Hibernian

Watch highlights as Hibs ease past Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your thoughts after Hibs' 4-0 win over Livingston.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Gordon: Good all round performance resulting in a comprehensive win over a side that has regularly given us problems in the past. Thibault Klidje proving a handful up front and Grant Hanley once again solid at the back. Hopefully we can now kick on from this, again well played Hibs.

Willie: Great to see Hibs getting some reward for great play - 27 goal attempts, 12 on target - a real exciting game, thought Livingston played some good football but were handled well by a defence in which Hanley was excellent. We move on to two hard fixtures but if we approach these games with the same intensity we will be very hard to beat

Francis: Our £1million signing proved he was worth the money, sharp, slick, great turn of speed, all he needs now is a few good finishes in front of goal and the net will bulge with renewed confidence and a lot of goals, well done Klidje.

Aidan: Good confidence booster ahead of difficult upcoming games and nice to be back in the top three in the league table. Still feel that this group is yet to hit the levels which they are capable of, exciting times.

Andrew: A satisfactory result after weeks of sub-par performances. I've been saying it all season that we've been underperforming and even though this is against a weaker opponent our quality is clearly there. Our bench is stronger than in recent years and having players like Miguel Chaiwa and Martin Boyle off the pitch at kick-off exemplifies that. Need to build on this and should start Klidje regularly now. David Gray surely can't use the excuse of trying to settle him into games now. He's clearly ready.

Niall: Much better. Creativity, freedom, goals and a clean sheet. Think Klidje has shown that he has to be seriously considered for the starting role. Need to kick on for a bit of a run of wins now.

Image source, SNS

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "Everything I asked for we saw. The big thing was the reaction to losing our first game of the season and we did it in the perfect way.

"Four goals, a clean sheet and we could have had more. The biggest thing I asked for was intensity and I got that from the start.

"The subs came on and made us better, which is the challenge for them. It's a really good day's work.

"It's great for [Thibault Klidje] him on a personal level, getting a goal. His level of performance was excellent, he's a constant threat and looks to run in behind.

"That was part of the game plan today to exploit the space in behind and he certainly did it.

"He's had to be patient, but we've been patient with him. He's come over to a new culture and new way of working and coming into a team that is very competitive as well.

"I'm delighted with his performance and he should be delighted with his performance, but to single anyone out today would be wrong because to a man they were fantastic."

Record signing Thibault Klidje inspired Hibernian to a first home win of the season as they hammered Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

What did you make of Klidje's display? And how significant a win was that for Hibs?

Share your views.

Image source, SNS

Hibernian welcome back Miguel Chaiwa and Elie Youan after injury. Captain Joe Newell is stepping up his fitness after a long-term groin injury but not yet ready for squad involvement. Alasana Manneh (hamstring) is still out.

Livingston are hoping to get Joshua Brenet registered in time to feature while Cristian Montano, Cammy Kerr and Aidan Denholm are all closing in on comebacks. Ryan McGowan is not far behind them.

Image source, SNS

Goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger says the international break has been a good chance for Hibs to "calm down" after suffering a late defeat to city rivals Hearts.

Craig Halkett's stoppage time goal at Tynecastle snatched all three points for the hosts who sit two points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

And while Hibs were desperate to get back to action and right their wrongs quickly, Sallinger admits the break has been a change for David Gray's men to regroup.

"I'm more the type who wants to just play the next game, especially when it was a late goal against Hearts," the 29-year-old said.

"It was disappointing for us, but the two weeks to calm down and get away from football and have your head on other things was good.

"A lot of players weren't here the last two weeks, but we spoke a lot about how we can do better.

"A lot of people were talking about conceding the late goal, and how we can change that but when you look at statistics and everything, especially the last game against Hearts, it was just unlucky.

"We've had good performances, we were unlucky in a lot of games. The Kilmarnock game, we had a really good first half. We want to keep the performance during 90 minutes, and that's the thing, we are going the right way.

"In football it's all about details, and sometimes you just need a successful result. We want to do it, and we can, so the moment can change quickly."

Image source, SNS

David Gray emphasised that Hibernian need to "keep moving forward and staying upbeat," as his side prepare to host Livingston at Easter Road on Saturday.

Hibs suffered a late defeat against city rivals Hearts before the international break, and the 37-year-old head coach insists Hibs need to stay in a positive mindset.

