Hibernian

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Hibs got the derby defeat out the system with a routine win over a St Mirren side that were as poor as I can remember seeing at Easter Road.

That is a huge compliment to Hibs, though, as the players were at it from the first whistle and you could see they were playing with a point to prove.

As disappointing as the derby was, it was a re-run of virtually every derby at Tynecastle for the last twenty odd years, if not longer. A game where football rarely threatened to break out, settled by the odd goal – we've seen a few go our way there in recent times and on Tuesday it was Hearts' turn.

It was a much better affair on Saturday at Easter Road.

Hibs' young striker pairing of Owen Elding and Dane Scarlett showed what they can add to the team, while Jamie McGrath and Dan Barlaser lit up the midfield.

Hibs have a knack of making some wins look fairly routine and it's probably unfair on the players that so many fans left Easter Road happy but not blown away by a professional performance.

I'm not sure I agree with that view though. I thought we were very good and I really enjoyed the match.

Despite losing Keiron Bowie in the January window, I really liked the look of Scarlett and Elding, and with Suto coming off the bench to score his second goal for the club since joining on deadline day, Hibs might well have upgraded the strike force, and watching them develop together over the coming weeks will be interesting.

We could have done with Aberdeen taking something from Motherwell to keep the slim chance of fourth alive, but we still have to play the Steelmen twice so if (and it's a big "if") we can put the sort of run together as we did last season, there's an outside chance of catching them.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

Two Celtic stars, duos from Dundee and Dundee United, and a pair from Motherwell. It's time for Jonathan Sutherland's team of the week, so let's take a look and see who impressed...

Raphael Sallinger - Hibernian

Not a vintage weekend for goalkeepers. Sallinger gets the nod for a couple of stops and a clean sheet. An overall impressive addition at Easter Road.

Julian Araujo - Celtic

What a big goal. Ended up in hospitality with his celebration, but it was a big moment.

Stephen Welsh - Motherwell

Outstanding again after his goalscoring heroics midweek. An assist for Just as well. Not sure what Celtic don't see in him.

Ross Graham - Dundee United

Goal and a doughty warrior at the back. His four touches in the opposition box was only bettered by teammate Kristijan Trapanovski, while he made more clearances than any other player.

Cameron Congreve - Dundee

A continuous threat down the right for the Dark Blues. What a good loan signing he has been by Steven Pressley. Took eight shots and created three chances.

Craig Sibbald - Dundee United

Pulled the strings in midfield and scored a vital goal. Set up four chances, the most of any United player, and won more duels than any of his teammates.

Elijah Just - Motherwell

For me, Elijah Just has to be in with a shout of player of the season. The New Zealand international has been consistently excellent, showing guile, creativity and goalscoring ability. On the scoresheet again this weekend, against Aberdeen. Ghosts around the pitch with elegance, class and endeavour.

Sebastian Tounekti - Celtic

Loves Rugby Park. Great on his debut there, scored there against Auchinleck Talbot and sparked Celtic's comeback on Sunday with a goal of the season contender.

Simon Murray - Dundee

Murray in a hurry at Dens Park. After a barren spell, the Dundee captain looked pumped for action with his quick fire double.

Youssef Chermiti - Rangers

Michael Stewart told me on Sportscene he doesn't think Chermiti has the potential to be a top striker. But he has scored six of his seven goals this season against Celtic and Hearts, including his hat-trick yesterday on what was a huge occasion.

The challenge for the 21-year-old is to start delivering this sort of performance more consistently against the other sides in the Premiership.

Tyreece John-Jules - Kilmarnock

The former Arsenal youth - and nephew of Red Dwarf star Danny John-Jules - was a force of nature for Kilmarnock against Celtic, following on from his midweek hat-trick.

Scored a great goal, clipped the crossbar from a free-kick and just generally showed star potential. Such a shame he limped off with what looked like a thigh muscle strain.

Hibernian score in each half to defeat St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership (UK users only).

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Owen Elding's patience was rewarded as he scored his first Hibernian goal in Saturday's 2-0 Scottish Premiership win over St Mirren.

