Hibernian

We asked for your views on Hibs' 3-1 Premiership win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Here's what some of you said:

Paul: A good team performance. Hopefully the start of a run of wins as points needed to move up the table.

Scott: So pleased for David Gray and his players. However, the basement is going to be a dogfight this season as there are some very poor teams so we have to keep it going.

Matt: Having been a vocal critic of Gray earlier in his reign, I am now eating humble pie. Yet again, we look like we have got grit throughout and are playing for each other, the attackers are converting chances and defenders are putting in a shift. A well-deserved victory for us which cements my opinion that we clearly are not a relegation team.

Aidan: Controlled the game and actually ran the show, which to do at Pittodrie is not an easy thing. After 90 minutes it would be very difficult to say that Hibs did not deserve the win after the endeavour put in. Massive confidence boost ahead of Boxing Day at Tynecastle.

Kenny: This was the best performance of the season so far. Confidence is growing now and we are playing some really good football. We still need to strengthen the team in the window and I hope Gray is allowed to bring in the players he wants and isn't been told by the Black Knight Group what players he's getting. Great performance.

Sandy: The winning mentality is back for Hibs, every player in green and white on that park showed passion, determination, and some good football. Can't ask for more than that, three goals a game becoming habitual so thanks and Merry Christmas to Sir David and the team.

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• Aberdeen lost after scoring the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 2 March 2024 against St Mirren (16 games without defeat).

• Hibernian have won eight points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (nine) and Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more.

• Aberdeen have scored in 16 of their 17 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Nicky Cadden has scored four goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Hibernian player.

Aberdeen have slipped out of the Scottish Premiership's top two as their winless run stretched to a sixth game with a 3-1 defeat by Hibernian at Pittodrie.

Topi Keskinen had given the hosts the lead early on when he found himself in acres of space and he fired beyond Jordan Smith into the bottom corner of the Hibs goal.

But the revived visitors - who have now won three of their last four games - levelled soon afterwards after a horror mistake from Slobodan Rubezic.

The Aberdeen defender tried to clear but completely missed the ball, allowing Martin Boyle to run into the box and square for Elie Youan to finish.

Keskinen continued to cause problems and hit a post with his strike from outside of the box.

But it was Hibs who would take the lead when Boyle cut the ball back to Nicky Cadden, who smashed his first time effort into the back of the Aberdeen net.

Jimmy Thelin's side started the second half brightly and forced Jordan Smith into two good saves in the opening stages. But again though it was Hibs who made the most of their opportunities.

Nectar Triantis robbed Sivert Nielsen of the ball in the Aberdeen half and laid it off to Boyle, who slipped in a composed finish to move Hibs further away from the bottom of the division.

Hibs fans, did you make the trip to Pittodrie or were you following the action from home? Either way we want your views on the game. Have your say, external.

Image source, SNS

Hibernian's Martin Boyle tells BBC Scotland: "I enjoyed that.

"I enjoyed the performance, we really stuck in there at times. We showed good character, stuck in there and managed to get the result.

"We all stuck together and got the three points.

"The first part of the season it was not ideal, we were leaking goals. Hopefully we've plugged that for now and we're scoring goals at the other end.

"I'm happy to contribute, I always give my all for this club and hopefully that can continue.

"I felt fresh. Thankfully the manager picked me, I've been working hard and hopefully I can keep that up.

"I just need to keep working hard. I was out of the team, I had to be patient. I've still got belief in myself that I can be the player everyone thinks I am.

"When you've got that jersey you want to keep it and hopefully I've done that."

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "I'm delighted, especially with the reaction to going a goal down.

"We probably got a bit of luck when Aberdeen hit the post but from that moment I thought we controlled the game, created numerous big chances and probably played the conditions slightly better.

"The way we played, the way we set out and worked in the end - credit to the players.

"The character has been asked of this group quite a lot and during difficult times we've let ourselves down but we've never shied away from it. The players have taken responsibility and you saw that today. The big thing is the confidence it builds. There's always been the belief that we can turn thing around.

"Martin Boyle was excellent, he contributed to every goal. He's had to be patient, keep working hard but he's responded the way you want a player to react. He's never let his head go down and as you saw today he's very effective at this level.

"We're certainly heading in the right direction. I made the players aware of a stat which was that we hadn't won back to back league games since December 2023 which clearly isn't good enough for this football club. But it gives players the opportunity to change history.

"The confidence is building, the players can take belief from that but the work doesn't stop here."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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David Gray said before the game that the last time they faced Aberdeen felt like a "turning point" for his team.

Since that 3-3 draw last month, Hibs have beaten Motherwell 3-0, County 3-1 and now they've put three past second-placed Aberdeen.

They sit eighth in the Scottish Premiership, only one place behind Dundee, despite being rock bottom not so long ago.

The main thing for them at Pittodrie was their ability to capitalise on the opportunities they created.

