Hibernian are preparing to deal with the "mayhem" of Motherwell's long throw-ins when the sides meet on Saturday, says head coach David Gray. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external
Image source, SNSHibs have only lost two of their last 13 Scottish Premiership home games against Motherwell (W6 D5), going down 2-0 in February 2021 and 3-1 in April 2023.
Motherwell have only kept one clean sheet in their last 10 league meetings with Hibs (W2 D4 L4), doing so in a goalless draw in January 2022.
Five of Hibs' last six league wins have come at Easter Road, with the Easter Road side winning five of their last nine home league games (D1 L3).
Motherwell have won three of their last four league games (L1), as many as their previous 11 beforehand (W3 D3 L5).
Against St Mirren last time out, Motherwell’s Lennon Miller was the youngest player (18 years, 34 days old) to score a brace in the Scottish Premiership since Ryan Gauld for Dundee United against Motherwell in November 2013 (17y 328d). Should Miller score against Hibs, he will be the first player aged 18 or younger to score in back-to-back top-flight appearances for the Steelmen since Shaun Hutchinson in August 2009.
Hibernian should not fear anyone in the Scottish Premiership, believes defender Warren O'Hora, 25. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Defeat at Ibrox last week would have been hard to take for David Gray and his players. The performance however was an indication that on the pitch, things are beginning to settle down.
Although we are now into October, it’s hard to believe we are only six matches into the Premiership campaign.
And though it may well be the turn of the year before we have a true indication of where clubs will be come the end of the season, it already appears this may well be a campaign that could be extremely tight for those in the middle and lower end of the table.
That makes every three points crucial and it's matches like this week against Motherwell at Easter Road that come the end of May, will have a material impact on potential European spots for next season.
Stuart Kettlewell has certainly brought life into the Motherwell side and although he had to endure a sticky spell last season, he has already shown he knows how to put a team together on the park.
After this week we head into another international break, so there will be no better feeling than doing so with a victory and potentially pushing into the top half of the table for the first time this season.
Matty Fairnie
Fan writer
Hibs came away with nothing from their trip to Ibrox on Sunday, which was a real shame given what the team put into the match.
Cheered on by a healthy Hibs support - who had to jump through hoops to get tickets on time after confusion regarding the ticket allocation from Rangers - the Hibees gave a great account of themselves against a Rangers team who went into the match as strong favourites.
The hosts scored with their only shot on target in the first half, and there wasn’t much Hibs could do about it. Tom Lawrence cut inside and fired into the top corner after Lewis Miller lost out on Hibs' right-hand side.
It was a goal the home side scarcely deserved, having failed to trouble goalkeeper Josef Bursik until that point.
Hibs were handed a lifeline as the half drew to a close when John Souttar handled in the six-yard box, but Mykola Kuharevich's woeful penalty kick was easily saved by Jack Butland.
David Gray's side dominated the second half, with a late flurry of attacks from Rangers as Hibs threw men forward skewing the stats a bit, but we just lacked that bit of quality and composure when it really mattered and were unable to capitalise on the pressure.
It is a tough venue to go to and win, and Rangers will definitely look at this as one they got away with, as on another day, a performance like this from Hibs would have seen all three points heading back to Edinburgh with them.
Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers Podcast, external.
Hyeok-kyu Kwon has earned his first call up for South Korea from the midfielder's early performances on loan to Hibernian from Celtic. (Scottish Sun), external
Three of Hibernian's Scottish Premiership fixtures in November have been updated.
Originally scheduled for Wednesday, 4 December, Hibs v Dundee United has been brought forward to Sunday, 3 November at 15:00 GMT, at the request of both clubs.
Later in the month, the trip to Dens to take on Dundee on Saturday, 23 November has had its kick-off pushed back to 17:45 due to television selection.
The visit of Aberdeen to Easter Road, originally scheduled for Saturday, 3 November has been moved due to the Dons' participation in the Premier Sport Cup. That game will now take place Tuesday, 26 November at 19:45.
Image source, SNS"I've came here a lot as a Hibs player, I think that was one of the best performances that I've had."
While Chris Cadden admits Hibernian are "never happy" at losing a game of football, the full-back believes Sunday's showing was one of the best he's been a part of at Ibrox.
Tom Lawrence's first-half goal was the difference in a match Hibs missed a penalty and squandered good opportunities in Govan.
"We're disappointed to lose the game, I thought we had the chances to go and win it," Cadden told HibsTV.
"There are a lot of positives to take from it, it's a good performance to go and build on for next week, but we're never happy about losing a game.
"At places like Ibrox, you've got to take those big chances when they come, but it also comes down to a bit of luck.
"The work rate, the effort and the endeavour from everyone on the pitch was absolutely excellent.
"I've came here a lot as a Hibs player, I think that was one of the best performances that I've had."
Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Hibs head coach David Gray admitted he had mixed emotions after his side's 1-0 loss to Rangers, such was the performance of his side at Ibrox.
For much of the game, Rangers were immensely frustrated by their visitors who were only beaten once by a Tom Lawrence wondergoal.
Marvin Ekpiteta hasn't enjoyed the smoothest start to his time at Hibs but he seems to be building a decent partnership with Warren O'Hora at the back and he looked much more composed in the back-line.
We asked for your views on Hibs' 1-0 defeat against Rangers.
Here's what some of you said:
Michael: I really thought that game was there for the taking against a poor Rangers side. But, as usual, we did a lot of huff and puff without actually looking like scoring. Aside from the penalty and Dwight Gayle's chance, we didn't create much at all. Improvement, yes, but still not great.
George: Good all round performance, but, you cannot miss penalties in any games, especially in Glasgow. Lots of positives, but we need to deliver like this everywhere and the points will come. Well done David Gray, the staff and the squad. Deserved a point at least.
Gordon: Bar a dreadful penalty, we would have taken something from the game. Absolutely deserved a point. Our two new centre backs are really settling in now. Defensively we were very sound. The keeper was decent as well. When we get Martin Boyle and Kieron Bowie back, and new players up to speed, we will be fine.
Terry: Decent performance with clear signs of improvement. It took a great goal and a poor penalty attempt for us to lose against what was a very mediocre performance by Rangers. Junior Hoilett and Dwight Gayle might do a job for us and the back four looked steady. Early signs of the team beginning to gel.
Image source, SNSThomas Lawrence has scored three goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Rangers player has more.
Hibernian have failed to score in three of their six games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Premiership this season.
Rangers have kept a clean sheet in four of their six games, only Celtic (six) have done this more often in the Premiership this season.
Watch highlights as Rangers win 1-0 against Hibs in the Scottish Premiership.
Only available to UK viewers.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement 'confused' by award of Hibs penalty
Manager Philippe Clement highlights Rangers' lack of recovery time and questions the award of a Hibernian penalty following his side's 1-0 home win in the Scottish Premiership.
Tom Lawrence struck Rangers' goal before team-mate Jack Butland saved Mykola Kuharevich's spot-kick, which was awarded for a handball against John Souttar.
Hibs fans, what did you make of your side's performance as they went down 1-0 at Ibrox?
Have your say on the game here, external.
Image source, SNSNectarios Triantis. The Hibs midfielder created four chances at Ibrox, kept things ticking over and got stuck in when he had the chance to do so.
Image source, SNSDavid Gray switched to a somewhat more defensive line-up for the trip to Glasgow, and would have been pleased with how his Hibs side started the contest.
Hibs were solid, looked assured in their roles as a unit and posed a threat when they won possession back.
Junior Hoilett - who was bright down the left - spooned an early effort over the bar, while Kwon Hyeok-Kyu saw one shot blocked and another well saved.
Mykola Kuharevich applied himself well up front, but his penalty was weak and failed to find the bottom corner, the kind of chance that cannot be passed up at Ibrox.
They continued to disrupt Rangers after the break though, and deserved to take something from the game.
Gray's side have visibly grown from their early outings this season, but the head coach will be infuriated by his side's inability to test Jack Butland.
Kuharevich, Kwon, Elie Youan, Marvin Ekpiteta and Dwight Gayle all missed the target when presented with sights of goal, and the Leith outfit will look back on this defeat with real regret.
They host Motherwell in the Premiership on Saturday (15:00).
Image source, SNSHibs head coach David Gray: "I'll never accept losing games of football, but if there is a way to lose, it's probably that.
"The players put absolutely everything into that. I can't fault it at all. The gameplan was good, the chances we created were good ones. The least we deserved was a point.
"The boys are gutted because they've put so much in, but there's a lot of positives to take, so there's very mixed emotions.
"I thought we were going to get the goal and, if we got one, I think we would've gone on to win the game."
Image source, SNSRangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte, Barron, Raskin, McCausland, Lawrence, Cerny, Igamane.
Substitutes: Kelly, Dessers, Bajrami, Dowell, Sterling, Kasanwirjo, Balogun, Fraser, McKinnon.
Hibernian: Bursik, Miller, Ekpiteta, O'Hora, Obita, Kwon, Triantis, C. Cadden, Campbell, Hoilett, Kuharevich.
Substitutes: Smith, Levitt, Youan, Iredale, McKirdy, Moriah-Welsh, Bushiri, Gayle, Molotnikov.
