Image source, SNSRocky 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
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSHibs midfielder Dylan Levitt believes early-season bonding trips away from the training ground have been vital to the team's impressive form.
There were 12 signings to integrate into the squad last summer and it took a while to bed in, with one win in the first 14 league games. But now David Gray's side haven't lost since the start of December.
"We've had a couple of days out with the staff, players, togetherness at the start of the season," Levitt revealed.
"Obviously, pre-season is a big one as well when you get a lot of new faces in the building and try and go away for a week or whatever it is and try and stay away from everything and just focus on what you've got going for the season.
"One day we went to the beach after training when it was a nice day and had a meal after it. Just things like that. That's good to try and get away from the training ground as a group as well.
"It was a little bit in and out of the water. It was a good, fun day and everyone enjoyed it. It's a subconscious thing that just helps on the pitch when you're all looking out for each other and have each other's backs.
"Any bonding off the pitch helps massively when you're under pressure. You just know everyone's trying to dig each other out if it's a tough part or when we're scoring or something. The whole team's celebrating, the bench included and all the substitutes."
Hibs, who visit St Mirren on Sunday, are up to fifth in the league - but just six points separate them from 10th.
"We're going really high in confidence right now but you know in this league anyone can beat anyone if you're not at it," Levitt added.
"I feel like there's no complacency. I think just focus on what we need to do and block out all the noise that comes around with the training ground. We know what we need to do to get to where we want."
Image source, SNSSt Mirren's Conor McMenamin (calf) remains out. Alex Iacovitti (hamstring) will join in training next week while Scott Tanser is a doubt.
Recent signing Alasana Manneh is in contention for a Hibernian debut. Joe Newell (groin), Elie Youan (foot) and Marvin Ekpiteta (thigh) are closing in on comebacks but not this weekend.
Image source, SNSSt Mirren have won their past three Scottish Premiership games against Hibs, as many as their previous 19 beforehand (W3 D5 L11).
Hibs have conceded at least twice in each of their past five league meetings with St Mirren (D1 L4), shipping 13 goals in this run – as many as they conceded in their previous 17 Premiership games against the Buddies before this.
St Mirren have suffered defeat in each of their past three home league games, but haven't lost four in a row since Stephen Robinson lost his first four such matches in charge from February to April 2022.
Hibs are unbeaten in nine league games (W6 D3), last going 10 matches without losing in the Premiership in April 2019 under Paul Heckingbottom.
Hibs' Nectarios Triantis has three goals and three assists in his past eight league appearances. The only players currently aged 21 or younger in the competition with more than his six goal involvements in 2024-25 are Lennon Miller (8 – 2 goals, 6 assists) and Arne Engels (11 – 8 goals, 3 assists).
Image source, SNSDavid Gray insists Hibernian are still "in a very, very good position" and does not believe the club's latest financial results will have a negative impact on his squad.
The Easter Road club released their annual accounts last week, with a loss of £7.2 million reported.
The head coach was backed in the summer, with ten signings made, but midfielder Alasana Manneh was the sole signing in January.
"When you think of the number being where it is, it's probably due to the support I got at the start of the season," Gray said as he previewed the weekend's league game with St Mirren. "To back me and to give me every possible chance.
"The number of players that are out of contract at the end of the season were still going to be out of contract at the start of this season.
"Future planning was also something I talked about at the start of the January window. It's not a case of just signing players for now, it was always about the longer term, seeing what was coming around the corner and knowing players would naturally be moving on."
Gray confirmed, naturally, the wage bill will come down in the summer with the amount of bodies moving on, but it's an "exciting" time to improve the group.
"We're still in a very, very good position," he added.
"I'm excited about what can be done to try and improve the group. The work has gone on and the future planning conversations we've already had about where can get the squad by the start of next season.
"Clearly, my full focus, though, is between now and the end of the season, and trying to finish the season as strongly as we can. Everything we've set out to do is still achievable."
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSDavid Gray addressed the media before Hibernian's Scottish Premiership match with St Mirren on Sunday.
