Hibernian

Colin Moffat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Sitting fifth in the league with little prospect of catching the top three and out of the Scottish Cup after a dismal display in Dunfermline, this season is threatening to fizzle out for Hibernian.

Roll back to the start of term and hopes were high as David Gray's side followed up a third-place finish with three thrilling European tussles, going toe-to-toe with Midtjylland, Partizan Belgrade and Legia Warsaw.

Those continental adventures earned the players plaudits but there has been no real lift-off since, with performances far too patchy.

With nine wins and eight draws from 22 Premiership outings, there have been a few highs, notably a 3-2 derby win over Hearts at Easter Road, and some off days, including three timid showings against Rangers, but it's been largely prosaic, all a bit meh.

Summer recruits Jamie McGrath and Josh Mulligan have brought energy to the midfield, Dan Barlaser offers composure and Miguel Chaiwa has shown glimpses of bustling promise.

Grant Hanley adds experience at the back and Raphael Sallinger has been an upgrade in goals and yet it just hasn't clicked often enough.

Occupying fifth with the fifth biggest budget is hardly a surprise but there is a mood of frustration among fans, who have seen city rivals Hearts profit from the volatile periods that have afflicted Celtic and Rangers.

And, while Hibs are the third highest scorers in the Premiership, there is a sense Gray should be getting more from the squad at his disposal.

Gray is the only top-flight manager yet to add to his options this month, although there have been repeated links to Bochum right-back Felix Passlack.

Hibs had a very quiet January last season, with the lesser-spotted Alasana Manneh the only arrival, and it did no harm at all as they embarked on a club-record run of 17 games unbeaten in the league to storm up the table.

While the manager is under no pressure, it's going to take something similarly special to turn what looks like being a modest campaign into a memorable one.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Hibs were – with some justification – booed off the pitch after an abject Scottish Cup exit against second-tier Dunfermline.

David Gray must shoulder the blame for the Fife fiasco. His team selection meant that in each area of the pitch – defence, midfield and attack – he had a relatively unfamiliar line-up.

Jordan Obita, Rocky Bushiri and Warren O'Hora have all played in the same team, but the game-time they've had together as a back three is minimal.

Joe Newell made his first start in more than a year, joining Josh Mulligan and Junior Hoilett to make up the midfield three – again, the amount of time they have played together competitively is very low.

The front two of Kieron Bowie and Thibault Klidje wasn't quite in the untried category, but certainly fell into the untrusted one given Gray's reluctance to pair the strikers with any degree of regularity.

What followed was an incoherent and lacklustre display from Hibs. And while Gray can reasonably point to glaring misses from Bowie and Klidje, plus a penalty shout that would almost certainly have been given had VAR been in place, the reality is we got exactly what we deserved from the game.

The Scottish Cup was Hibs' last chance of silverware this season. And with the club's owners going on record recently to say the targets are European qualification and winning trophies, a lot now rests on Gray securing a strong finish to the league campaign.

He'll hope for reinforcements to his squad before the window closes and the pressure should be on Hibs' recruitment team as much as the head coach when it comes to salvaging a season that's in real danger of turning into a damp squib.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

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Defender Zach Mitchell has been recalled from his loan at Hibernian by parent club Charlton Athletic.

The 21-year-old joined Hibs in September but went on to make just two appearances for the Edinburgh side.

Hibs head coach David Gray says the decision to return to Charlton "makes sense" for Mitchell, given his lack of minutes during his loan spell.

"I'd like to thank Zach for the way he has conducted himself around the club and for all his hard work," said Gray.

"We've had a lot of competition for places in his position and he had to be patient for his opportunities.

"Zach is a young player who wants to play games, which we completely understand, so it makes sense for him to return to Charlton Athletic as it's not something we can guarantee.

"He was a model professional during his time here, fantastic to work with, always keen to learn, and I wish him nothing but the best moving forward."

Asked about interest from Hibernian in 20-year-old striker Bailey Cadamarteri and Rangers for defender Max Lowe, Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen said he has only been told of one offer for one of his players. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

We asked for your views on Hibernian's 1-0 defeat against Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup.