Image source, SNSRangers defender Jefte returns from suspension and Hamza Igamane is available after red tape prevented him from being involved against Malmo. Danilo, Oscar Cortes, Rabbi Matondo and Ridvan Yilmaz remain out.
Hibernian are set to include recent signing Dwight Gayle for the first time. Captain Joe Newell (groin) and Martin Boyle (hand) are both doubtful while Kieron Bowie (hamstring) is out along with Jake Doyle-Hayes who is still working on his fitness after more than a year out.
Sunday brings together two managers who, in three games since respective defeats at Celtic Park, have eased some of the pressure they were under.
David Gray's Hibs followed last month's 3-1 loss with two draws then a 2-0 win at home to troubled St Johnstone.
Philippe Clement's Rangers, meanwhile, have done even better since their 3-0 derby drubbing - recording three consecutive wins, culminating in Thursday's impressive 2-0 Europa League victory in Sweden.
The Belgian's side also advanced to the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals with a convincing 3-0 defeat of Dundee last weekend.
Hibs were not involved in the quarter-finals and will hope their two-week rest during a busy period for their hosts will compensate for a pretty miserable recent record against Rangers.
The Edinburgh side have lost seven in a row against their Glasgow counterparts since a 2-2 draw at Easter Road in August 2022, conceding 22 goals and scoring only five in the process.
That is the only game Rangers have failed to win in 10 meetings without defeat since Hibs progressed to the League Cup final with a 3-1 success at Hampden in November 2021.
Indeed, Hibs have failed to win at Ibrox in 11 visits since a 2-1 victory in February 2018, with Rangers winning the past 10.
Given that Celtic and Aberdeen could both have stretched their lead over third-top Rangers to eight points by kick-off on Sunday, another win will be seen as a must by the Ibrox support and Hibs will look to take advantage of any added pressure Saturday's results might bring.
Image source, SNSJunior Hoilett has returned to Scottish football with Hibernian
Junior Hoilett insists he is looking to play a bigger role at Hibernian and did not join the Easter Road club to "just make up the numbers".
"Everywhere you go, you've got to prove your worth and compete day in and day out," said Hoilett, 34.
"We have a great squad here, a lot of young talent and it's exciting. I'm here to help as much as I can, if it's coming off the bench or starting, I want to make a difference and to help the team achieve their goals and progress.
"Everybody wants to play from the start and I'm a competitor. Everybody wants to be on the pitch and play as much as they want, that's just natural for any footballer.
"That's my job, I didn't come here to just make up the numbers, I came here to play and help the team progress."
The winger says the chance to play against Rangers is "appealing" as his side prepare to travel to Ibrox on Sunday in the Scottish Premiership.
"Of course you want to play in the big games in any division you're in, in any league you're in," added Hoilett.
"Playing against Rangers, especially Ibrox is appealing to everybody and for players you want to be playing at a big level and test your ability.
"It's exciting to be a part of that, to play against the big teams and show what you're worth. I like going against the big teams as well as any other game.
"I take every game as the same, but you get more excitement playing against bigger teams in bigger stadiums."
The former Aberdeen player insists "age is just a number" as he is hoping to feature for Hibs "as much as possible" and thinks the club will benefit from the experience that both he and Dwight Gayle bring to Edinburgh.
"Age is just a number as long as you're enjoying it and you have the passion for it," he added.
"To go in to training every day and work hard to progress and get better as a player is the main thing. I feel good right now, I'm excelling and I'm just trying to remain injury free and to be on the pitch as much as possible.
"[Dwight Gayle] is a great person to have in the building to help the youngsters as well.
"He has the experience to finish chances, he's an experienced striker and he's scored at the highest level. I'm sure he'll bring that contribution to the team."
Image source, SNSRangers have won each of their past six league meetings with Hibernian, last winning more in a row versus Hibs in May 2005 under Alex McLeish (11). At Ibrox, Rangers have won their past 10 in a row against Hibs.
Hibernian are winless in 22 league meetings with Rangers (D6 L16) since a 2-1 victory in February 2018 under Neil Lennon.
Rangers have won each of their past three matches at Ibrox in all competitions by an aggregate score of 11-0. Rangers last won four straight home games without conceding from November 2021 to February 2022 under Giovanni van Bronkchorst (run of nine).
Hibs have only won one of their past 12 away league outings (D7 L4), a 3-1 victory at St Johnstone in April last season.
Cyriel Dessers has scored four goals in his past three home league games; the only players to score in four successive Scottish Premiership appearances at Ibrox for Rangers since their promotion in 2016 are former players Alfredo Morelos (twice), Antonio Colak and Todd Cantwell.
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
