Hibernian "can't have fear" as they travel to face Rangers on Sunday, says head coach David Gray. (Record), external
Gray aims to give his Hibs players "belief" for their trip to Ibrox. (Scotsman - subscription), external
Image source, SNSRangers have confirmed the complete reopening of the Copland Road stand, meaning Ibrox will be at full capacity - including away fans - for their Premiership match with Hibernian.
The stand was partially opened for their homecoming last weekend against Dundee after starting the season at Hampden because of delayed construction work to that end of the ground.
In a short statement, the club said they "cannot thank our loyal supporters enough for their patience".
Meanwhile, Hibs also thanked their fans for their patience "during this frustrating time" after receiving confirmation they will receive a full away allocation just three days before Sunday's match.
Image source, SNSDavid Gray says he expects Hibernian fans to be in attendance for their trip to Rangers on Sunday, despite a continued lack of clarity on away tickets for the game.
The Govan side returned to Ibrox last weekend in the League Cup quarter-final win over Dundee after a brief relocation to Hampden due to delayed construction work on the Copland Road stand.
Away fans were in the ground on Saturday for Rangers' 3-0 victory, but there is yet to be confirmation that Hibs supporters will be able to attend this Sunday.
Just three days out from the game, Gray understands why fans of the Leith club may find the situation "really frustrating".
However, the Hibs head coach is expecting an imminent resolution.
"My understanding is I expect supporters to be there," Gray revealed. "Which is great, that's the most important thing."
"Fans are vital to Scottish football. They get right behind their team and should have the opportunity to do that. The club are working extremely hard to make sure that’s the case.
"From the fans’ point of view, I understand why it would be really frustrating, but my full focus is on preparing the team."
Image source, Getty ImagesHibernian head coach David Gray has been speaking to the media prior to Sunday's Premiership trip to Rangers.
Here are the key lines:
Hibs fans are still awaiting clarity on whether they can attend Ibrox on Sunday, but Gray says he expects away supporters to be there.
On the sacking of Steven Naismith at city rivals Hearts, Gray adds: "It's never nice whenever anyone loses their job. I know him and know him well, he won’t be out of work for long".
Gray expects a "real tough test" against Rangers but says Ibrox is a "really enjoyable place to play" and "test yourself".
A positive result will "take a lot of hard work" from Hibs, who will have to be "at the top of our game," Gray adds.
The Hibs boss says injured duo Joe Newell and Martin Boyle "are getting there" but he will "see how it goes" in terms of their availability.
Gray hailed the condition new striker Dwight Gayle arrived in and says he will "add quality and experience to the group".
Rangers are "beatable" but "capable of hurting you", says former Ibrox player and ex-Hibernian captain Ian Murray before the clubs' weekend meeting. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external
Hibs remain confident of receiving a full away allocation for Sunday’s Scottish Premiership trip to Rangers after going through official SPFL channels to secure tickets for the match as a final resort. (Hibs Observer), external
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
The win against St Johnstone two weeks ago in front of the Hibs home support was a real boost for David Gray and his players.
As we have witnessed across the city, the longer a winless run goes on can have a huge impact on those running the operation.
And although it was a win, and ultimately that is the most important aspect, there is still plenty to work on for Gray and his team.
This Sunday it's a trip along the M8 to Glasgow to take on a Rangers side who, by their own high standards, have yet to set the heather on fire.
Under Phillipe Clement, Rangers have looked very good at times. But the Ibrox fanbase have only one target in their minds - and that is overtaking Celtic.
Although they have come up short so far, and indeed last season as well, they will retain hope of going on an extended winning run to keep pressure on Brendan Rodgers and his Celtic team.
Hibs, though, will be solely focused on what they can achieve at Ibrox this weekend.
Recent results have been poor, with seven straight defeats against Rangers and no fewer than 22 goals conceded in that time, plus only scoring five at the other end.
But as we know, records are there to be broken and Hibs will head to Glasgow with the belief they can take all three points back to the capital.
Image source, SNS"If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, you're off to a bad start straight away."
David Gray has used Hibernian's weekend off has been a "massive benefit" in getting his message of belief across to his players.
The Easter Road club return to action against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday, and although a "tough test" is a given, Gray is taking his players across the M8 with bundles of belief.
"We’ve been quite consistent in trying to stay measured throughout the whole process, to have trust in what we’re doing," the head coach told Sky Sports, external.
"Results haven’t always gone the way we’d want but all in all, we're working hard and building the group together.
"You know it’s going to be a tough test, but if you don’t believe you can win, then you won't.
"You need to have togetherness, ambition and belief that you can go and do that."