"The benefits of the international break was we were able to give a couple of days off, to go and reset, recharge the batteries and get all your frustration and disappointment out," said Gray.

"That was my message right after the game, which was, coming back in, we need to make sure that we're hitting the ground running, not feeling sorry for ourselves, making sure we can move on quickly, and seeing it as a little bit of a reset.

"It was difficult because we've got so many players who go away on international duty, you're left with eight, nine players that are still here, but the training pitch has been good, the atmosphere has been positive.

"We've got an opportunity tomorrow, a difficult game at home, where hopefully we can kick on from here."

Gray insists he is not "concerned" by Hibs' performance levels, acknowledging that his side has been playing well, and he's hopeful they can start converting the chances that they are creating.

"It's a bit of everything. You need your big players and the leaders within the dressing room to naturally do that anyway," added Gray.

"They need to keep doing what they're doing, don't change, keep moving forward, keep staying upbeat, make sure they're around the players so that nobody is feeling sorry for themselves, and that mood quickly changes towards improving, changes towards getting back on the pitch and putting it right.

"One thing I have been demonstrating to the players is, it's not as if we're not creating chances, sometimes it's just about confidence, whatever it looks like.

"I've said it for a while now, that I'd be a lot more concerned had we not been playing particularly well. I don't think the last two performances have been our best. I don't think the game's been great, especially the derby game, it speaks for itself.

"We need to be better in both boxes, in these key areas at key times, but we are doing a lot right, and if we keep getting ourselves into these positions, I do believe it will turn quickly."

Image source, SNS

David Gray has been speaking to the media ahead of Hibernian's fixture against Livingston on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• Gray says the "emotions are very high" after their 1-0 defeat against Hearts before the international break, but says his side needs to "quickly move on."

• The Hibs head coach adds that the squad needs to ensure they keep a positive mindset and "keep moving forward and keep staying upbeat."

• Gray is not "concerned" about their current form - only one league win so far this campaign - and says they have been playing well, adding: "It's not as if we're not creating chances, sometimes it's just about confidence. But we are doing a lot right."

• He's not too focused on the league positions and says it can change quickly: "This league's always the same, it's always really tight."

• Knows it won't be an easy game and says, "Livingston are going to come and make it difficult for us."

• The only player out injured is Alasana Manneh, and adds that Joe Newell is back in training, which is a "positive," and there are only a few "niggles" for players following internationals, but says "we've got a squad that can deal with it."

Image source, SNS

• Hibernian are unbeaten in their last 17 top-flight home games against newly promoted opponents (W7 D10) since going down 0-1 to Ross County in December 2012 under Pat Fenlon.

• Livingston have won just one and lost four of their last six league meetings with Hibernian (D1), with that win coming in August 2023 (3-2).

• Hibernian are unbeaten in their last 15 home league games (W9 D6), although their last four have all been drawn. This is the longest run without a home defeat by a non-Old Firm club (Celtic/Rangers) in the Scottish top-flight since Hearts went 16 without a loss from January to October 2004.

• Livingston's Scottish Premiership games this season have seen more goals than any other side (24 – 10 for, 14 against).

• Only Celtic (14.0) have tallied a higher xG in the Scottish Premiership this season than Hibernian (12.2), while Livingston have faced the highest xGA of any side (14.5).

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Hibs finally have the chance to get the derby defeat out of their system when Livingston come to Easter Road on Saturday.

It's a great opportunity to get back to winning ways, and we should fancy our chances against David Martindale's side, having enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 win in the Premier Sports Cup earlier in the season.

You can never write Livi off though, and Hibs will have to be a lot better than we were in Gorgie if we're to get the three points.

Thibault Klidje started and scored in the cup fixture and Hibs fans are getting increasingly impatient to see what impact he could have.

I think David Gray is still struggling to find the right mix in his starting XI and many fans would be happy to see Kieron Bowie - who came off the bench during Scotland's recent win over Belarus - paired with Klidje up top.

It was great to see Josh Mulligan get called up to the Scotland squad as well - just reward for a really strong start to the season, and hopefully we'll see more of Mulligan in his midfield role, where I think he has the most potential to shine.

However Gray sets the team up, it's important that we get a result and a performance on Saturday to lift some of the clouds that have been forming over Easter Road.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

Image source, SNS

Rocky Bushiri feels the mental task of switching between club and international football is "underrated".

The defender played the full 90 minutes in DR Congo's 1-0 victory over Togo on Thursday as part of their World Cup qualifiers with the African side currently second in Group B.

The 25-year-old has also featured 12 times for Hibs across all competitions this term and noted the difficulty of going from club to international football, and back again.

"It's good but it's tough," he told The Hibee Buzz podcast, external.

"You're there for a short period with players who play different systems and different ways in their clubs.

"You have to switch after the last game before the break to full Congo mode and then the last days before coming back to Hibs you have to switch again.

"That's maybe an aspect that's a bit underrated. But it's a privilege to be an international."

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has called up uncapped Hibernian midfielder Josh Mulligan and Rangers' Connor Barron as replacements for the suspended Lewis Ferguson and Ryan Christie for Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Belarus. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Martin Boyle is looking forward to representing Hibernian at the World Cup for Australia next summer and the 32-year-old forward is not giving too much thought yet about his contract ending next summer. (JDL Media), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, SNS

Martin Boyle joins up with Australia as they face World Cup hosts Canada and USA in friendlies.

Grant Hanley and Kieron Bowie are in the Scotland squad for the World Cup qualifying double-header against Greece and Belarus.

Miguel Chaiwa is part of the Zambia squad to take on Tanzania and Niger in World Cup qualifying.

Thibault Klidje is with Togo as they face Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in World Cup qualifiers.

Jordan Obita is part of the Uganda squad for World Cup qualifiers against Botswana and Algeria.

Rocky Bushiri joins up with the Democratic Republic of Congo as they face Togo and Sudan in World Cup qualifying.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Derby defeats are never good and there's a lot of frustration around Hibs' approach to the game at Tynecastle.

There's some allowance for playing to the conditions - the effects of Storm Amy were still evident as the teams kicked off - but Hibs' lack of attacking intent and tendency to lump the ball forward rather than playing through Hearts was not pleasant on the eye.

The defeat was our first league loss this season following a string of draws and came about thanks to another late goal, a habit Hibs have failed to kick this season.

It's far from crisis time at Hibs - we're better placed than we were this time last season - but that's a very low bar.

David Gray's team last season was better than the sum of its parts. You could pick a handful of candidates most matches as potential man of the match. The opposite is true this season, at least domestically.

The bar was set high with the European performances, but domestically Hibs have only hit those heights fleetingly and the system adopted by Gray isn't bringing the best out of any one player never mind the team.

We go into the international break now on a bit of a downer before Livingston come to Easter Road.

By then I hope Gray has figured out what's not working and how to fix it, and we can get back to winning ways.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

Watch all the highlights from Hearts' stoppage-time Edinburgh derby victory against Hibernian at Tynecastle in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Hibernian's 1-0 Edinburgh derby defeat to Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Colin: Lost the game because we weren't clinical enough. Time for level heads and not knee-jerk reactions because we lost a derby. We've got a good squad so let's dust ourselves down and move on.

George: A bit unlucky as Martin Boyle hit the bar, but overall we huffed and puffed - didn't ever really put our game together. Not sure David Gray got the changes done quickly enough as several were working very hard, but it just wasn't working. Sliding down the league, death by a thousand cuts, but heads up. They weren't that much better than us. Just the one class cross takes out our whole defence and the finish from Craig Halkett was quality, so move on and start again.

Martin: Typical, it was a poor game to be honest. Neither goalkeeper was really tested. A draw was a fair result but we switch off again, why does every team play until the whistle apart from us?

Gordon: Ridiculous to lose yet another goal, and the game, in stoppage time. Unbelievable? Sadly not, all too predictable, something is obviously fundamentally wrong. The players, management or coaching staff? Whatever it is, it must be addressed quickly or we are in big, big trouble. Our failure to take our chances at the other end of the pitch highlights the obvious - we badly, badly need a goalscorer.

Michael: Really poor. No tactics, no game plan, no composure and no pace. Such a dire performance that Hibs fans have been used to this season. What was Gray thinking?

Lee: Hibs need a dependable goalkeeper and defence. Once we remove this defensive vulnerability, the rest of the team will have the freedom to actually go and win games. This losing late goals and too many draws scenario has been going on too long!

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "It was a poor game of football. I don't think the conditions helped. Whatever happens, all the good work you do within the game's undone in the very last second of the game by losing the goal.

"I'd like us to carry more of a threat, I'd like us to play more at times. There was very few chances within the game. It probably sums up our season, not taking our chances when they do come.

"We did have the biggest chance of the game before they scored and we didn't take it and then you get punished for not being able to see it out at the other end. We don't do enough to make sure we at least come away with a point."

Craig Halkett sparked bedlam at Tynecastle with an added-time Edinburgh derby winner against Hibernian to ensure Hearts will go into the international break top of the Scottish Premiership.

Read the match report.

Have your say here.

Image source, SNS

Hibs defender Grant Hanley insisted he and his team-mates are preparing for the first Edinburgh derby of the season like they would "any other game."

The experienced Scotland defender is in line for his first taste of the match.

"Who performs better has a better chance of winning the game," Hanley told the media on Friday. "As players, you've got to carry that [professionalism] into it and approach it as you would any other game.

"You do your work during the week. The level of detail that goes into any game now is obviously very high. You go in the game and try and approach it that way."

Hanley, 33, is yet to taste league victory in a Hibs shirt, as David Gray's side have drawn all five Premiership games since he arrived.

While the run has been frustrating, given the highs of last season's campaign, the mood is still optimistic in the Hibs camp.

"I know it's really difficult to put your finger on one thing," Hanley said when asked for an explanation to Hibs' current patchy form. "There may be two or three different factors going on. It may be just a bit of a coincidence at times. It happens in football.

"As players, it's important not to take it too high or too low. It's important to try and stay level and analyse it and look at the aspects where we could improve.

"Also, keep trying to do the things that have brought us success before and keep doing what we're good at."

Hearts sit top of the table under new boss Derek McInnes, but Hanley is not cowed by their rivals - or in-form striker Lawrence Shankland, who he knows from Scotland squads.

"They've started the season well, there's no hiding that fact," he said. "We'll approach it like we do every week. As I said before, the level of detail that we go into whoever our opponent is going to be is really high. I'm sure we'll be prepared for it.

"I know Lawrence reasonably well, but you don't go into a game looking at one player. They've obviously got goals all over the pitch, as they have shown so far this season.

"Again, the detail of looking at where they can hurt us or where they've hurt teams so far this season is what we try and nullify."

Image source, SNS

Hibs head coach David Gray is sure top-of-the-table Hearts will be full of confidence going into Saturday's derby at Tynecastle, but is buoyed by his unbeaten run in the fixture last season.

Neither side has lost in six Premiership games this term, although Hearts are eight points in front of their city rivals.

"It's not always about form, it's not always about the team that's playing the better football," said Gray, who has doubts over midfield pair Jamie McGrath and Miguel Chaiwa but welcomes back defender Rocky Bushiri to his squad.

"It is all about who turns up on the day in these games, and who can be calm in the chaos as well.

"There is a lot of emotion around the game, there's a lot of intensity around it. So it is about the team that can settle the quickest."

Gray has been impressed by the work done at Hearts by Derek McInnes but claims his main focus is on his own players.

"Every game you go into, you look at all of the team's strengths and their weaknesses, and areas in which you feel you can try and get an upper hand and that doesn't change regardless of the opponent," he said.

"One thing you're adding to this team at this moment is they're full of confidence, they've got really good individuals.

"They had good individuals last season, players that can hurt you all over the pitch. And the manager's very experienced at this level.

"It's got all the makings of what I believe could be a good derby.

"It's about trusting your players and giving them all the information, making sure they know exactly what to expect, having a clear gameplan and not worrying about the opposition too much."

Hibs have lost just once in the past eight derby meetings and are aiming for a third successive victory for the first time since 1922.

"There's lots of stats around the fixture," added Gray. "The one that will matter will be the result at the very end of the game.

"We need to take confidence from the fact the players went there last season and won, because it is something that hadn't been done for a while."

Image source, SNS

Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon is back in contention, while Christian Borchgrevink (illness) and Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring) are also pushing for a return, but Ageu (hamstring), Frankie Kent (knee), Ryan Fulton (groin) and Finlay Pollock (hamstring) are still out.

Hibs boss David Gray will make a late call on the fitness of Miguel Chaiwa (hamstring) and Jamie McGrath (Achilles) after they picked up injuries against Celtic last week.

Rocky Bushiri returns after missing out due to a personal matter last weekend but Joe Newell (groin), Elie Youan (ankle) and Alasana Manneh (hamstring) are still out.