Here are the key things he said:
The head coach said Hibs' Scottish Cup win last week will help the club's finances given last weeks accounts which reported in excess of a £7 million loss.
Gray said talks will now begin with players who are out of contract in the summer, but the wage bill will be lower.
Believes the club are "in a real good place" to finish the season strongly.
He said "every objective is still achievable," including European football which could come with a top six finish.
"Everyone still has a chance at top six," so it's a race to cement the spot as quick as you can.
Gray said there are no fresh injury concerns, while Joe Newell and Elie Youan remain unavailable.
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Things on the pitch at Easter Road are certainly on the up. It's now eleven matches unbeaten for David Gray and his players who are yet to taste defeat in 2025.
They have also negotiated a difficult away tie in the Scottish Cup down at high-flying Ayr United to make it through to the last eight of the competition.
However, while supporters are rightly buoyed by on field activities, the club finances can only be described as, a mess.
Last Friday, Hibernian reported losses in excess of £7 million. A staggering sum for any Scottish club to lose, given the limited income clubs receive.
Its now over £12 million in losses over the last three years and given these numbers are completely unsustainable, it's probably no surprise some senior personnel, including chief executive Ben Kensell,have moved on.
In the previous year's accounts, until the end of June 2023, the club stated they believed "they had taken appropriate action to seek stability on the footballing side, which will have significant financial benefits".
This has proven not to be the case with two managers - Lee Johnson and Nick Montgomery - both losing their jobs. The accounts show this has cost the club a significant six-figure sum.
The most important aspect for supporters at any football club is what happens on the park.
Gray and his troops are certainly keeping the heat of the board at the moment with their performances, and if they can negotiate their way past Celtic in the next round of the Scottish Cup, then they can look forward to another trip to Hampden.
The clubs annual meeting takes place later this month and the board are likely to face some tricky awkward questions.
Particularly given the warning from the club that this financial year has been "challenging".
The Gordon family have to be congratulated for supporting the club through these difficult times, but supporters and shareholders alike should be prepared to see the club cut their cloth accordingly.
Financial results like those reported last week simply cannot be repeated.
Matty Fairnie
Fan writer
It was great to see Hibs find a way past impressive Ayr United in the Scottish Cup on a night you could tell folk sensed an upset.
With the game picked for TV, and the added spice of former Hibees Scott Brown and Steven Whittaker in charge of the Championship side, there was no room for complacency from Hibs.
A tough tie in a traditional stadium brought out the best of the Scottish Cup and we were treated to a proper tie.
Rocky Bushiri showed why Hibs should consider offering the defender a new contract as he produced an imperious defensive display topped with the winning goal just before full-time.
Hibs' reward is a trip to Parkhead to face Celtic in the quarter-finals. Our record against Celtic in the Scottish Cup makes for grim reading, but history doesn't play football and Hibs have shown over the last few months we can be a match for anyone on our day.
So we will head west hoping to do a Queen's Park and upset the odds with an unlikely win.
There's a good chance that whoever goes on to win the cup will have to beat Celtic to do so, so why not Hibs?
Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers Podcast, external
Image source, SNSDavid Gray at Celtic Park earlier this season
Former captain Ian Murray says Hibs have been handed the Scottish Cup quarter-final draw "all the teams in the hat were not wanting", but insists their fine run of form gives them hope of toppling holders Celtic.
Hibs' record at Celtic Park does not give their confidence much of a boost, as they haven't won there since an injury-time winner from Danny Galbraith secured a 2-1 victory way back in 2010.
The last cup win for Hibs over Celtic came more than 20 years ago, in late 2003, a 2-1 win in the quarter-finals of the League Cup before they went on to beat Rangers on penalties in the semi-final then lose to Livingston in the final.
Celtic have already ended Hibs' hopes in one knockout tournament this season - beating them 3-1 in the League Cup in August - however Murray reckons David Gray's side can go into next month's tie in Glasgow with a degree of confidence thanks to their current 11-game unbeaten run.