Hibs did pick up a crucial win before their mini-break against St Johnstone, and Gray said the victory has brought back the "feelgood factor" around training.
"There's plenty confidence from that result," he added.
When looking ahead to the weekend trip to Govan, Gray confirmed new signing Dwight Gayle is available after arriving in "great condition".
Image source, SNSEarlier, we asked you who has made the most league appearances for Hibs.
The correct answer is Lewis Stevenson - the full-back played 477 league games for the club before his exit at the end of last season.
Image source, SNSWho has made the most league appearances for Hibs?
Answer will be revealed at 17:00 BST
Dundee, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Ross County, St Johnstone and St Mirren will each take in £1.6m in solidarity payments due to Celtic's Champions League qualification, with Aberdeen and Dundee United receiving £1m and £650,000 going to Hearts and Livingston. (Mail), external
Image source, SNSHibernian say they are continuing to have "detailed conversations" with both the SPFL and Rangers regarding their away allocation at Ibrox on 29 September.
The Govan side will return to their home ground on Saturday to face Dundee after a brief relocation to Hampden due to delayed construction work on the Copland Road stand, which will only be partially open at the weekend.
In a statement, Hibs say "away ticket information has yet to be provided" for the league match taking place the following week.
The Leith club add: "With the match now just 10 days away, the clubs are working through a formal procedure with the SPFL to determine further information regarding away supporters."
Hibernian head coach David Gray is taking nothing for granted, despite the club's owner Ian Gordon indicating he wants to avoid having so many different managers in charge over a short period of time. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external
Image source, SNSDefender Jack Iredale says a move to Hibernian and a return to Scotland was a "no-brainer".
The 28-year-old joined the Easter Road side late in the summer window but is yet to make his debut for the club as he works his way back to full fitness.
Born in Scotland, the Australia youth international has experience of playing in the SPFL with lower-league Morton and Queen's Park between 2017 and 2019.
Iredale says that experience made him aware of how big a club Hibs are, which made his decision to join the Leith side from Bolton a simple one.
"The size of the club speaks for itself," the centre-back said.
"I was born in Scotland so I know about the clubs here. It was a no-brainer. It worked for me on so many levels."
On what Hibs fans can expect to see from him when he gets his first minutes, Iredale added: "I like to get on the ball and play passes, but you've got to defend first.
"I'll be nice and aggressive when I need to be and I'll bring a bit of experience as well."
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
The victory at the weekend brought only three points, but there was a palpable sense of relief at Easter Road.
There were some nervous moments, particularly in the first half when St Johnstone looked dangerous going forward and put pressure on a defence that at times still looked very shaky.
However, David Gray and his players can take confidence from their first clean sheet and victory in the Premiership this season and will now look forward to what lies ahead.
A trip to Glasgow to face Rangers is up next on 29 September, and while this may not hold the fear it has in times gone by, there is no doubt Hibs will still need to improve on recent performances against the Ibrox club.
It's 10 games without a win against Rangers, with only a solitary draw in that period.
And when you add the fact Hibs have conceded 27 goals in those games, it's clear where the players and the management will have to focus their attention.
But with a free week ahead they will have plenty of time to work on a plan that would see them head back along the M8 with a positive result.
Highlights: Hibernian 2-0 St Johnstone
St Johnstone are beaten 2-0 at Hibs for a fourth consecutive defeat, leading to the dismissal of manager Craig Levein.
Matty Fairnie
Fan writer
The wait is over. David Gray finally got his first league win of the new campaign with a very comfortable 2-0 home victory over St Johnstone.
Craig Levein loves to set his team up to spoil games, and his assertion post-match that St Johnstone played well in the opening 45 minutes goes a long way to explaining why the match was eye-bleedingly bad until the board went up to signal two minutes of added time at the end of the half.
Hibs, apparently, had had quite enough of the slog-fest the game had become and launched a free-kick to the back post, where Marvin Ekpiteta nodded it down for Mykola Kuharevich to bundle home.
To be honest, there was something refreshing about Hibs taking a route-one approach effectively in a game where trying to play football had been less than fruitful.
The second half was an altogether different affair. Summer signing Junior Hoilett lit the game up after he replaced Elie Youan at half-time. The experienced winger brought a calmness and quality to proceedings, and St Johnstone had no answer to him.
It was another second-half sub, Martin Boyle, who sealed the win for Hibs. He ran on to an excellent pass from Chris Cadden that "fed the grass" according to Stephen McGinn on Saturday night's Sportscene – what a great phrase! - and clipped the ball beyond the Saints keeper.
With victory secured, Easter Road serenaded one of its most familiar adversaries, Levein, down the tunnel and back up the road to Perth.
