Hibernian

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Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "I'm delighted for the players. I challenged them before the game saying every one of them needs to be at the top of their game and I got that from every single player. I thought we fully deserved it.

"We started the game really positively, nice and aggressive in our press and we took our chances.

"I've always believed in Josh Campbell. His strengths are his running power and his ability to arrive in the box. The shape of the team helps him showcase his talent.

"Your mentality and character is always going to be tested when Celtic get that goal. Can you find a way to hold out? They are always going to keep pushing.

"I've not seen it back but I believe it's fractionally out so I'm delighted the pitch is the size that it is.

"We're trying to accumulate as many points as we can before the split, and it's still about catching the team in front of us. It keeps that run going, the feel-good factor going - a massive three points."

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Hibs' Martin Boyle is "100%" open to extending his stay at Hibs but admits discussions on his future are yet to take place.

Boyle's contract runs out at the end of the current season but the attacker is remaining focused on matters on the park for now.

When asked whether he had spoken to the club, he said: "I haven't, no. Just fully focusing on playing the best as I can for this club, always have been and we'll see where that is at the end of the season.

"Yeah, 100% [open to staying], it's a club of love, it's close to my heart but it's way at the back of my mind.

"I want to concentrate on what we'll do for the club at the moment and whatever happens with that happens."

On the field, the Easter Road side are on a 12-game unbeaten run after a rocky start to the season under head coach David Gray.

"I think a lot of things have gone our way compared to what they were," said Boyle, who has had to fight his way back from early-season injuries.

"Small changes, tweaks of the formation and much more defensively structured than we have been and obviously we're trying to get after teams."

Boyle has moved into a more central striking role with Hibs playing a 3-4-1-2 formation, and he is relishing the opportunity.

"In my new position, I can kind of express myself a bit more, get around the pitch and obviously press from the front, which is key to the way we're playing at the moment."

Perth Glory and a number of other Australian sides remain keen on Martin Boyle, with the Hibernian forward saying he has not talked about his future with Easter Road boss David Gray. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

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Hibernian have captain Joe Newell and defender Marvin Ekpiteta available for the first time this year but Alasana Manneh is suspended, on-loan Kwon Hyeok-kyu cannot play against his parent club and Dylan Levitt is a doubt after missing the draw at St Mirren, Elie Youan (foot) is still out.

Celtic have no fresh injuries. James Forrest is back in training after a foot injury but not ready to play while Paulo Bernardo (ankle) remains out.

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Hibs needs to strike a "fine balance" against Celtic on Saturday if they are to come away with a positive result, according to head coach David Gray.

The Hibees are unbeaten in 12 games across all competitions since they fell to a 3-0 defeat against Celtic at the start of December, and Gray knows that finding the right mix of defensive solidity and attacking impetus is key tomorrow.

"That's always a challenge, clearly," he said when quizzed on how he can prepare his side to nullify Celtic's threats while finding a route to goal themselves.

"You can learn from the previous things you do, we work on it in training about what to expect but you can't look at the defensive side and just sit in and hope to grind out a result.

"You know you need to carry a threat going the other way, I thought we demonstrated that really well at Celtic Park and we did carry a threat going the other way.

"So it is that fine balance, it's about making sure the players believe in what you're trying to ask them to do and give the players the confidence as well that you trust them enough to go and really impose themselves on the game."

Despite the need for the right balance across the pitch, Gray is keen for his players to revel in the occasion and show they can compete with the league champions.

"It's a really good game to look forward to, a big game, a tough game," he added.

"These are the games where as a player, they should all be desperate to play and it's a real opportunity to test themselves against real good players."

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Hibs head coach David Gray has been speaking to the media ahead of their match with Celtic.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Gray is boosted by the "momentum they've built" in the unbeaten run since the previous Celtic meeting in early December, as it puts them in a "much better place" going into this game than they were at that point.

• He says he has told the players these games should be relished as a chance to test themselves. He says Celtic are top of the league for a reason and have "Champions League players".

• Gray knows the players "need to believe" going into games like this and wants them to take confidence from how they are playing, adding: "Every player needs to be at the top of their game to get a positive result".

• With the game being at home he wants to play "on the front foot" and attempt to get three points.

• Thought Celtic were "fantastic" and showed real "bravery" in their aggregate loss against Bayern Munich. He knows Celtic are expected to win and needs to put a "game plan in place that the players trust in".

• Joe Newell and Ellie Youan are back in training but Gray won't rush them back. He says the pair are "definitely going in the right direction".

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Two sides go head to head at Easter Road who currently are making their rivals green with envy.

Celtic, of course, earned the plaudits for going toe-to-toe with Bayern until an unfortunate deflection handed the Bundesliga leaders a Champions League aggregate win deep into stoppage time in Munich on Tuesday.

Hibs, meanwhile, are on a 12-game unbeaten run and have not conceded a goal in their latest three outings.

However, Celtic were the last team to beat David Gray's side - 3-0 in Glasgow in December - their fifth victory in a row over the Leith outfit since a goalless draw at Easter Road in October 2023.

That was their third victory over Hibs this season with an aggregate score of 8-1.

Indeed, Hibs have beaten Celtic just once in their latest 24 meetings, their most recent win coming in May 2023 - a 4-2 success at Easter Road under Lee Johnson.

In addition to their fine Champions League run, Brendan Rodgers' side have won three in a row in the Premiership with an aggregate of 12-1 to maintain their 13-point lead at the top of the table.

Hibs' improved form, though, has lifted them into fifth, now just three points behind Dundee United - and they will have renewed belief that they can follow in the footsteps of Aston Villa and Bayern, the only two sides to have beaten Celtic in 13 outings.

Read the rest of the weekend's Premiership picks.

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• Hibernian have won just one of their last 24 meetings with Celtic across all competitions (D7 L16), a 4-2 league win in May 2023 under Lee Johnson.

• Celtic have won both of their last two league visits to Hibernian, this after only winning two of their previous 12 away league games against Hibs beforehand (D7 L3).

• Hibernian are unbeaten in 10 league games (W6 D4), the longest ongoing run in this season's Scottish Premiership – although their last defeat was to Celtic in December (0-3). Hibs last went longer without losing in the competition in May 2018 under Neil Lennon (12 games).

• Celtic have won six of their last seven league games (D1), including each of their last three in a row by an aggregate score of 12-1, scoring at least three goals each time. They last won more Scottish Premiership matches in a row while scoring 3+ goals in each in March 2023 under Ange Postecoglou (run of 6).

• After his goal against Dundee United last time out, Celtic's Callum McGregor now has 49 goals and 49 assists in the Scottish Premiership. Since the competition's rebrand in 2013, only two players – James Tavernier (83 goals, 79 assists) and James Forrest (58 goals, 55 assists) – have reached both 50+ goals and 50+ assists in the division.

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Hibernian will face holders Celtic at Parkhead on Sunday, 9 March at 15:00 with a place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup the prize.

David Gray's side left it late against Ayr United earlier this month to progress to the quarter-finals, and now have a tricky trip to the league leaders home in Glasgow.

The game will be televised on Premier Sports.

Hibs, of course, last won the Scottish Cup in 2016 courtesy of now-head coach, Gray's header against Rangers.

Hibernian banked £1.2m in tax credit earmarked for research and development last year, the news coming after it was revealed that Dundee United are staring down the barrel of a £600,000 repayment to HMRC after receiving £1.28m during the financial period of 2021-22. (The Courier), external

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo described his visit to Europe very beneficial after meeting Celtic winger Yang Hyun-jun and Hibernian midfielder Kwon Hyuk-gyu, who is yet to make a full debut. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

A point away to St Mirren shouldn't really be sniffed at, given we finished the game with ten men and have lost twice to the Saints already this season. But with Aberdeen winning and Hearts and Dundee United losing, there was a real opportunity for Hibs to lay a claim as genuine third-place challengers this weekend, so it's frustrating that we didn't head back along the M8 with three points in the bag.

Not as frustrating as it would have been for debutant Alasana Manneh, though.

The Gambian managed just 13 minutes in his first taste of Scottish football before falling foul of referee, Ross Hardie, who sent Hibs' new boy off for an innocuous looking challenge, having already booked him seconds after Manneh came on as a second-half substitute.

I have a huge amount of sympathy for Manneh. It wasn't a game for midfielders as it was, and he must be wondering what he's let himself in for as he watched the ball sail back and forward over his head for the short period of time he was on the pitch.

Hibs now go into a tough couple of fixtures against Celtic and Dundee United, before Hearts come to Easter Road.

With the season approaching the business end, Hibs need to find better form than they showed on Sunday if we're to achieve those top four ambitions.

Matty Fairnie can be found at the Longbangers podcast, external

Hibernian defender Warren O'Hora prioritises points above plaudits when his side take on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic on Saturday. (Record), external

O'Hora says December's 3-0 loss at Celtic Park "feels so long ago", with Hibs having gone on a 12-match unbeaten run since. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Sportscene pundits Steven Naismith and Stephen McGinn discuss Alasana Manneh's red card 13 minutes into his Hibernian debut.

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Hibernian's goalless draw with St Mirren was "a little disheartening" to Warren O'Hora, despite the defender helping to make it three clean sheets in a row.

The Hibees are 12 unbeaten in all competitions but O'Hora felt it was a missed opportunity to move away from the group of teams in the middle of the table.

"It's a tough place to come, it was hard to play on a surface like that," O'Hora told club media. "You're away from home so first and foremost you don't want to get beat, but we know we can play miles better than that.

"We go down to 10 men with 10-odd minutes left so we'd take a draw at that moment. But, going into the game we knew it was an opportunity to push away from some teams in the league and catch some teams, so it's a little disheartening.

"It's nothing that we'll cry about. A point in the end is probably a fair result so we'll move onto the next one."

Both managers suggested the game lacked a little bit of quality as Hibs failed to record a shot on target in the entire match. Instead, it was St Mirren who were denied by two fantastic Jordan Smith saves.

"St Mirren are very direct," O'Hora continued. "They have willing runners and big boys up top so it is a tough place to come, there's no doubt about it. We dealt with it well, defended well. If we're being harsh, we could play a bit better on the ball. It's such a difficult place to play. We'll take the point and move on.

"Smudge [Smith] has been brilliant for us since he's come in. He's really kicked on for us, done really well over the last 12 or 15 games. I'm very happy for him, couldn't happen to a nicer man."

Hibs' fantastic record is under threat next weekend when they host league leaders Celtic in Leith.

"The last time we got beat was against Celtic so it's definitely something to look forward to," O'Hora added. "We have to back ourselves. We'll go to Easter Road, put on a performance and hopefully take home all three points."

Hibs fans, we asked for your opinion on the goalless draw with St Mirren, that also Alasana Manneh sent off 13 minutes into his debut.

Here's what you had to say...

Bea: A poor game but a good point for a battling Hibs team. Kieron Bowie should have been on earlier as we needed his presence up front against a big bruising defence.

Peter: Poor performance overall on a tough pitch to play on. Some decent individual performances, but I don't see any real structure and intent going forward in the team. St Mirren pressed us successfully out of the game first-half and we had no answer. Second half, we still didn't have any answers.

Kenny: It was a poor game, not helped by some very poor refereeing. A point each was about right.

John: Really poor performance from Hibs. Virtually no football played, mostly hoof-ball.

Scott: Awful game but St Mirren have had our number of late so it's a good point. Hoping Alasana Manneh isn't one of those 'looked good on YouTube ' signings.

John: Poor officiating spoiled the match for both teams. Like last week, Hibs were poor up front and we clearly missed Dylan Levitt in midfield. Special mention for Jordan Smith, who improves every game.

George: Poor game on a 'glue-pit' of a pitch. Spoilt further by the worst display of refereeing I've seen in years. Nuff said. We take the point and move onto Celtic next week.

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• Hibernian are undefeated in their last 10 games in the Premiership, their last joint longest unbeaten streak was from 16 February 2019 to 28 April 2019.

• 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 Celtic on 11 August 2024.

• St Mirren have failed to score in 11 of their 26 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

Watch highlights from Paisley as St Mirren and Hibernian play out a goalless draw in the Scottish Premiership. (UK users only).

Alasana Manneh was sent off just 13 minutes into his Hibernian debut as David Gray's side made it 12 games unbeaten with a goalless Scottish Premiership draw at St Mirren.

The Gambia midfielder, a graduate of the Barcelona youth academy, came on in the 70th minute, was booked a minute later for a trip, then saw yellow again for a reckless challenge.

The visitors held on with 10 men for a point and remain in fifth place while St Mirren jump to sixth, above Kilmarnock on goal difference.

Give us your thoughts on Hibs' draw here., external

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Hibernian head coach David Gray told BBC Scotland: "It certainly wasn't a classic. There was no real quality in the game, we can play miles better. We've played a lot better this season and lost games, so that's a positive to take.

"The way we finished, down to 10 men, is disappointing but to make sure we kept a clean sheet is a big positive.

"Clean sheet and a point, the run continues - one defeat in 15 is brilliant, and the position we've put ourselves in.

"There were moments in the first half where we did create chances and they came from having a bit of composure on the ball. We didn't do that enough in the game. it was too much of a fight, the ball was turning over too much.

"Credit to the boys, defensively. My goalkeeper made a big save. Rocky Bushiri got man of the match and rightly so. It shows the kind of performance it was today.

[On Manneh's red card] "It was a shame. He's trained really well this week to get his opportunity. He's worked really hard to get himself up to speed as quick as he can. He's very unfortunate. I don't think it's a second yellow and the frustration is we can't appeal that, you can't go to the monitor and check."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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While Gray may have fixed Hibs' vulnerability at the back, his side failed to muster an effort on target in Paisley.

They came close. Warren O'Hora's first half-header really should have rippled the net, and the effort that Hemming saved in the second half would have been ruled out for offside anyway.

It was a slow start, too. St Mirren flew out of the blocks and Hibs were under the cosh but crucially, they survived. Six months ago, they would have wilted.

There is a new confidence in the backline and although there have only been four clean sheets on this unbeaten run, Smith has become a vital figure in goal - highlighted by his incredible double save to deny Toyosi Olusanya and then Mark O'Hara on the follow-up.

Impressively, Hibs' stretch of 10 league games without defeat is their joint-longest unbeaten streak in the top flight in six years. The new-found resilience looks likely to cement a top-six place.

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Rocky Bushiri. In years gone by, he has been a figure of fun for opposition fans. Today, he was rock solid.

Toyosi Olusanya and Mikael Mandron are known as a dual threat for St Mirren but Bushiri handled them both, with Olusanya only getting in behind once.

Hibernian goalkeeper Jordan Smith has been "blown away" by the standard of Scottish football. (Scotsman - subscription), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip