Hibernian

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Hibs boss Marink Reedijk: "The atmosphere was amazing, Hampden was amazing, the fans were amazing and I think we were amazing in the first half. If you look at how we dominated the game and how we dominated Hearts. They scored so early but then you saw how we started to dominate the game, it was great to see.

"Also, what I'm proud of, is that these guys stick together in the difficult moments. We hung in the match, we kept on fighting and I think we probably could have scored one or two more. The combination of the two, the good football and the fighting mentality at the end, that makes me proud.

"If Martin Boyle is fit and hungry, especially in these kinds of matches, he can do something special and you saw it today. His characteristics are, in the moments when things are exciting, he steps up and makes a difference. There was no doubt in my mind to put him on the pitch.

"We made another step in the fighting spirit and bringing the game home, that's another good thing.

"We need to continue with this performance and if you have these performances you are a team who can compete with anyone and dominate teams and then the results will come."

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Do not to expect "the highest-quality encounter" at Hampden Park, but with two new managers at the helm who are known for a more attacking style, could we be in for a cracker on Sunday?

So pondered The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

Hearts' Wouter Vrancken and counterpart Marink Reedijk will both make their first appearance at Hampden for Sunday's Premier Sports Cup semi-final.

Vrancken will be looking to maintain his perfect Edinburgh derby record following a 3-1 victory at Easter Road earlier in the season.

Despite Hearts' recent injury issues, McGowan believes Hearts have plenty to be positive about against their city rivals at Hampden.

"It's a really tough time for them injury wise and yet they are somehow managing to defy that," he said.

"I think they'll be pretty happy with where they are just now and I think they'll fancy their chances going to Hampden.

"I think they would usually fancy their chances against Hibs anyway, but they seem to be in quite a good place just now.

"If you look at the likes of Josh McPake and so on, there's a lot to be positive about for Hearts."

Reedijk is still searching for that elusive first win as Hibs boss and Scott Allan views this as a "huge opportunity" for Reedijk to win the fans round.

"Hibs will be looking at it as a huge opportunity to maybe start building some momentum," the former Hibs midfielder added.

"But they do come up against Hearts, who, for me, in that final third, look a lot more devastating than what Hibs are and they've definitely showed that this season."

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Hearts are optimistic that Rogers Mato will shrug off the muscle issue that forced the versatile winger off in midweek, while centre-half Stuart Findlay returned to training on Friday after a groin injury.

Harry Milne, Christian Borchgrevink, Oisin McEntee, Ageu, Craig Halkett, Blair Spittal and Tom Renaud remain out.

Hibs forward Martin Boyle returns after illness and midfielder Callum Wright could be fit for a place on the bench.

However, Nathan Lowe, Jacob Devaney, Kanayo Megwa, Rocky Bushiri and Jordan Obita are still out.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hibernian striker Owen Elding insists his side will approach Sunday's Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Hearts with "no fear" as they look to book a place in December's final.

Hibs head to Hampden still searching for their first victory under new head coach Marink Reedijk, but Elding believes his side have the quality to overcome their Edinburgh rivals.

Hearts go into the tie third in the league after a positive start to the season, but the forward is confident Hibs can rise to the occasion.

"They're a good side - but I definitely think we've got nothing to fear," Elding said.

"We know we're a good side. We've got all the quality that's needed to win the game. So we're just looking to go to Hampden and give a good account of ourselves."

Elding believes the squad are beginning to adapt to Reedijk's demands, with the Dutchman keen for his team to play on the front foot, press aggressively and win possession high up the pitch.

The forward says that approach should ultimately create opportunities for Hibs, provided they remain patient and work together.

"I think everyone's adapting now pretty quickly," the Irishman added.

"In terms of me, obviously on the front foot, pressing, aggressive and winning the ball back high up the pitch.

"Ultimately that means chances are going to come. So if we just keep sticking together, doing the right things, then I think it will click for us."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Marink Reedijk has been speaking to the media before Hibs take on capital rivals Hearts in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday (15:00 GMT).

Here are the key points:

• Martin Boyle has recovered from illness and is available for selection. Miguel Chaiwa is also fine to play despite hobbling off with an injury in Wednesday's draw at St Mirren.

• Reedijk says this is a "special match" everyone at the club is looking forward to and are desperate to win.

• But he insists winning or losing the semi-final will not distract his focus from long-term success: "The result is very important. It's an opportunity. But at the same time, if you look from a longer-term perspective, we need to continue what we're working on."

• He doesn't expect Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken to change too much from his style of play but says "you never know" once the game starts.

• Reedijk says he didn't need to ask anyone about these games as there are plenty of people within the club, including assistant Guillaume Beuzelin, who have told him what to expect.

• Reedijk has a "special connection" with Hearts goalkeeper Beau Reus after their unbeaten Belgian second-tier title win last season, but will put sentiment aside on Sunday.

• He adds: "It's something where we will always be linked, not only him and me, but also with the whole team for the rest of our lives because of the performance of last year. However, since Wednesday evening, I don't feel this at the moment. It will be after Sunday night that this feeling comes back again, because I want to win the match."

Former Hibs midfielder Scott Allan analyses the Easter Road side's 1-1 draw at St Mirren and pinpoints an area where improvement is required.

We asked for your thoughts on the 1-1 draw at St Mirren that kept new Hibs boss Marink Reedijk waiting for his first win.

Here are some of your views:

Kev: Hibs are getting better with every game under the new manager but it's clear some players are very low on confidence or just not good enough. We have nothing to fear against Hearts at Hampden but must take our chances.

John: Absolutely dire. This team have no idea how to win games. Play is so slow, allowing teams to defend in depth. Unless drastic changes happen the Championship beckons. Will give the coach until Christmas.

Marcus: I really feel for Reedijk, there are clearly players not good enough for our club that have to play because of a poorly assembled squad. That said, the run we are on is relegation fodder but I have faith that we can sort things out before it's too late. We must persevere.

John: One shot on target says it all. With no leader in the backline we lose yet another hapless goal with too many bodies inside the six-yard box getting in each other's way.

Lee: This is more and more looking like a recruitment issue. Changes from the bench rarely hold a positive outcome and when you look at all teams outside of the top three, they simply look like squads that Hibs will struggle to outperform. Fans feel let down by the club with the added reality of also letting down club legend David Gray.

Gordon: Simply awful once again. Glad of the point that stops the unacceptable run of defeats but there is simply nothing there. As for Jason Kerr, Grant Hanley for all his faults simply must start on Sunday. It's a game I and I suspect many Hibs fans are not looking forward to, a potential record defeat in the offing, not a single current Hibs player would get near the Hearts side.

Watch the best of the action as St Mirren snatch a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with boss and deny Marink Reedijk a first win since taking charge at Easter Road. Available to UK users only.

Marink Reedijk is still waiting for his first win as Hibernian manager after a late St Mirren equaliser snatched a Scottish Premiership draw in Paisley.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Hibs boss Marink Reedijk: "I think we should have three points. There is a pride in how the guys fought for the club, for each other, for every metre on the pitch.

"It's unfortunate because I think we deserved more than just one point however we have to live with that. We saw improvements, we saw a team who pressed high, regained the ball high and on the ball we were composed and clinical. This is a good step, a point is a point and we continue to Sunday.

"We were very good but if you want to be very, very good you need to win the game. If you're so dominant, you need to win the match. If you keep on fighting and improving like this, that will change, I'm one thousand per cent sure of that.

"You build a house on the foundation and I think we've built the foundation properly to eventually paint the windows."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger is convinced Hibs are heading in the right direction under Marink Reedijk despite being anchored at the bottom of the Premiership.

Reedijk has lost his opening three games since replacing David Gray, but Sallinger believes there are clear signs of improvement.

As he eyes victory at St Mirren tonight, the Austrian said: "Obviously, the bottom of the league is nowhere near our ambitions, that's clear.

"But I'm sure and convinced that, with the players and staff at this football club, we can turn these things around quickly.

"It's been difficult over the last two weeks because of the results, but I think there's an improvement in every game.

"Looking back at Sunday's game [against Celtic], I thought we had a decent performance. We just didn't get away with a point, unfortunately, but the feeling after the game was quite good.

"We work hard to get our points and have to do a lot to create chances to score goals, but at the moment we're getting punished for very little. Those are the things we have to change."

Sallinger believes the squad are now getting to grips with the new ideas implemented by Dutchman Reedijk.

"Every manager has different ideas about the way they see football, but from day one, since he came in, we were happy with the way he wants to play and how he sees the game," the 30-year-old added.

"It's quite different compared to the previous manager, but especially on Sunday, you could clearly see his way and how he wants us to play.

"I think we're going in a very good direction. If we keep improving, remain patient and believe in the way he wants to play, we will win a lot of games this season."

• St Mirren have lost their past two league games against Hibernian without scoring, this after being unbeaten in eight against the Easter Road side beforehand (W4 D4).

• Hibs have only lost two of their past 14 Scottish Premiership visits to St Mirren (W8 D4), winning their latest 3-0 in November 2025.

• St Mirren are unbeaten in seven midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) home games in the Scottish Premiership (W4 D3) since a 3-0 defeat to Celtic in January 2024. On Wednesday specifically, the Buddies have lost just one of their past 14 home matches in the competition (W3 D10), going down 0-1 to Kilmarnock in December 2023.

• Hibs have lost both of their last two away league games, last losing more in a row in January 2023 (6).

• Hibs have won both their past two league matches played on a Wednesday, last winning three in a row on this day of the week in the top flight in March 2008.

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St Mirren midfielder Paul Nsio has recovered from illness. The Buddies will again be missing Nikolas Agrafiotis (calf), Keanu Baccus (Achilles), Malik Dijksteel (hamstring) and Jonah Ayunga, the latter having a tidy-up operation on his knee.

Hibs are still without the ill Martin Boyle while Callum Wright, Nathan Lowe, Jacob Devaney, Kanayo Megwa (thigh), Rocky Bushiri (Achilles) and Jordan Obita (calf) also remain out.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hibernian boss Marink Reedijk has been speaking to the media prior to Wednesday's Scottish Premiership trip to St Mirren (19:45 GMT).

Here are the key lines:

• Despite Sunday's narrow loss to Celtic meaning Hibs remain at the foot of the Premiership, Reedijk says the reaction from the supporters after the game tells him "we are in the right way".

• He remains confident results will come if his side continue to show progress, while acknowledging the importance of turning performances into points: "The positivity in the club is really good. The second thing is we have also shown there is progress. Again, I'm a believer that the results will come. Do we need a win and a result? Yes, I understand that it's football."

• Reedijk says he spoke with centre-back Grant Hanley at half-time about the possibility of putting him on the pitch as a striker on Sunday. He says Hanley was "fantastic" when brought on, but it's not a position he intends to use the Scotland defender in going forward.

• "I thank [Hanley] for this because it is a sacrifice for the team," Reedijk adds. "It shows he's a real team player. He did change the game by just coming in and creating chaos."

• Reedijk says he deliberately waits a day before reviewing matches to ensure his emotions do not influence his assessment: "I leave the game for a day, because otherwise I see it with emotions, with an angry feeling in my belly. Also when we win, I will take my eyes away. It is just to see it more plainly, with a critical eye, and I think that's important."

• Reedijk says he watched "a team with a plan" and "good intensity" against Celtic, adding: "I think we were good. They made some mistakes, also because we were good against the ball. The amount of chances we had against Celtic, I think it was four or five good chances where we could score and we didn't.

• "The fact that we create these against these kind of opponents is a good sign," he adds. "Because it was not based on luck. It was based on us outplaying them and having a good counter-attack."

• He insists the "next 90 minutes" is the full focus of everyone at the club, and only after the game at St Mirren will they turn their attention to the League Cup semi-final against Hearts on Sunday.

• Martin Boyle will miss Wednesday's game after failing to recover from the illness that kept him out of Sunday's loss. There are no other changes to the squad from the weekend.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Seeing Grant Hanley join the action as a makeshift centre-forward was not high on my "weird things Hibs might do today" list on Sunday, but Marink Reedijk had other ideas.

Hibs' new manager threw Hanley on to cause chaos in the final 10 minutes as we chased an equaliser against Celtic, and it nearly worked with only a desperate late block denying the hosts a second goal.

This was a situation Reedijk had to get right. There was a real risk he opened himself up for ridicule, or that Hanley may have felt humiliated at being asked to lead the line with fellow sub Ante Suto.

But it worked (as much as it could without bringing the goal) as Hanley's presence swung the momentum back in Hibs' favour and a game that threated to limp to a close instead had the crowd roaring the team on as we revelled in the chaos.

It allowed Reedijk to praise Hanley post-match, highlighting a "togetherness" in the squad, a word he also used when referencing Joe Newell's performance as a late starter after Martin Boyle withdrew just before kick-off with illness.

Newell was outstanding and anyone that had any doubts about issues over Reedijk giving Felix Passlack the captaincy need only watch Newell's performance to see it's not a problem.

Reedijk seemed keen to highlight the team are working together, and despite Sunday's defeat, there were plenty of signs it won't be long before the results go our way.

Hanley's introduction should also serve as a red flag to the board. Hibs need reinforcements in the squad, and quality ones at that.

We shouldn't need to rely on a career centre-half in a game like this and it's on sporting director Malky Mackay to sort that situation out.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

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We asked for your views following Hibs' defeat to Celtic, Marink Reedijk's third successive defeat as head coach.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Paul: I saw signs of hope. If only we had a striker who could score, we might have got a draw. It's a work in progress, and what I saw makes me believe the situation will improve soon.

Kenny: Both goals again came from schoolboy errors. The new manager keeps saying he's happy with the progress, but that's three games in and no points. We scored a good goal and then went back to the usual poor defending. The basics of this team need to be sorted, and fast, or it's the Championship.

John: A much-improved performance from last week, but the same old lack of composure in front of goal. A touch of genius from Joe Newell for our goal. A special mention for Adam Mayor, who contained both Camilo Duran and Haissem Hassan.

Martin: I believe things will come good under Reedijk. Some players need to step up. They show too much fear at times. You can see what the manager wants, it's the guys on the pitch who need to show what they can do. I can already see the vast majority of this team being gone by the start of the new season.

Bea: I fear the worst for us this season. There are too many substandard players who are getting a game ahead of others who have proved to be fighters for the club. It just doesn't feel like Hibs any more. I'm afraid it will take a complete refresh from top to bottom so we can move on from this debacle!

Darren: The writing has been on the wall for a while. Recruitment has been so poor. Defenders who are slow and cumbersome and clearly past their best, alongside record-fee signings who look like they've just come out of Sunday league. We have two real gems in Jamie McGrath and Josh Mulligan, but both are struggling to find any form. The Gordons and Malky Mackay need to find solutions quickly before the fans lose the will to live.

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Hibernian will come good under Marink Reedijk despite suffering three straight defeats under their new head coach, former Easter Road midfielder Kevin Thomson believes.

The Dutchman replaced former captain David Gray and Thomson says "it has been a difficult period" after the exit of someone who was so highly regarded as a player at the club.

"I think it was always going to be hard as your heartstrings as fans are pulled at you harder when it's someone like Dave [Gray]," Thomson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast following Sunday's 2-1 home defeat by Celtic.

"So I feel a wee bit for the manager. But I think he's been quite cute regarding bringing in someone like Brian McLaughlin [the former Celtic and Queen of the South winger] and he's obviously promoted [former Hibs midfielder] Guillaume Beuzelin as well.

"So I do think, when the dust settles, they'll be fine."

Hibs next face a trip to St Mirren in the league on Wednesday before a Premier Sports Cup semi-final encounter with city rivals Hearts.

"Obviously the last thing you want to do is be on the end of a sore one off your arch rival," Thomson said regarding the upcoming derby meeting at Hampden.

"I don't think I'm worrying too much and I wouldn't be if I was the staff and the squad, but that's not taking away from the fact that they're bottom of the league and they need to kick-start the season very quickly."

Meanwhile, Thomson thinks Rabbi Matondo will prove to be "a good asset" once the former Rangers winger, signed after his release by Brann, "gets up to speed".

Watch Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic earn a narrow win at struggling Hibernian. (UK only)