Forward Elding, 19, joined from Sligo Rovers in January, having scored 12 goals during the 2025 League of Ireland season.

He made his Hibs debut in the recent 0-0 draw with Rangers before starting for the first time against the Buddies.

"Yeah, I'm delighted," Elding told BBC Scotland. "Obviously, there's no better feeling than hitting the back of the net and to do it at my first start at home game, there's nothing more special.

"We needed to break the deadlock. We had to try and get them out of their shape to get in front and just to be calm through the game."

Elding revealed he found out he was starting '"literally just before everyone arrived".

"I've had to be patient," he added. "Obviously, the Irish season runs differently. It ended in November, so I haven't played a competitive game since then. So, yeah, it's good to get a start and be back out there on the pitch.

"I'm enjoying it. Really high tempo in training. I want to keep playing first team football. That's my main goal."

We sought your views following Hibernian's 2-0 win over St Mirren...

James: Hibs were by far the better team. Poor final ball kept the score down. Robinson said there wasn't a lot between the two teams in the first half but he's kidding himself… Hibs were dominant!

Pat: Great response following a disappointing outcome at Tuesday's derby. From the outset this was the poorest team from Paisley I have seen in a number of years and lacked structure. On top of this, was a very focused and good performance from Hibs, all in all the result was inevitable. Excellent header from young Owen to open the scoring but no-one could have argued if Hibs were two or three up at that point. Only issue, slight issue was Sallinger looked less than comfortable at times but credit as when required he made top notch saves.

G: A very subdued game. Important three points and good to see McGrath back. Good to see new signings scoring!

Neil: Very accomplished performance from Hibs but only gripe is still need to be more ruthless when on top.

John: Excellent performances from Barlaser, McGrath and Passlack. Last season's back three settled the defence. Still not enough spark up front for me and I'm sure there will be changes next season.

Danny: Good solid, if expected, win. New signings slotting in well. And Dundee Utd did us a favour by keeping Falkirk off our backs! All in all, a good day.

Owen Elding scored his first Hibernian goal and fellow recent arrival Ante Suto also netted as the Easter Road side responded to their Edinburgh derby defeat with a comfortable Scottish Premiership win over St Mirren.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

Image source, SNS

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "You're always looking for that reaction. Full credit to the players for their attitude and the way they approached the game.

"We moved the ball, created real opportunities, real patterns of play, and scored our goals at good times. For how dominant we were in the first half, it was important we got that goal.

"All in all, a really good performance, a clean sheet at home and something to really build on.

"On a personal note, delighted for Owen. It's exactly what you're looking for. What we saw from him is what we could expect - that energy, the quality, and he'll come on from that experience. He can be happy with his day's work.

"There was a lot of good performances and a lot of control in the game. St Mirren are a good side and they can really hurt you, but we showed real composure."

Image source, SNS

Hibs defender Munashe Garananga is set to miss out and Josh Mulligan (ankle), Jordan Obita and Grant Hanley (both hamstring) and Chris Cadden are all still absent.

St Mirren forward Jake Young is back from suspension but Malik Dijksteel is set to miss the rest of the season with a groin injury.

Mark O'Hara is back in full training but is likely to just miss out while Keanu Baccus is a bit further behind and Jonah Ayunga suffered a calf problem on his return to full training.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Hibernian boss David Gray has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Saturday's visit of St Mirren.

Here are the main points:

• Defender Munashe Garananga will miss the game with an ankle injury and Josh Mulligan, who has been absent for the past four matches, is likely to be sidelined until the end of March. Grant Hanley is still out but Jamie McGrath and Warren O'Hora are available.

• On Mulligan, Gray says: "Josh will be ready when he's ready. He'll be doing everything he can to stay healthy for the rest of the season when he does come back."

• Gray says the "disappointment" of the late derby defeat to Hearts is "clearly there because of the manner, the opposition, the timing" but Hibs can't afford to "sulk" and feel sorry for themselves.

• He says the good thing about football is it "gives you an opportunity to put it right right away" and is urging his side to "take confidence from our really strong home form".

• On Hibs' lack of consistency this season, Gray says "the level of performance hasn't always got what we deserved" and insists "we're trying to get that momentum going and I think if we can get that it will start to turn".

