Hibernian

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

With Celtic announcing the return of Jota on Monday, Hibs were left as the last team standing in the "We've not signed anyone yet" race.

David Gray has pointed to the return from injury of key players such as Mykola Kuharevich, Kieron Bowie, Joe Newell and Marvin Ekpiteta as being like new signings, and there's no doubt he now has enhanced options.

But I doubt any Hibs fan is convinced the return of those players alone is enough to finish the season strongly, particularly when the teams around us are bringing fresh faces in.

Garvan Stewart joined the club last year as head of recruitment and he is tasked with improving the quality of signings identified, as well as aligning Hibs' recruitment with that of the Black Knight group – his experience working at Bournemouth was a key factor in his appointment.

So far, though, we're yet to see the fruits of his labour. There is a line of thought his input might have stopped us going forward with targets below the standard we want.

There's probably some merit in that suggestion given the hit-and-miss recruitment of previous windows, plus we all know the line about January being a notoriously difficult month to sign players (though it's never stopped us or other teams).

Hibs fans are anxious to see new faces in the door sooner rather than later as the end of the window draws near. Will it be the case of good things come to those who wait, or will we be left hoping Gray's revival with this group of players continues to take us up the table?

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers Podcast, external

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Nectarios Triantis: Deftly set up the opening goal for Hibs. The on-loan Sunderland player continues to be a standout.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Hibs' 1-1 draw against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

Watch highlights of Ross County's 1-1 draw against Hibs in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Hibs' 1-1 draw against Ross County.

Here's what some of you said:

Scott: A point away from home isn't bad but we deserved more, denied by a truly awful penalty decision. The ball had been played out for a goal kick before the forward initiated contact with Jordan Smith, and VAR, as usual, merely rubber stamped the referee's decision. That being said, the team should have enough nous by now to see out the game.

Sandy: Dylan Levitt's goal has to be a contender for goal of the month, what a ball from Nectar Triantis. Really hard slog of a game after the pitch took a hammering from the storm. But still on an unbeaten run, penalties were terrible decisions. We deserved more from the match. Onwards and upwards.

Peter: Team looked disjointed and not focused enough on what was at stake, too many misplaced passes and misunderstandings. Not impressed at all. David Gray thinks we "controlled" the game but we dropped two points here because we were simply not good enough on the day. We might well rue these dropped points later on in the season.

Kenny: Not a great performance but a point up there isn't a bad result. We had a lot of the ball in the first half but we never got started in the second. Both penalties were questionable but a point is a point. Ross County only ever tried to stop us playing with some rough tackles but we kept trying to play football.

Mark: More points thrown away against teams we should be beating. It seems we have learned nothing from our past failures against Ross County. New signings are needed but going by the players we have been strongly linked with it seems we have learned nothing from the mistakes of our last few windows either.

Gordon: Good to keep the unbeaten run going. Only five points behind Aberdeen now. Massive game against them next week considering our dreadful start to the season. Onwards and upwards.

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• Hibernian are undefeated in their last eight games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 12 May 2021 to 26 September 2021, a run of nine games.

• Hibernian have lost 18 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• Hibernian have scored in each of their last eight games in the Premiership, scoring 17 goals in that run.

• Ross County have scored in each of their last eight games in the Premiership, scoring 12 goals in that run.

• Hibernian have scored in their last eight games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 12 games from 7 February 2024 to 4 May 2024.

• Ross County have scored in their last eight games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 11 games from 11 December 2021 to 9 February 2022.

• Ronan Hale has scored six goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Ross County player.

• Nectarios Triantis has assisted three goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Hibernian player has more.

Ronan Hale's 88th-minute penalty rescued a draw for Ross County at home to Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership on a difficult pitch in Dingwall.

Dylan Levitt stroked in the opening goal three minutes before half-time after brilliant work from Nectarios Triantis to set him up inside the box.

Ross County struggled to create chances in response, and it looked as though they would rue Jordan White's missed penalty when the game was goalless.

The striker's tame effort was saved by Hibs goalkeeper Jordan Smith, after Nicky Cadden was penalised when the video assistant referee spotted a handball from Noah Chilvers' cross.

But they were given a second chance from the spot when Kieran Phillips was felled by Smith, and this time Hale smashed the ball low and hard past the Hibs goalkeeper.

There was a frantic finish as both sides flung the ball into the respective boxes from set pieces in stoppage-time, but there was no late winner.

Hibs extended their unbeaten league run to eight matches and stay sixth, while Ross County are 10th, eight points clear of bottom side St Johnstone.