The heads didn't go down after Aberdeen's opener, took advantage of a mistake to get back level, and continued to make the most of defensive frailties from the hosts.

Next up, it's a huge Edinburgh derby on Boxing Day against a struggling Hearts.

Image source, SNS

Martin Boyle looked back to his very best at Pittodrie. He was involved in all three of Hibs' goals, setting up the first two and netting the third himself.

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Aberdeen forward Vicente Besuijen will be out for four months after surgery to correct a knee issue while defender Jack Milne is sidelined for 12 weeks following an ankle operation.

Dimitar Mitov (hamstring) and Pape Habib Gueye (quad) remain out.

Hibs are still without Mykola Kuharevich, Rudi Molitnikov (both groin), Marvin Ekpiteta (thigh) and Kieron Bowie (hamstring).

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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David Gray is refusing to be sidetracked by the looming Edinburgh derby as Hibs bid to win successive league games for the first time in 2024.

Having risen from bottom spot to ninth with victory over Ross County last weekend, Gray wants his side to continue their recement momentum in Saturday's trip to Aberdeen before heading to Tynecastle on Boxing Day.

"I am not looking past Saturday," he said. "I know that's a politician's answer but my full focus is on Aberdeen and ensuring we have the mentality to go up there and win the game. There is nothing else on my mind other than that.

"Once that game is done we will take the learnings from it and quickly move to the derby.

"As a player and fans it's the one that everyone talks about but my focus at the moment is all about Aberdeen."

Hibs have won two of their three outings since the "turning point" of their rollercoaster 3-3 home draw with Aberdeen last month in which they netted twice in stoppage time.

"It was probably a better game for the neutrals than it was for the two coaches, especially at the end," said Gray.

"I have spoken about that being a potential turning point in our season and how we have improved especially our results since then.

"We know it will be a tough test going up there, but Aberdeen will also be aware of the challenges we will present them.

"We go in with confidence on the back of a win. We know we can still improve because we showed a different way to win a game last week, which is something we haven't been able to do this season, so we need to build on that."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hibernian head coach David Gray has been speaking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership match against Aberdeen.

• Gray says striker Dwight Gayle - who intends to retire at the end of the season - has been a "model professional" since joining Hibs.

• He adds: "We are never going to be able to play him 90 minutes every week. He knew that and we knew that when we signed him. He is already a massive influence in the dressing room in the way he trains and he is a character."

• Gray cited the draw with Aberdeen a couple of weeks ago as a "turning point" in the season so far.

• However, he is "seeking more consistency" in the second half of the campaign as Hibs look to add distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

• With the Edinburgh derby looming on Boxing Day, Gray is fully focused on Aberdeen and "ensuring we have the mentality to go up there and win the game".

• There is no fresh injury concerns for the Pittodrie trip. Striker Mykola Kuharevich could be fit to face Hearts.

Image source, SNS

• Aberdeen have only won one of their last seven league meetings with Hibs (D3 L3), a 4-0 away win in May last season.

• Hibs have scored 2+ goals in five of their last seven league games against Aberdeen (15 total), but have also shipped 2+ in each of their last three (9 total).

• After winning 10 of their first 11 league games this season (D1), Aberdeen are since winless in five (D3 L2) – the longest ongoing run without a win by any side in the Scottish Premiership.

• Hibs have won two of their last three league games (L1), as many as their previous 18 beforehand (W2 D7 L9). Hibs are looking to win back-to-back Scottish Premiership fixtures for the first time since December 2023 (3 in a row).

• Leighton Clarkson has scored in his last two league starts for Aberdeen, and is the only player to register both 10+ goals (10) and 10+ assists (11) for the club in the Scottish Premiership since his debut in August 2022.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

As half-time approached at Easter Road on Saturday, you could feel the uneasy atmosphere spreading around the stadium.

And although Dwight Gayle was able to nod home an equaliser against Ross County, there were still some rumblings of discontent around the ground.

But the second-half performance certainly eased those concerns.

Yes, it took a penalty kick from Elie Youan to put the team in front, but overall there was a sharpness in the second 45 minutes that was nowhere in the first period.

There is a sense that this season will be one of transition, and with so many players out if contract in the summer there will be a few who are already thinking they are on their way out.

On numerous occasions I have intimated a manager needs time. Time is a commodity rarely issued in modern-day football, but there has to be a realisation of what can be achieved when there is so much uncertainty.

In the next week, David Gray will take his team to Pittodrie and Tynecastle before seeing out 2024 at home to Kilmarnock.

Given the lack of consistency, it's difficult to predict what would be a good points total from those three games.

It's conceivable that Hibs could enter 2024 inside the top six, but the same could be said about them being bottom of the table.

That itself gives an indication of just how topsy-turvy this league can be.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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After a stellar, record-breaking start to the season, Jimmy Thelin's Aberdeen have stuttered.

Not since early November have they recorded a victory, a 4-1 win over Dundee, and Rangers are now closing in on second spot.