Here's what some of you said:

Scott: Poor game, poor performance. For me David Gray has to go. Legend or not, this team is far too flaky, great one week and performances like this the next.

Colin: A collective failure, we didn't treat this like a cup tie. We had chances but didn't take them and didn't look in control of the game. The players knew what was at stake but didn't turn up.

Alan: Dunfermline were by far the hungriest team, worked harder, ran harder and tried harder. The same woeful stuff from a Gray team, no passion or desire and absolutely no running off the ball. Hibs must be the most predictable team to play against in Scotland. It would have been the dream for Gray to succeed at Hibs, but I think the writing is on the wall and his tenure won't go beyond this season.

Alexander: This result is a disgrace and it is down to our inept manager who has no idea how to change a system that is clearly not working. As for bringing back Joe Newell, beggars belief. I never wanted him from the outset and each week my opinion has hardened.

Kenny: Another poor performance. I can't help thinking that Gray has taken the team as far as he can. Performances are up and down and it's simply not good enough. He took off the only player to look like scoring today when Kieron Bowie should have been left through the middle with Martin Boyle wide. Sad to say this but we need a change.

Gerry: Hibs far too often produce performances like this. Simply not good enough. I'm sick of hearing we'll have to rectify this in the next game.

Watch highlights as Championship side Dunfermline Athletic overcome Premiership Hibernian in the Scottish Cup (UK only).

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "Hibernian head coach David Gray: "I can't stand here and say we fully deserved the win. I can talk about chances we missed and decisions, but it doesn't really matter.

"The reality is we're out of the cup and that's not good enough for this football club.

"I mean that with the greatest respect to Dunfermline. Congratulations to them, I think they deserved to go through."

A freakish stoppage-time own goal by Hibernian's Miguel Chaiwa has put second tier Dunfermline Athletic into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup at the expense of their top-flight visitors.

Have your say on the game here.

Read our match report here.

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As David Gray reminisces about Hibs' 2016 Scottish Cup final triumph, one memory in particular vividly sticks in his mind. The open-top bus parade.

"The minute we turned the corner, just a sea green and white, the whole way down Leith Walk, looking back up towards the Balmoral, just green and white everywhere," he tells BBC Scotland.

"There's some unbelievable photographs on the day as well. When you're on that bus looking back and then go down to Leith Walk... I don't know what the actual number was, people say over 200,000 supporters in the streets."

Understandably, that triumph over Rangers - in which current head coach Gray was Hibs skipper and headed the stoppage-time winner - and subsequent celebrations is his career highlight. It is unlikely to be ever be topped.

"I believe everything happens for a reason," he said.

"I think back to my career, and highs and lows, and all the things you do, and sacrifices, I was very fortunate to have something that will live with me for the rest of my life.

"That day, that weekend, what it meant to everybody. Obviously I scored a goal, I was captain, a very privileged position, but to be part of that with everybody was a special, special day."

Hibs begin this season's Scottish Cup glory bid away to former boss Neil Lennon's Dunfermline on Saturday - live on BBC One Scotland - and Gray is stressing the need to be switched on.

"I expect a real good atmosphere, it's one of the good stadiums in Scotland against a Premier League standard football club," he said.

"They a very experienced manager, they've got some real good players as well, good way of playing, so we know we're up against it.

"We need to make sure we're at our very best. Added to that magic of the cup, the expectation going there, we need to avoid any complacency and that's been the message for the players."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Neil Lennon regards his former Hibs captain David Gray as the "perfect fit" for the Easter Road dugout.

Gray's Hibs are fifth in the Premiership and visit Lennon's Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup on Saturday (12:30 GMT), with the match live on BBC One Scotland and iPlayer.

"He was very professional," said Lennon, who managed Hibs from 2016-2019.

"He took on the responsibility of being captain very well. The players gravitated to him. He was a very good player. He scored some really important goals for me in Europe and domestic games as well. He was so committed. Loved to tackle. He was pretty consistent.

"He was a really good captain for me. He was a really good buffer between me and the players. Whether I saw him being a head coach or not, you don't think about those things at the time. Looking at him now, it's a perfect fit.

"Sometimes he was probably a bit more mature than myself."

Gray came under pressure in the early part of last season before going on a remarkable run that culminated in a third-placed finish.

"I thought he was brilliant last year because he had such a difficult start," Lennon said.

"He weathered all that pressure and scrutiny. He came out the other side of it to have a brilliant second half of the season.

"At the start of the year, they were really good in Europe. Now they've hit a really good form again despite having a couple of players missing.

"I'm delighted for him because I know what Hibs means to him. He's a young coach. He's had a real baptism of fire. He's handled it brilliantly."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Zak Rudden is a dyed-in-the-wool Hibee. He was in the Hampden stands on that famous day in 2016 when current boss David Gray skippered the club to a first Scottish Cup success in 114 years.

This Saturday, however, Rudden is plotting the downfall of his beloved team when Hibs visit Dunfermline in the fourth round - live on BBC Scotland.

"I've been a Hibs fan since I was maybe five years old," the Pars striker told BBC Scotland.

"I was there on the day [of the cup win]. It was crazy, surreal. I was there with my friends, went through on the bus and went to the parade the next day. Seeing all the Hibs players, it was a surreal day."

So how would if feel if Rudden was to score the winner to end Hibs' cup dreams this weekend?

"Unbelievable," the 25-year-old says. "You always try that wee bit harder against your team. I'm definitely looking forward to it and seeing what I can do."

Rudden is no stranger to giantkilling. He was in the Queen's Park side that knocked Rangers out at the last-16 stage last season in one of the great upsets in the tournament's history.

"A crazy day," he added.

"Obviously you're going there with no expectation of winning or doing too well. You're thinking we'll just see it out.

"As the game went on and on, I looked up at the clock just before we scored, about the 70th minute and said to Welshy [Sean Welsh] 'At least we've got our appearance fee' and then the next minute we score.

"Everybody rushing over to the corner, it was just an unbelievable feeling. At that point I just stopped and I was thinking, we're actually winning at Ibrox. A team that's a massive underdog.

"There were great celebrations after as well."

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Hibernian are expecting offers for striker Kieron Bowie in the coming weeks amid interest from Celtic and Rangers and have placed a £6.5m price tag on the 23-year-old's head. (Football Insider), external

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

What a cracking game of football Hibs and Motherwell served up to the near-20,000 crowd packed into Easter Road.

Hibs deserve huge credit for their 'Football for a Fiver' initiative, especially at this time of year when money is tight for many.

It was great to see so many fans take advantage and I hope they saw enough to think it's worth coming back for more.

Kieron Bowie showed why Rangers and Celtic have joined a few English clubs in taking a keen interest in signing him.

The Scotland forward has found his feet at this level now, and while he's had better games in green and white, he made the crucial contribution with a neatly-taken goal to earn a point for his side.

We have to hope Bowie's head isn't turned by the interest in this window. We are a great platform to showcase his talent, he's the main man up front for us and can see from the interest he has attracted so far that clubs take notice when he turns it on for the Hibees.

With a World Cup on the horizon, Bowie needs to be certain he'll play a big part in the remainder of the season. Every minute on the pitch increases his prospects of a place on the plane to the States and David Gray has shown that when Bowie is fit, he plays.

With rumours of Hibs trying to bring in a striker and a right-sided defender, fans can have some confidence the club see the same gaps as we do.

Hopefully Hibs get signings over the line before the Scottish Cup tie on Saturday, a game that holds its own intrigue with Dunfermline being managed by our former gaffer Neil Lennon.

Lennon is held in high esteem at Easter Road, but we're definitely hoping he's on the losing side this weekend.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

Watch Sportscene pundit Charlie Mulgrew discuss whether Motherwell and Hibernian are title contenders.

Jens Berthel Askou's side are fourth on 37 points, 10 behind league-leaders Hearts, while Hibs are two further back.

"I'd be surprised, especially if Hibs made their way that far up the league," said Mulgrew, who won five top-flight titles with Celtic. "Hibs are five unbeaten, they're doing great.

"Motherwell we talk about being the best footballing team in the league so it's hard to rule them out. Although, I just think they won't have enough to go all the way and win the title. They'll definitely be taking points off the big teams."

Watch highlights as Hibs draw 1-1 against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Hibernian's 1-1 draw against Motherwell on Saturday.

Here's what some of you said:

Ringo: More points dropped. I feel Hibs lack one or two players to drive us forward and go for the win. this was another two points dropped, I feel just go for it, it's not rocket science. Far too slow getting the ball forward and didn't create enough chances in my opinion but again most Hibs fans will say a draw against Motherwell is a good result. I don't know if we want to catch the teams above us.

Colin: Motherwell are a decent side but our quality and decision making in the last third let us down. The game was there to be won, but a point wasn't a bad outcome in what is a very competitive league.

Gordon: Decent point from a game between two evenly matched teams, but what is blindingly obvious is that we, like most teams I suppose, badly need a reliable proven goal scorer. Once again created decent chances but failed to trouble the 'Well goalie. Kieron Bowie is undoubtedly a talented player but is clearly not an out and out goal scorer while Thibault Klidje, in albeit limited gametime, rarely looks like scoring.

John: Good entertaining game with nothing between either team. Hibs missed Martin Boyle's prowess in the final third as again we failed to capitalise when on top.

Kenny: We played well in spells but there was a lot of negative play too. I feel if we went at teams more with more aggression we would win more games. We pass back far too much and the passing's not great at times. We need to go at teams a lot more than we do. A point is a point though but we can do better.

Stephen: A draw is better than a loss, Elie Youan was wasteful, his final pass letting him and the team down. We paid a fortune for a striker who can't get a start.

Leeds United maintain an interest in Hibernian midfielder Josh Mulligan, but any attempt to sign him would not come until the summer. (Football Insider), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: Because you lose the first goal in the game, you can't be disappointed with a point, especially against a good side.

"Our first half an hour was very good. We were more like ourselves. Really good, aggressive patterns of play.

"Frustrating thing from my point of view is the majority of chances we give up are through transitions. The biggest thing is to make sure you find a way back in, a test of character. The game probably became a little bit too stretched.

"A draw is probably a fair result. We haven't lost any ground [on Motherwell], which is positive. We're working really hard to try to add to the group. If we can get January right, it gives us a real chance to end the season strongly."

After being asked if there has been any transfer approach for striker Kieron Bowie, Gray says: "There's always going to be speculation. You mention Kieron [Bowie] there, every week I seem to be getting asked questions about the younger players.

"That's because they're doing well at the moment. Kieron, Josh Mulligan, we've got a lot of young players who are really hard working with a long way to go.

"It's great Kieron gets his goal today, but there are a lot of areas to keep working on and he knows that. The fact people are speculating about our players says we are going in the right direction."

When asked how important it is that Hibs get value for their players, if they club decide to sell, Gray adds: "It's a business. It's definitely down to what the ownership think is the right thing to do.

"One thing I know, and the support from above, is all about moving this club forward. No decision will be made unless [the ownership] think it's the right thing for the football club. I don't see that changing any time soon."

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Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou: "We didn't outperform Hibs today, it was in many ways an even game. The amount of chances were quite even.

"At 1-1 we had a really big moment to decide the game, which I didn't feel they had. It was two teams who invested a lot in the game."

On Tawanda Maswanhise's breakaway goal, Askou says: "We want to create space and exploit that. Sometimes that space opens really fast."

And on Hibs' equaliser, he adds: "It was just a misjudgement from Tom [Sparrow]. He's played flawlessly, he's been fantastic. He was fantastic again today. We have to accept that'll happen, it was a high-tempo game."

Kieron Bowie's leveller earned Hibernian a Scottish Premiership point to stay in touch with Motherwell as the European hopefuls played out a thrilling draw in front of a sell-out Easter Road.

Have your say on the game here.

Read our match report here.