• He adds: "But we're still in a really strong position with an opportunity to have a successful end to the season. And that's something that we need to really focus on and build moving forward."

• The Hibs head coach knows "St Mirren are always difficult to play against" and will present a "strong, physical challenge".

• Hibs are 11 points clear of Aberdeen in seventh, having played two games more, but Gray doesn't think their spot in the top six is secured, stressing: "There's a lot of points still to play for [before the split] and we're in a much stronger position than we were last year but we're not thinking about top six, we're fully focused on trying to catch [fourth-place] Motherwell."

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Former Aberdeen, Hibs and Dundee United midfielder Fraser Fyvie has announced his retirement at the age of 32.

Fyvie, a Scottish Cup winner with Hibs and FA Cup winner with Wigan Athletic, has been at Cove Rangers since 2019 and has League 2 and League 1 title medals in his time at the club.

However, he has decided to draw a line under his professional career after long spells in the treatment room.

Cove said "the cumulative impact of these injuries has made recovery after matches increasingly challenging".

Fyvie told the club's YouTube channel: "I've been mulling it over for the last six months due to getting injured again and doing my right knee.

"It's not something that's come as a quick decision, I've taken some time to think about it.

"I want to be able to walk off the pitch with my head held high and say I've given everything to this game - rather than being stretchered off and forced to stop."

The ex-Scotland Under-21 cap began his career at Aberdeen before making the move to Wigan in 2012, helping the Latics to FA Cup success in his debut season.

He returned north to join Hibs in 2015 and played in the 2016 Scottish Cup final triumph over Rangers, winning the Championship with the Easter Road side a year later.

He then spent two years as a Dundee United player before joining Cove.

Image source, SNS

• St Mirren have scored 21 goals from 314 shots in the Scottish Premiership this season, a ratio of 6.7% - the lowest of any side. Hibs, meanwhile, have an 11.8% ratio (41 goals from 346 shots), second only to league leaders Hearts (13.1%).

• St Mirren are winless in nine Premiership away games (D2 L7), last going 10 without victory on the road in the top flight in September 2014, and last doing so within a single season in April 2012.

• Hibs have lost just two of their past 25 home league games (W15 D8), with those coming to Rangers (1-0 in October 2025) and Celtic (2-1 in November 2025). Against non-Old Firm clubs, Hibs remain unbeaten in 19 home league matches (W14 D5), with the last such side to beat them being St Mirren in November 2024 (2-1).

• St Mirren are unbeaten in four league visits to Easter Road (W3 D1) since a 2-1 defeat in May 2023.

• Hibs are unbeaten in four league meetings with St Mirren (W1 D3), after having lost four of their previous five beforehand (D1).

Hibernian are exactly bang on course to reach the points total needed, more or less, to finish fourth in the Scottish Premiership based on data for the last 10 seasons. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

For 88 minutes on Tuesday night, Edinburgh's two leading clubs were inseparable.

Then, as David Gray admitted, a single lapse in concentration unravelled all the organisation and industry from Hibs that had gone before.

Any defeat is hard to take. Losing an Edinburgh derby, however, lingers longer.

Perspective is essential. One setback - even against Hearts - cannot be allowed to distort the bigger picture or derail the season's primary objectives.

A top-four finish remains attainable. With 12 league fixtures still to navigate, there are sufficient points available to keep that ambition alive.

Yet with Motherwell - who are five points ahead with a game in hand - and Falkirk both enjoying impressive seasons, the margin for error is narrowing. Consistency now becomes non-negotiable.

St Mirren's visit to Easter Road on Saturday presents another demanding test.

The schedule offers little respite. Trips to Celtic Park and Dundee loom, and accumulating points away from home will be pivotal if Hibs are to sustain pressure in the race for European qualification.

The intensity and cohesion that characterised this squad 12 months ago have not disappeared. They may simply require a catalyst.

One statement result could quickly restore belief - in the dressing room and in the stands - that this campaign can still yield tangible reward.

Image source, SNS

Michael Stewart on Premier Sports

Two derbies at Tynecastle [this season], two late goals for Hearts. It's a bitter pill to swallow for David Gray.