Three points would be a lovely early Christmas gift for the Dons boss, who has still enjoyed a superb start to life in Scotland despite the current winless run.

A spell of five league games without a victory, including two defeats and three draws, has allowed third-placed Rangers to close the gap on second to just two points - plus the Ibrox side have played a game fewer.

The Dons' ongoing winless run comes after they won a remarkable 10 of their first 11 league games this season.

One of those recent draws came against Hibernian, a chaotic 3-3 game at the end of last month, and the pair meet again at Pittodrie on Saturday.

That results means Aberdeen have only won one of their last seven league meetings with Hibs, and the wild encounter at Easter Road has served as a bit of a turning point for David Gray's side.

Since then they have won two of their last three league games, as many as their previous 18, and are looking to win back-to-back Premiership fixtures for the first time in a year, which is a pretty sobering statistic for the Leith club.

These meetings also tend to be high-scoring affairs, given Hibs have scored two or more goals in five of their last seven league games against the Dons while conceding two or more in each of the last three.

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Alan Stubbs has admitted he "jumped too quick" from Hibernian when he departed the club in the summer of 2016.

The former Celtic defender's exit came just days after he led the Leith side to a historic Scottish Cup triumph over Rangers in an epic final.

Although Stubbs failed to get Hibs promoted back to the top flight, he will forever be remembered fondly by the support for that memorable day at Hampden.

Looking back on his time at the club, the ex-Everton centre-back regrets his decision to move to Rotherham less than two weeks after the cup success.

He was sacked by the then English Championship club three months later before another short stint at St Mirren in 2018. He has not had a managerial job since.

Speaking on the BBC's Sacked in the Morning podcast, Stubbs said: "I'll be the first to admit I made mistakes. I jumped too quick from Hibs. We would have won the [Scottish Championship] the following year. Our squad was far too strong.

"I should have stayed. But I just thought the opportunity to go to the English Championship [was too good to turn down]. If I did well at Rotherham, then there's another opportunity in there. Obviously my thinking was wrong.

"I can honestly say it wasn't a financial [decision] because Hibs had tried everything to offer me a new deal, an improved contract, so the difference wasn't huge going to Rotherham.

"I didn't do my due diligence in terms of the job, everything about it, the squad, the budget was obviously the lowest in the division. And then the timing going in there was far too late.

"The majority of the better free transfers had already gone, then you're just recycling players that have already been given a 'no' from numbers of managers, and there's a reason why they've been given a no. Ultimately, I just didn't enjoy it there."

Hibernian head coach David Gray has no concerns over the 15 players going into the final months of their contracts at Easter Road, saying he doesn't believe it will impact performances. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

I left Easter Road on Saturday feeling like Sir Alex Ferguson in his infamous pitchside rant at his Aberdeen team's performance after they had won the Scottish Cup back in the 1980s.

I had just witnessed an important and potentially season-defining victory as Hibs saw off a spirited Ross County challenge to move off the foot of the table.

This was the type of game - a veritable six-pointer against so-called lesser opposition - that Hibs have habitually been failing to win in recent times. We had become specialists in finding a way not to win when it really matters.

Not so on Saturday. Despite an awful start where Ross County took a deserved lead, and a first-half performance that could have been enough to get not only the manager, but his backroom team, the players, the board, the fans and anyone else associated with the club the sack, Hibs found a way to win.

That was the be all and end all for the weekend. Win, no matter what.

For all the criticism the players took for that first half, they deserve credit for doing enough to secure a victory that leaves city rivals Hearts rock bottom of the table and us in the lofty heights of ninth place.

We will play much better and lose, we have done so on many occasions this season already. So I am loathe to dwell on the negatives any longer than is necessary for the players and coaching staff to learn from them and improve for Saturday's tough visit to Pittodrie.

Three points in that game and we might even start thinking about taking out the passports!

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers Podcast, external

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Elie Youan: The brightest spark for Hibs on a day that saw them secure a hugely morale boosting 3-1 win over Ross County at Easter Road.

Jordan Obita told Hibernian teammate Elie Youan to prove his doubters wrong before the forward's recent upturn in form. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

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Dwight Gayle says Hibs showed the "character" they have in the squad in Saturday's 3-1 win against Ross County, despite not being at their best.

Gayle headed home in the closing stages of the first half at Easter Road to spark David Gray's side's comeback, and lift them off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

The former Newcastle and Crystal Palace striker believes the last couple of weeks have shown that Hibs have what it takes to avoid a relegation battle.

"It's difficult to win a game of football when things are the way they are at the bottom of the table," he said.

"We have great character in there and we have been waiting for the opportunity to turn things around. The last two weeks have been a lot better.

"We have played a lot better this season and haven't got the three points but that was the most important thing today. Conceding early wasn't in our plans but we reacted to it and obviously got the result in the end."

Watch Sportscene analysis of Hibs' first goal during their 3-1 win against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Hibs' two penalties in their 3-1 win against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.