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Easter Road
Image source, SNS"Inconsistent" Martin Boyle "can't shy away from high expectations" as he enters the final year of his contract with Hibernian.
Boyle has five goals and five assists in 10 games this season, though he admits he has been "a bit inconsistent" of late.
The 31-year-old came off the bench to score his 100th goal in Scottish league football in Hibs' much-needed win against St Johnstone on Saturday but said that is "part and parcel" of his role in the team.
"It's nice to come on and make an impact," he told BBC Scotland. "I always enjoy scoring goals and helping the team get three points, and we needed it.
"It will give the place a lift and the manager as well so we can take that confidence and bring that winning mentality back."
Boyle, as one of the senior and more successful players in the squad, is sometimes on the end of criticism from the stands, but it's something the Australia international can handle.
"I've been a bit inconsistent and I'm just trying to maintain my goals and assists, that’s part and parcel of what I do," he added.
"The criticism can be anything it wants. I'm an established player now and the expectations on me are really high and I can't shy away from that.
"The fans pay their money and are entitled to their opinion but as long as I keep giving 100% and show them what this club means to me then hopefully I can keep producing."
The question is, will he keep performing for the Easter Road club beyond the summer? Boyle's contract runs out at the end of the season, but he isn't rushing into any conversations.
"I just want to keep maintaining that form for Hibs and when that conversation has to happen, then it will come," he added.
"It's a bit early in the season just now for that but things are going well just now and we will see what happens."
Kanayo Megwa's move to Partick Thistle on loan makes "complete sense," says head coach David Gray.
The defender, who signed a new four-year deal with the Easter Road club last month, spent last season on loan in the Scottish Championship with Airdrieonians.
The 20-year-old joined the Hibernian academy in 2021 and made his first team debut last August, after playing in Dubai as a teenager.
His loan move back to the second tier in Scottish football will provide him with regular first-team football according to Gray.
"Due to the competition for places at right-back, this loan move makes complete sense for Kanayo as it allows him to gain regular senior football at a competitive level," Gray told club media.
"He’s someone we’re really fond of and he needs regular game time to keep developing. We’ve seen a positive change in him after each loan spell he’s been on, and I’m sure this will be another that hugely benefits him."
Image source, SNS
A wrist operation means Hibernian winger Martin Boyle, 31, will miss their next match, away to Rangers on 28 September. (Scotsman - subscription, external)
Hibs head coach David Gray sees improvement in forward Myko Kuharevich from his previous loan spell from Swansea City. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription, external)
Image source, SNSHibs' first win of the league season was "massive" for David Gray and will ease some of the pressure on the head coach, says former midfielder Andrew Shinnie.
Hibs had lost two and drawn two of their opening four league matches, but Shinnie expects them to push past their early-season troubles after beating St Johnstone 2-0.
"That was massive, everyone was looking at that thinking it was a must win for Hibs, which makes it a difficult game," said Shinnie on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"I've played at Easter Road and it's a very demanding atmosphere at times, especially the way they are at the minute.
"Probably some of the players wouldn't have been massively looking forward to the game, home to St Johnstone, they needed the three points and they got a good 2-0 victory.
"There wasn't much in the game in the first-half, but that goal right on half-time was absolutely massive, that changed the momentum of the game and they came out in the second-half and were much stronger and got a comfortable win.
"I was really happy for David, he needed the win and he's got it and I think they'll kick on now and they'll be a decent side this year."
Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
Hibs picked up a tension-easing win over St Johnstone on Saturday, and have Martin Boyle in my Team of the Week.
Boyle and Junior Hoilett made a huge difference when they came off the bench to help David Gray's side to their first league win of the season.
The Australian just gets the nod over Hoilett due to his goal.
We asked for your views on Hibs' 2-0 win against St Johnstone.
Here's what some of you said:
Billy: The standard in the first half was dreadful. St Johnstone are awful. Hibs upped it in the second half. Martin Boyle’s finish was quality and Junior Hoilett is a class act.
Colin: A win, three points and a clean sheet is what we wanted. Had better width and penetration in the second half which saw us create more chances. There’s still work to do defensively and offensively but we're moving in the right direction. Hopefully this result will build much needed confidence.
Matt: We are a team which just needs a sprinkle of quality to get us going. Hoilett looks to be that missing ingredient, in addition to Boyle looking more like his old self. Good three points, but against a very poor St Johnstone in all honesty.
Scott: Dire first half, the second was much better with the introduction of Junior and Boyle. Kieron Bowie out is a big blow, the captain Joe Newell was missing today for some reason. We must build on this result.
Glen: Hibs were not good but St Johnstone gave them the lead at half time then shrunk back to allow Hibs a second. Desperate for Saints, poor tactical response to going behind.