Speaking on the Scottish Football Podcast, he said: "It's a tough, tough draw for Hibs, we can't shy away from it.
"It's the draw all the teams in that hat were not wanting, Celtic at Parkhead, but I'm a firm believer you're going to have to beat Celtic to win this cup.
"Hibs are the form team outwith Celtic over the last two to three months.
"So Hibs will go there full of hope, full of confidence, but ultimately we have to be realistic and say this is a very, very hard draw."
Perhaps a good omen for Hibs is that the last time they beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup it was at the quarter-final stage when they won a seven-goal thriller in 1986 thanks to a last-gasp Eddie May goal.
Image source, SNSCeltic will face Hibs in the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Celtic Park.
Brendan Rodgers' men beat Raith Rovers 5-0 in the fifth round to earn themselves a place in the quarters.
For Hibs, they beat Ayr 1-0 on Friday evening to earn themselves a place in the quarters.
The ties will be played on the weekend of Saturday 8 March.
Australia winger Martin Boyle could join veteran strikers Dwight Gayle and Junior Hoilett in exiting Hibernian at the end of their contracts this summer. (Edinburgh Evening News), external
Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Hibs defender Rocky Bushiri, out of contract at the end of the season, says he has not had any talks about extending his stay at Easter Road. (Edinburgh Evening News), external
Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.
Image source, SNS
We asked for your views on Hibs' 1-0 away win against Ayr in the Scottish Cup.
Here's what some of you said:
Colin: It's all about the result in cup ties. Rocky Bushiri and Jordan Smith continue to prove the doubters wrong. We need to be more clinical but in the end, we're in the quarters, job done and let's hope for a home tie.
John: Relieved to get into the next round. Yet again back three were excellent with Rocky deservedly getting player of the match, both Caddens [Nicky and Chris] played well but up front we were poor.
Anon: Smith was man of the match for Hibs. Ayr were very good, glad Hibs played up till the end and got through a tricky away leg.
Martin: Was always going to be a hard game but the character and grit showed immensely. The team are playing for one another and it's a really good time to be a hibee! Get offering Cadden, Martin Boyle and Rocky new deals. They deserve it!
Kenny: A very good game to watch. At times it was end to end and Ayr were very difficult to play against, Scott Brown has them really fit. This was another good test for the boys and they came through again and there were no more silly mistakes. Well done guys.
Image source, SNSHibs wing-back Nicky Cadden: "We knew the cameras were here for a reason, they wanted an upset.
"We weren't going to win it in the first half so we knew we had to hang in.
"Ayr are a good side and we knew it was going to be tough.
"A home tie would be nice for the fans in the quarters, we're on a good run just now so we can take on anyone at the minute."
Rocky Bushiri's late glancing header secured Hibernian's spot in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals as they overcame stubborn Ayr United at Somerset Park to stretch their unbeaten run to 11 games.
Ayr looked set to take the Premiership visitors to extra time, but Bushiri dived to meet a flick-on from substitute Kieron Bowie and send Hibs through.
'Job done after proper cup tie'
Hibernian head coach David Gray: "It's job done in terms of getting into the next round I thought it was a proper cup tie the way it went right to the very end.
"Both sets of supporters were fantastic which added to the occasion, the pitch, the conditions, people missing chances, everything that came with that.
"I think we can be miles better we know that.
"We always knew it was going to be a real tricky game coming down here, Ayr are flying in the Championship, Scott's [Brown] done a fantastic job and he's created a really good squad here so we knew it was going to be a really tricky tie here.
"The character from the boys today, the mentality and where we are today keeping the run going is fantastic, I'm really delighted for the players because it is job done and we're onto the next round which is the most important thing.
"The biggest thing for us today was to make sure we got into the next round because it was a tricky tie, there's a reason the cameras were here today, everyone outside of Hibernian Football Club was thinking there was potential for an upset.
"I'm just glad we did our job and got into the next round".
Image source, SNSMartin Boyle impressed.
Bushiri will take the headlines for his late goal, and rightly so, but in a game where few players were able to make much happen in the final third, Boyle was a constant threat.