Hibs fans, were you at the game on Saturday or following the action from home? Either way we want your thoughts on the performance.

Have your say., external

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Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "A point away from home is not a bad result especially given the pitch and the conditions.

"But once we got ourselves in front we were in total control and managed the conditions well. We played in the right areas and restricted Ross County to no chances bar the two penalties they got.

"When you're only 1-0 up you always run that risk of being pegged back, but right now it feels like two points dropped given the way the game went. We also have to be better in moments as well."

On the first penalty call, Gray says: "Nobody appealed for it, which makes it hard to take. By the letter of his law his arm is away from his body. I'm not going to stand and make excuses, we gave away two penalties, which were avoidable.

"It was poor defending from Nicky Cadden at the back post - he knows that - he allows James Brown to get inside him.

"We should probably lose a goal there. But the moment he misses it and it goes past him, when you let the ball bounce it's impossible to turn with your arm at the side you naturally turn to open out.

"But there was nobody behind him, which adds to the frustration as to why it was given. The second penalty is avoidable again. It's a poor decision to dribble out from the back, then not stop the cross.

"So there's definitely areas we need to improve - albeit I think it's an extremely soft penalty."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hibs have let 18 points slip from winning positions this season, the most in the league.

The bulk of those were before November when they were bottom of the league and struggling, so the frustrating thing for Gray and his rejuvenated team will be the relapse into old habits.

They looked as though they had the perfect balance of grit, determination and quality on a horrible surface after Levitt got them in front.

It was a classy finish from a player whose Hibs career was petering out until recently, and Triantis showed his growing influence with another assist.

The way the Australian plucked the ball out of the sky from a corner, held off a defender and flicked it to Levitt demonstrated his quality.

They looked more likely to add to their lead than concede, but the tempo dropped in the second half and poor play from Smith to react late to a cross cost them.

The Hibs goalkeeper did well to save White's penalty in the first half and has been part of their turnaround, but there is still a sense it is a position of weakness.

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Ross County are unable to field on-loan Hibs midfielder Nohan Kenneh against his parent club. Jack Grieves misses out with a head knock, while Michee Efete, Ryan Leak (Achilles), Alex Samuel (thigh), Ross Laidlaw, Eli Campbell and Will Nightingale (all knee) are all set to remain sidelined.

Youngsters Dylan Smith, George Robinson and Andrew McLeod are in contention after being recalled from loans.

Hibs wing-back Nicky Cadden is set to play with a protective mask after breaking his nose against Motherwell.

Jordan Obita and Nathan Moriah-Welsh return from suspension but captain Joe Newell (groin), Elie Youan (foot) and Marvin Ekpiteta (thigh) are still out.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

A 3-1 comeback win over Ross County at Easter Road in December provided the momentum Hibs needed to go on an eight-game unbeaten run, move off the bottom of the Premiership and into the top six - leapfrogging Saturday's hosts.

Whether he was the inspiration behind it or simply fed off it, Martin Boyle has since rekindled the spark that made him such a potent force during his first spell in Leith, leading to an Australia call-up and a big-money, shortlived move to Al Faisaly.

Only a few weeks ago, some Hibs fans might not have been concerned that the 31-year-old still has not agreed a new contract beyond the summer amid an admission he would like to play in his father's homeland one day.

However, scoring three doubles in a row - against Rangers and Motherwell in the league then Clydebank in the Scottish Cup - suggests he might be worthy of keeping a tad longer.

Boyle will certainly be fancying his chances of adding to his 12 goals this season considering County are without a win in five home games - losing the past two to Celtic and second-tier Livingston - while his side arrive unbeaten in three on the road.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

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David Gray says he will "always be very grateful" to Ben Kensell for giving him the opportunity to become Hibs head coach.

Kensell unexpectedly left his role as chief executive this week and Gray, who was appointed boss on a three-year deal last summer after four interim spells, has thanked the 43-year-od for his support.

"I've got nothing but positive things to say about him," Gray said. "He's been very, very supportive of me throughout my whole time at the football club.

"He's been here for three-and-a-half years. And when I think back to when he joined the club to where he leaves it, especially off-the-field things, [there has been] the transformation of the stadium and the commercial side of the business and everything else."

Kensell came in for criticism from some Hibs fans, with his tenure including two bottom-six finishes in three full seasons and four managerial sackings.

"Everyone's got an opinion on it and rightly so, everyone's allowed to have their own opinion and I don't think you'll ever get everybody on the same page all the time," Gray added.

"[He has been] massive, for the massive part I know he did, and giving me the opportunity to be head coach at the football club, so I'll always be very grateful for that.

