Listen to the most recent episode of the Scottish Football Podcast.

We asked for your thoughts on Hibs' 2-1 Boxing Day win against Hearts.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Gordon: A huge part is that the substitutions have been relevant to what's going on in front of the management team. In 12 of 16 previous games goals were lost, sometimes two, after bizarre tactical changes. There are also more players on the pitch recently that can last the 90 minutes.

Scott: A month ago David Gray was a game away from the sack and now he is probably the manager of the month. He has found a system, by virtue of a red card, that fits his players as opposed to the previous incumbent who had no flexibility in his approach. The next task is to try and make Easter Road a much harder place for teams to visit. Consistency will be key.

Pete: Even when we weren't winning we were playing OK, but loads of stupid mistakes were costing us big time. Now with the change of shape and a few solid players coming into the starting line-up, we've really pushed on. Rocky Bushiri, Jack Iredale and Nicky Cadden have been immense. Things can change quickly but hopefully we can keep the momentum going.

Darren: Football can be difficult to understand at times. This side seemed to be void of luck and most importantly confidence. Great credit must go to the players and especially the manager. They've pulled up their socks, never once felt sorry for themselves. There was only one team winning that derby!

Sandy: Time was always the factor when Gray took the job, and with an almost completely changed squad he's built the team into a half-decent unit. Recent wins, goals coming in threes, and the win against the Hearts that made every Hibs supporter's Christmas. Definitely onwards and upwards. Well done to them all.

Gordon: Another good win and another big three points in what was admittedly never a classic. Apart from Rocky's mindless swipe the defence looked pretty solid again and Dwight Gayle's goal was superb. Gray seems to have found the right formation and team selection and appears to have the players playing and fighting for each other, fair play to him.

Angus: The board at Hibs have shown very little patience in recent years but hopefully they're now seeing the benefits of not jerking the knee at the first opportunity. Gray is clearly trying to craft a brand of football that keeps Hibs on the front foot and exposes our opponents while being pragmatic about the tactics and physicality of Scottish football.

Brian: There was a total change of character from this Hibs side. Looked dogged and determined. Playing better football and trying to play to our strengths. Didn't let the setback hamper us and eventually ran out deserved winners. Time to start looking up the table.

Watch Edinburgh derby highlights as Hibs beat Hearts 2-1 at Tynecastle in the Scottish Premiership.

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• Hibernian have beaten Hearts for the first time in the Scottish Premiership since 15 April 2023, a run of five games without a win.

• Hibs have scored in each of their past three games in the Premiership, scoring eight goals in that run.

• Hibernian have won their past three games in the Premiership, their last joint longest winning streak was from 11 November 2023 to 3 December 2023.

• Hibs have scored in their past three games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of five games from 3 November 2024 to 30 November 2024.

Defender Rocky Bushiri, 25, thanks Hibernian supporters for showing faith and inspiring him in Thursday's 2-1 away win over Edinburgh rivals Hearts. (Edinburgh Evening news - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip