Hibernian

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Junior Hoilett says the ‘fine margins are killing’ Hibernian right now as they remain with only one win in seven top-flight games so far this season.

The Canada international scored his side’s equalise with half an hour to go at home to Motherwell, but a late Andy Halliday winner condemned them to another defeat.

“Yeah, of course [it’s disappointing] especially when we dominated most of the game,” the 34-year-old told club media.

“To not get a result at the end of it is frustrating. So we just need to work hard on the training field to rectify our mistakes and come back strong. We played well, but we didn't get results so, pointless.

On the manager’s message at half-time, he added: “He was telling us we need to keep being positive [like] how we play the first half, and start strong and switch on because he said the only way they’re going to hurt us is off a set piece.

“It's the fine margins that kind of killed us. We just need to work hard on the training pitch to rectify our mistakes to come back stronger because you can see a lot of potential in the squad.

“We have to regroup as a squad, over the next couple of weeks and work hard day in, day out to make sure we're prepared to get maximum points against Dundee United.

“Nothing's easy in this league, so we have to remain focused, switch on and be ready to go again."

We asked for your views on Hibs' 2-1 defeat against Motherwell.

Here's what some of you said:

Malcolm: David Gray went out with one striker at home while Motherwell had two, so at one late point we had one goal from 17 shots while they had two from 12. So if we talk about being brave on the ball, then Gray needs to look in the mirror.

John: Sorry to say but this Hibs team are in a relegation battle already. Playing one up front at home is criminal, but a lot of the players are not good enough. Lewis Miller needs to stay on his feet, Josh Campbell hasn't progressed and runs about like a headless chicken, and what is Harry McKirdy doing? Looks like our 150th anniversary will be in the Championship - prove me wrong.

Scott: We are back to square one after last week's decent performance. Gray simply cannot justify starts for some of these players who are clearly not up to it. I guess this season is really just a culmination of years of poor decision-making by the owners and management. The fans won't stand for this much longer before they vote with their feet.

Darren: Yet another plethora of bang average players float through our club and a rookie manager who is expected to get a tune out of them is just setting us up for failure. Another derby defeat is on the cards and relegation will be our final destination.

Sandy: Not good enough. You have to take your chances in football, and with the exception of Junior Hoilett who was creative and scored a good goal, the rest of them did not earn their wage on that park.

Craig: Another horror show, Miller getting beat every time someone ran at him, Campbell was way off it, and Mykola Kuharevich won't do much up top on his own without someone with him. Reckless tackle from Nectar Triantis, Hoilett looking real good and though I still see some good football at times, it's a shame we're not getting the results to match it.

Cameron: I said it before the season started that this was going to be a horrendous season. There's just no fight in this team when it comes down to getting a result. Relegation battle for sure.

Colin: If you don't take your chances and concede soft goals you'll not win games! We made enough chances to win a couple of games. Gray needs to find a formation that can score more goals than we concede. It's a simple game which we're finding difficult to do at the moment.

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• Hibernian have conceded five goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, no team has conceded more in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• The Easter Road side have failed to win any of their last 21 matches when conceding first in the league, since a victory over Celtic on 24 May 2023.

• Nectarios Triantis has received a red card - Hibernian's first sending off in the Premiership this season, and their first since 25th November 2023 against Dundee.

• Motherwell have scored four goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, no team has more in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Motherwell have scored in each of their last six league games, scoring 11 goals in that run.

• Stuart Kettlewell's side have avoided defeat in their last five matches when scoring first in the Premiership, since a 1-3 loss to Celtic on 25 February 2024.

Were you at Easter Road or following the match elsewhere?

Either way, we want your views on the game - have your say here, external.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "It's very difficult to take. It's clear, we can't dominate as much as we did and create the chances we did and not win the game. You can't not take those chances at this level.

"[Defending] the set pieces in the second half, unprofessional. You need to see it through and defend your goal.

"The reaction was good, but when you're on a yellow card you can't go to ground and give the referee a decision to make.

"Credit to their goalie, I think he was their man of the match."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Wastefulness was the theme of Hibs' defeat at Ibrox last weekend, but this loss will sting more for David Gray given the opposition.

In the end, Nectar Triantis' dismissal did not help, but golden chances for Mykola Kuharevich and Chris Cadden should have had Hibs at least two up by the time Lennon Miller's quick free-kick sent Apostolos Stamatelopoulos through to net at the other end.

Although it came from Stephen O'Donnell’s hesitancy, Hibs finally got the goal their attacking play merited when Junior Hoilett levelled, but continued defensive frailty means one goal is rarely enough for this team to get a result.

Gray's defence failed to deal with aerial balls into their box all afternoon, particularly from Kofi Balmer’s long throws.

A sitter from Zach Robinson and Moses Ebiye's disallowed goal were warnings, but they did not heed them as Andy Halliday's winner came from a similar situation.

With a trip to Tannadice and the first Edinburgh derby of the season to come after the upcoming international break, Gray will have to address the ongoing issues in both boxes to avoid this season spiralling out of control.

Despite his side falling to a slim defeat at Rangers last weekend, Hibernian head coach David Gray names an unchanged team for the visit of Motherwell.

The Leith club were unfortunate not to come away with a draw and Gray would have been satisfied with the performance.

The away side, meanwhile, make two changes following their win over St Mirren as Apostolos Stamatelopoulos comes in to make his first start since returning from injury.

The Australia striker replaces Moses Ebiye, while the suspended Dan Casey also drops out.

Kofi Balmer, making his first Premiership start, comes into the back three.

On-loan Hibs winger Jair Tavares is ineligible to play against his parent club.

• Follow live coverage of Saturday's SPFL action

Head coach David Gray credits Hyeokkyu Kwon and Nectar Triantis for Hibernian's recent improvement. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

In: Kieron Bowie, forward (Fulham, undisclosed); Junior Hoilett, forward (Aberdeen); Jack Iredale, defender (Bolton Wanderers, undisclosed); Nicky Cadden, midfielder (Barnsley); Marvin Ekpiteta, defender (Blackpool); Dwight Gayle, forward (Derby County); Warren O’Hora, defender (MK Dons); Jordan Smith, goalkeeper (Stockport County).

Loan in: Kwon Hyeok-kyu, midfielder (Celtic); Mykola Kuharevich, forward (Swansea City); Josef Bursik, goalkeeper (Club Bruges); Nectarios Triantis, midfielder (Sunderland).

Out: Ewan Henderson, midfielder (Beerschot, undisclosed); Lewis Stevenson, defender (Raith Rovers); Paul Hanlon, defender (Raith Rovers); Jojo Wollacott, goalkeeper (Crawley Town); Jacob Blaney, defender (Crusaders, undisclosed); Daniel MacKay, forward (Partick Thistle); Dylan Tait, defender (Falkirk); Jay McGarva, midfielder (Queen's Park); Riley Harbottle, defender (Wimbledon, undisclosed); Adam Le Fondre, forward (FC United of Manchester); Harry Wright, midfielder (Stirling Albion); David Marshall, goalkeeper (retired); Jamie Bulloch, defender; Robbie Hamilton, midfielder; Owen Hastie, defender; Alfie Smith, midfielder.

Loan ended: Myziane Maolida, forward (Hertha Berlin); Emiliano Marcondes, midfielder (Bournemouth); Will Fish, defender (Manchester United); Eliezer Mayenda, forward (Sunderland); Nectarios Triantis, defender (Sunderland).

Loan out: Jair Tavares, midfielder (Motherwell); Dylan Vente, forward (Zwolle); Allan Delferriere, midfielder (Racing Union Letzebuerg); Josh O’Connor, forward (Dundalk); Kyle McClelland, defender (Coleraine); Kanayo Megwa, defender (Partick Thistle); Murray Johnson, goalkeeper (Airdrieonians); Murray Aiken, midfielder (Airdrieonians); Oscar MacIntyre, defender (Queen of the South); Reuben McAllister, midfielder (Cove Rangers); Jacob MacIntyre, midfielder (Kelty Hearts); Malik Zaid, forward (Annan Athletic); Freddie Owens, goalkeeper (Civil Service Strollers).

Read the Scottish Premiership ins & outs in full here.

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Hibs captain Joe Newell is available to return after missing the last two games with a groin issue, while Nicky Cadden and Luke Amos are also back in contention.

Forwards Martin Boyle (hand) and Kieron Bowie (hamstring) remain sidelined along with Jake Doyle-Hayes, who is still working on his fitness after more than a year out.

Motherwell defender Dan Casey is suspended while Johnny Koutroumbis and Shane Blaney are edging closer to comebacks.

Callum Slattery, Sam Nicholson (both knee), Harry Paton (ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring) and Jack Vale (calf) are long-term absentees.

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David Gray has some welcome selection dilemmas as Hibs look to head into the international break on a high with victory over Motherwell on Saturday.

Chief among the Hibs head coach's decisions is whether to put captain Joe Newell straight back into the team after Nectar Triantis and Hyeok-kyu Kwon, who earned his first South Korea call-up this week, formed a strong midfield partnership in the Englishman's absence.

"Not just with Joe coming back, I think even when you look at the other players who didn't play last weekend, players would be disappointed not to be playing," said Gray.

"Even players I was able to bring on like Dylan Levitt, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, we've got competition everywhere. It's a headache that I want to have. I think it's really healthy for the squad."

Gray is keen to build on the "positives" of last Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Ibrox by seeing off a Motherwell side who head to Easter Road on the back of five wins in six.

"There were a lot of positive performances across the board but still areas on which we can improve. Clearly in the final third we can be more clinical but we've worked hard on that this week," he added.

"I take it back probably slightly further, which is I look at the second half against St Johnstone, once we were 1-0 up.

"The level of performance then and how that improved and then we took that into the Rangers game which was a good performance again and hopefully now we can take that one step further to the game at the weekend.

"Motherwell are in good form, they're very well organised and very well coached, you can see that.

"They've also got a lot of good footballers in the team. The three midfielders move the ball really well and they’re good defensively, which is why they’ve picked up results and why they are where they are."

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Marvin Ekpiteta admits his transition to Scottish football was a struggle, but insists he is now finding his feet.

The 29-year-old, a summer signing from Blackpool, looked unconvincing in his opening performances, notably against St Mirren and Celtic, but has gradually improved at the heart of a Hibs defence that has tightened up in recent games, conceding two goals in their last three.

"It's been a big change," said the Englishman. "I didn't think it would be as big a change, and I've had to adapt quite a bit, but I feel like I've grown into it after the first couple of games. I'm really enjoying it now."

Hibs faced Celtic in back-to-back games in August, losing 2-0 in the league and 3-1 in the Premier Sports Cup, and Ekpiteta believes that early exposure to the top team in the country has helped sharpen him up.

Asked what he found the toughest aspect of adapting to life in Scotland's top flight, he said: "I'd say the workrate. A lot of the teams don't give you any time at all. They're just on it for the whole game.

"And obviously playing against Celtic, they're just a different level. I didn't realise how good they actually were until I played against them. That was a big wake-up call for me."

Since their Celtic double-header Hibs have suffered just one defeat - 1-0 away to Rangers - and are intent on making it back-to-back home wins when Motherwell visit on Saturday.

"Even against Rangers, we played really well," said Ekpiteta. "I feel like we should have definitely got something from the game so it would be nice to build off that and obviously having beaten St Johnstone before that.

"It would be nice to back up a good performance last week to get something tomorrow."

Former Hearts, Dundee United and St Johnstone defender Ryan McGowan says non-Old Firm fans will have enjoyed Celtic and Rangers being given a "taste of their own medicine" by "taking a pasting" in Europe against teams with a bigger budget.

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Hibernian are preparing to deal with the "mayhem" of Motherwell's long throw-ins when the sides meet on Saturday, says head coach David Gray. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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• Hibs have only lost two of their last 13 Scottish Premiership home games against Motherwell (W6 D5), going down 2-0 in February 2021 and 3-1 in April 2023.

• Motherwell have only kept one clean sheet in their last 10 league meetings with Hibs (W2 D4 L4), doing so in a goalless draw in January 2022.

• Five of Hibs' last six league wins have come at Easter Road, with the Easter Road side winning five of their last nine home league games (D1 L3).

• Motherwell have won three of their last four league games (L1), as many as their previous 11 beforehand (W3 D3 L5).

• Against St Mirren last time out, Motherwell’s Lennon Miller was the youngest player (18 years, 34 days old) to score a brace in the Scottish Premiership since Ryan Gauld for Dundee United against Motherwell in November 2013 (17y 328d). Should Miller score against Hibs, he will be the first player aged 18 or younger to score in back-to-back top-flight appearances for the Steelmen since Shaun Hutchinson in August 2009.

Hibernian should not fear anyone in the Scottish Premiership, believes defender Warren O'Hora, 25. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Defeat at Ibrox last week would have been hard to take for David Gray and his players. The performance however was an indication that on the pitch, things are beginning to settle down.

Although we are now into October, it’s hard to believe we are only six matches into the Premiership campaign.

And though it may well be the turn of the year before we have a true indication of where clubs will be come the end of the season, it already appears this may well be a campaign that could be extremely tight for those in the middle and lower end of the table.

That makes every three points crucial and it's matches like this week against Motherwell at Easter Road that come the end of May, will have a material impact on potential European spots for next season.

Stuart Kettlewell has certainly brought life into the Motherwell side and although he had to endure a sticky spell last season, he has already shown he knows how to put a team together on the park.

After this week we head into another international break, so there will be no better feeling than doing so with a victory and potentially pushing into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Hibs came away with nothing from their trip to Ibrox on Sunday, which was a real shame given what the team put into the match.

Cheered on by a healthy Hibs support - who had to jump through hoops to get tickets on time after confusion regarding the ticket allocation from Rangers - the Hibees gave a great account of themselves against a Rangers team who went into the match as strong favourites.

The hosts scored with their only shot on target in the first half, and there wasn’t much Hibs could do about it. Tom Lawrence cut inside and fired into the top corner after Lewis Miller lost out on Hibs' right-hand side.

It was a goal the home side scarcely deserved, having failed to trouble goalkeeper Josef Bursik until that point.

Hibs were handed a lifeline as the half drew to a close when John Souttar handled in the six-yard box, but Mykola Kuharevich's woeful penalty kick was easily saved by Jack Butland.

David Gray's side dominated the second half, with a late flurry of attacks from Rangers as Hibs threw men forward skewing the stats a bit, but we just lacked that bit of quality and composure when it really mattered and were unable to capitalise on the pressure.

It is a tough venue to go to and win, and Rangers will definitely look at this as one they got away with, as on another day, a performance like this from Hibs would have seen all three points heading back to Edinburgh with them.

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers Podcast, external.

Hyeok-kyu Kwon has earned his first call up for South Korea from the midfielder's early performances on loan to Hibernian from Celtic. (Scottish Sun), external

Three of Hibernian's Scottish Premiership fixtures in November have been updated.

Originally scheduled for Wednesday, 4 December, Hibs v Dundee United has been brought forward to Sunday, 3 November at 15:00 GMT, at the request of both clubs.

Later in the month, the trip to Dens to take on Dundee on Saturday, 23 November has had its kick-off pushed back to 17:45 due to television selection.

The visit of Aberdeen to Easter Road, originally scheduled for Saturday, 3 November has been moved due to the Dons' participation in the Premier Sport Cup. That game will now take place Tuesday, 26 November at 19:45.