"And even when I think back during the difficult times this season, he always asked me difficult questions when they needed to be asked but he was always very supportive of me as well. He was a big help during the difficult times."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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David Gray has been speaking to the media before Hibs face Ross County in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the key points from the Hibs boss:

• Hibs altered their plans because of Storm Eowyn and left Edinburgh at around 8am to travel north.

• Gray adds: "Once we were away from the city we knew it was the right decision to leave early because my wife just phoned to tell me my fence has blown over. So that is a job for Sunday morning."

• Hibs are thankful to Inverness CT for the use of their training facilities this afternoon.

• Gray has "nothing but positive things" to say about chief executive Ben Kensell - who abruptly left the club on Thursday - and thankful of the support he received during a difficult start to the season.

• The Easter Road boss says confidence is high in the squad amid an eight-game unbeaten run and a win would take them closer to "cementing our place in the top six".

• Hibs are yet to make a signing this month and Gray says: "The biggest challenge is to make sure we finish the window in a stronger position than we were when it opened and I'm very confident that'll be the case."

• Joe Newell and Ellie Youann are still out. Nicky Cadden is available but will have to wear a face mask for around six weeks due to a broken nose.

Hibernian are close to completing the signing of 26-year old Gambian midfielder Alasana Manneh from Odense, but it might only be a pre-contract deal with a view to a summer move should negotiations break down because of the Danish club's injury crisis. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Hibs' David Gray would like to sign Nectarios Triantis permanently, but the head coach says that will depend on the 21-year-old midfielder's chances of first-team football when he returns to parent club Sunderland for the final year of his contract. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Chief executive Ben Kensell has left his position as Hibs chief executive after three-and-a-half years at Easter Road.

Hibs say Kensell helped the club "evolve significantly" and was "integral" to securing the partnership with Bournemouth owner Bill Foley's Black Knight Football Group.

Hibs sacked four managers and twice finished in the bottom six during Kensell's tenure.

The Gordon family, who took ownership of the club following Ron Gordon's death in February 2023, said in a statement: "We'd like to thank Ben for all his hard work and leadership over the last three-and-a-half-years.

"And we will be forever grateful for the support he provided our family after Ron's passing. As a club, we have made positive strides forward under Ben's guidance, and he will be leaving the club in a better place.

"We're always looking at the future of the club, and after discussions with Ben, we mutually decided that it was the right time to part ways.

"We wish him nothing but the best moving forward."

The club added they will continue to be led by the board of directors as the recruitment for a new chief executive gets under way.

Image source, SNS

• Hibs are unbeaten in seven league games, winning five (D2), as many as their previous 26 beforehand (W5 D9 L12). Hibs last went longer without losing in the Scottish Premiership in September 2021 (nine games under Jack Ross).

• Ross County have only won one of their past seven league games against Hibs (D4 L2), a 2-1 victory at home in May 2024.

• After their 3-1 win in December, Hibs could pick up back-to-back Scottish Premiership victories over Ross County for the first time since October 2022, and first time within a single season since 2017-18.

• Ross County have lost three of their past four home league matches (D1), as many as their previous 16 beforehand (W7 D6 L3).

• Hibs forward Martin Boyle has scored a brace in both of his past two league games, while he last scored in three successive Scottish Premiership appearances in August 2021 (run of four).

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Hibs' expectedly comfortable Scottish Cup win over Clydebank was notable for the return from injury of Kieron Bowie as well as Rudi Molotnikov and Mykola Kuharevich.

The fans have high hopes striker Bowie, who joined in the summer from Fulham, and it was great to see him back in action after more than four months out.

The 3-0 victory - which has set up a fifth-round trip to Ayr United - was a highly satisfactory afternoon for David Gray. His side progressed without fuss, players returned to action, and the team kept the momentum that has been building over the last few weeks.

Also a word for young Lewis Gillie - the 16-year-old made his debut in the second half and he can be pleased with his contribution on a day he'll remember for a long time.

Martin Boyle opened the scoring inside the first two minutes and when Molotnikov fired over moments later, it looked like the visitors were going to be on the wrong end of a real hiding.

However, the expected goal rush never materialised and Gray clearly got in the players' ears at the interval as the second half was a much more energetic affair, with Molotnikov rounding off a fine return from injury before Boyle completed the scoring.

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers Podcast, external

Forward Kieron Bowie's return to fitness for Hibernian is a huge lift, says head coach David Gray. (Scotsman - subscription), external

Bowie, 22, feels part of the Hibs team again following his lengthy absence. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip