Hibernian

Hibernian were dealt a "sickener" in their late draw with Ross County, says head coach Nick Montgomery.

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

Hibernian manager Nick Montgomery: "Frustrating, it's a game should've won. We should've seen the game out.

"I find it hard to understand where seven minutes injury time came from. We're then defending nearer the eight-minute mark, defending a throw in that's our throw in. It's hard to explain how that can happen, but it did. It's a real sickener.

"The players are incensed because we shouldn't have to defend our own throw in. Everybody was confused as to how that happened.

"We switched off waiting for it to be pulled back."

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

The narrative was about to be written about Hibs' continued improvement since the winter break. New signings and returning players have helped them to a four-game unbeaten run in the league. That is now five matches, but this feels like a defeat.

This was the second meeting between these sides in 11 days, and both swung on a half-time change by Hibs boss Montgomery. At Easter Road, Dylan Levitt's introduction helped Hibs to a 2-0 win, but this time it was the midfielder who was hooked for the brilliant Le Fondre.

The veteran striker instantly gave Hibs a presence up front, as his physicality and clever movement caused problems. He had two further chances to score, as well as being pivotal for both goals.

After his lovely first-time strike Hibs were on course for a first comeback win in the league this season. Their new-found resilience would have been a talking point, particularly when David Marshall brilliantly denied Simon Murray in stoppage time.

And although they will feel particularly aggrieved at the decision to award County a throw-in, they still had to defend their box.

Their inability to do so has consistently cost them, and the first County goal came from confusion between Marshall and his defenders when a cross came in, which allowed Sims to tap in.

Hibs' top-six hopes will remain fragile until they learn to keep clean sheets.

Hibs make three changes from the Scottish Cup defeat by Rangers.

Martin Boyle has concussion and Nathan Moriah-Welsh is suspended after his red card, while Chris Cadden drops to the bench.

In come Lewis Miller, Dylan Levitt, and Elie Youan.

There's still no Dylan Vente in the squad.

• Follow the action

Image source, BBC Sport

Scott Allardice, Jack Baldwin, Ross Callachan, Will Nightingale remain out for Ross County.

Australia winger Martin Boyle misses out for Hibs after being left concussed by a collision in the Scottish Cup loss to Rangers.

Midfielder Nathan Moriah-Welsh is suspended following his dismissal for violent conduct against Rangers but left-back Jordan Obita, who received two bookings in that game, is available as his suspension applies to the next cup match.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

• Ross County have won just one of their last six Scottish Premiership matches against Hibernian (D2 L3) and are without a win in their last three (D2 L1). In fact, Ross County’s last league match was a 0-2 loss to Hibs, making this match the first time the Staggies have ever played the same opponent in consecutive matches in the Scottish top-flight within the same season.

• Hibernian have only lost one of their last five Scottish Premiership away games against Ross County (W2 D2), going down 1-0 in November 2021 under Jack Ross.

• After losing three home league matches on the bounce between December and February, Ross County are unbeaten in their last two (W1 D1) and are looking to make it three unbeaten at home for the second time this season – also doing so between November and December 2023.

• Hibernian have drawn each of their last three away matches in the Scottish Premiership, they haven’t drawn four in a row on the road since May 2018.

• Ross County defender Ryan Leak is the only player in the Scottish Premiership who has made 100+ clearances (124), won 100+ duels (184), won 100+ aerial duels (119) and made 40+ interceptions (44) this season.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

It’s hard to know where to start with Hibs’ Scottish Cup defeat to Rangers at Easter Road on Sunday night.

The team played well, particularly in the second half, and competed against a strong Rangers team, only to yet again be on the wrong end of some questionable refereeing decisions.

We’ve had four big games over the course of the last month or so, with the results against Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, and Hearts all hinging on controversial refereeing decisions.

VAR is supposed to support the referees, but I’m writing this wondering how, with Martin Boyle can be booked for diving against Celtic, while Rangers get a penalty for a near-identical incident. It certainly bamboozled Nick Montgomery as he reflected on it post-match.

The referee’s handling of the game on Sunday night has sparked outrage amongst the Hibs support. We joked before the game about guessing the minute and the reason for Rangers’ penalty. It shouldn’t be funny.

Not that I want to side with Hearts on anything, but after their League Cup semi-final, Steven Naismith questioned why, after sending his player off for a perceived dive only for VAR to intervene, the referee’s instinct was to give the decision in favour of Rangers, and not Hearts, before letting VAR check.

The referee’s calls were littered with such decisions on Sunday night, as Rangers seemed to routinely get the benefit of the doubt before VAR had a look to see if a clear and obvious error had been made.

As a supporter, it’s infuriating. The referee lost control of the game, Hibs were reduced to nine men, with both red cards debatable, and the game was killed as a contest.

I send my thoughts for a speedy recovery to Boyle, who was taken off on a stretcher after suffering a concussion in being knocked unconscious in the first half.

Hibs chief executive Ben Kensell commented that Hibs would look to act on sectarian singing when asked about it at the club’s AGM at the end of February.

After the despicable singing from Rangers fans aimed at Boyle, Hibs have now confirmed they will reduce ticket allocations for away supporters with the exception of Hearts. The club are to be applauded for taking such decisive action.

Matty Fairnie can be found on the Longbangers podcast, external.

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Myziane Maolida says he is more than ready to take on Ross County, as the Hibs winger prepares to play through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The Hertha Berlin loanee began fasting during daylight hours on Monday, but will be able to eat before kick-off in Dingwall on Wednesday.

Maolida is also unable to drink during the day, but says the focus on his faith is good for his personal wellbeing.

“It’s not a difficult thing because I am prepared to do Ramadan," Maolida told Hibs TV. "I did it last year so for me it’s a very good moment.

“I am feeling very good in my body and head so it will be a good thing for me to do Ramadan.

“We have to eat in the morning at four o’clock and after prayers you cannot eat any more, you have to wait until six and you eat after sleeping again. If you eat well in the morning it’s very easy.

“The more difficult thing is not to drink but when it’s normal for you it’s not so difficult.

“We have some days to prepare for this during the year, so you can sometimes do a fast to prepare your body for the month of Ramadan.”

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Nick Montgomery says referees being part-time is an issue in Scottish football, and believes full-time officials would make a difference.

The Hibs head coach said the referees had a "bad day" against Rangers, when he saw two of his players sent off.

“I just don’t want to comment on last night, I’m probably a little bit disappointed in some of the decisions but it is what it is," Montgomery said.

“[VAR] definitely does help the game. There are positives and negatives to it and it’s easy to talk about the negatives. The positives really are when a goal is scored to double check the goal should stand.

“We have to be honest, with part-time referees, it’s a full-time job reviewing and learning and like anything you don’t learn overnight.

“It’s a process that takes a little bit of time so you have to give a period of time for people to get used to something new. It’s like anything. We just want consistency.

“It's not for me to rule whether it should work or shouldn’t work but we should be talking more about the football other than incidents and I think that’s what frustrates everybody.

“For sure [full-time referees would help]. It’s probably not fair in referees at times. They have part-time jobs and have to go to other jobs.

“How can you focus full time on being the best you can as a referee and in a league as big as the SPFL with teams who have huge budgets and play Champions League football as well?

“That is something that is talked about year in year out and it definitely would help out the referees and the officials to spend more time on reviewing the games and the decisions.”

In a reverse of Hibs' previous league fixture, they travel away to Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

The previous match at the start of the month ended 2-0 to the Easter Road side, but should Nick Montgomery make any changes after the Scottish Cup defeat to Rangers?

Tell us your preferred starting XI here.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland

Hibs head coach Nick Montgomery has been facing the media ahead of their game against Ross County on Wednesday.

Here were his main points:

• Says he spoke to Martin Boyle when he was still "a little bit groggy" this morning after his injury against Rangers, and admits he was concerned there was possible neck damage as a result of the fall.

• With Boyle now home from hospital, Montgomery confirmed the winger will not be available on Wednesday for the game against Ross County but would not rule out a return for the weekend against Livingston.

• Says he stands by his comments on the referee's decisions last night - he remains "disappointed" by some of the decisions.

• On VAR, he believes it does help the game, but when asked if full-time referees would help his answer was: "for sure".

• Believes his side can take some positives from the performance in the 2-0 loss against Rangers, and should help his side finish the season strongly.

• Says it is "a learning" for Nathan Moriah-Welsh who will be disappointed with his red card against Rangers, but says he has a "great attitude" and is a "real crowd-pleaser" with bags of energy.

• Despite Moriah-Welsh set to miss Wednesday on suspension, believes Nectarios Triantis was "outstanding" against Rangers, and adds with Dylan Levitt returning from sickness and a "consistent" Joe Newell available, he has a lot of options in midfield.

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Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland

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Chris Cadden admits to bittersweet feelings on his first start of the season, with his injury comeback ending in Scottish Cup quarter-final defeat to Rangers.

The Hibs right-back ruptured his Achilles tendon in the Edinburgh derby on the final day of last season and had to undertake a long and painful recovery journey before finally reclaiming his place in the strating XI at Easter Road on Sunday.

"It’s great to be back," Cadden said. "It’s been a long nine months of hard work and sacrifice but it’s good to be out there again.

"To get 90 minutes under my belt is a big tick in the box for me this season. It’s just unfortunate the way it turned out."

"It was a horrible injury. It’s tough at the start, trying to get your strength back. The strength you lose is wild. I can’t really ask for much more from the club. They’ve been great. There’s been a lot of hard work to get here so hopefully I can have a good end to the season now and stay injury-free."

While Cadden has been out, Hibs have struggled for consistency, although the signs since several new arrivals came on board in the January transfer window have been more encouraging, with the Scottish Cup defeat the capital club’s first reverse in six games.

"We’ve been in a really good place the last couple of weeks," Cadden said. "You can see where we’re going, there’s a real style and identity there. It’s exciting times, I feel, at Hibs.

"It was great to get back out there from a personal point of view and get involved. There’s a big end to the season coming: top six and after that, go from there. We know that and that’s our full focus."

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• Rangers have now won their last six meetings with Hibs, and are unbeaten in their last eight since a 3-1 League Cup semi-final loss in November 2021.

• The Ibrox side have won those last six games with an aggregate score of 19-4.

• This is the first time two red cards have been shown in this fixture since Alfredo Morelos and John Lundstram - who netted in the weekend's win - were both shown red in the 2-2 draw in August 2022.

• Hibs have now not beaten Rangers in 13 meetings at Easter Road, their last win being in April 2016 in the Scottish Championship.

Nick Montgomery bemoaned "unnecessary drama" after his Hibernian side had two players sent off in the Scottish Cup loss to Rangers. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

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