Scott Allan on BBC Sportsound

There was a lot about the performance David Gray would have liked but ultimately it's another defeat. I don't see Hibs catching Motherwell, Hibs don't look as if they can go on the same run as last season.

I know there's new players coming in and it takes time to settle, some of them look like they can make a real impact in this squad, but that was a major setback.

Gray will be disappointed, they put a lot into the game but just didn't have enough quality in the final third.

Ryan Stevenson on BBC Sportsound

There were two pivotal moments in that game and it was Tomas Magnusson put his [chance] away and Martin Boyle missed his.

They were practically the same chance. Boyle made a great run, it's basically the same ball in, low, hard along the ground, and Boyle just gets too much on to it. It's a derby, he's got to score that.

If he scores that I think Hibs win. He doesn't, he misses, Hearts get their opportunity and score.

Stephen McGowan on BBC's Scottish Football Podcast

I think Hibs fans will tell you referee Nick Walsh was hell-bent making sure Hearts kept 11 men on the park.

A couple of really meaty challenges from Alexandros Kyziridis and Frankie Kent went unpunished whereas Hibs had a dodgy yellow card for Miguel Chaiwa.

But listen, you need every break going your way in this situation and Hearts took full advantage. Really the only real piece of attacking quality in the game won it.

Hibs fans, we asked for your views after the late derby defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle.

Here are some of your comments.

Niall: Tough one to take. Three derby fixtures and Hibs have been the better team, however marginally, in all three but have come away with two losses. Feels like the entire season has been a decent string of form shattered by a crushing defeat and then a need to regroup again. Absolutely dire.

Scott: Same old, same old - both from the team and David Gray. Poor game overall with nothing really in it but the new signings look no better than what we already have. We need to spend that Kieron Bowie cash wisely in the summer.

Daz: Losing late goals, that's what this Hibs team have done countless times this season. Players continually switching off at key moments is unforgivable. David Gray needs to go now. We need someone to take us to the next level.

Ringo: Hibs didn't deserve to lose the game but the same thing keeps happening, we always lose a late goal. This was just a replay of the last away derby but one shot on target is not good enough. I think it's time for change at Hibs, the team has regressed under Gray.

Seamus: Can't get the basics right and we don't show enough ambition from the start.

Michael: Hibs totally deserved a point from the game, especially playing against 12 men. How that imposter of a referee is in a job is beyond me.

Watch all the highlights as Tomas Magnusson's late goal secured an important 1-0 Edinburgh derby win over Hibs. Available to UK users only.

Tomas Magnusson's 88th-minute strike sparked Tynecastle bedlam and gave Heart of Midlothian a crucial Edinburgh derby victory to extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table to six points.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

Image source, SNS

Hibs head coach David Gray: "Very little in it again. If anyone was going to win it I felt it was going to be us. If you don't defend your box right until the end... That's what's cost us today.

"You don't always get what you deserve in football and I don't think we deserved to lose but we find ourselves in the same situation which is coming here and leaving with nothing.

"It was very fast, very frantic, little football. We got pulled into a little bit of that. I'd have liked us to show a wee bit more quality. If anyone was going to create from open play, it was going to be us.

"The quality and big chances were slim, a draw would've probably been a fair result. We get nothing because we don't do the basics for the full duration of the game.

"We switch off, turn round, don't stop the cross and allow a free run into the box, and an unopposed tap in. Completely preventable and naive to allow that to happen at that stage of the game.

"The least we deserved out of that was a point but we get nothing."

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Former Hearts boss Robbie Neilson believes 99% of Hibs fans would rather stop their rivals from winning the league than qualify for Europe themselves.

The sides meet at Tynecastle tonight for the third Edinburgh derby of the season, with Hearts three points clear at the top of the table and Hibs sitting fifth with 13 Premiership games left to play.

David Gray's side are still firmly in the hunt for a European place despite their Scottish Cup exit and could deliver a major blow to Hearts' title aspirations with victory in Gorgie.

"There's no doubting tonight's game is massive for both teams," Neilson told the BBC Scottish Football Podcast.

"Because what have Hibs really got left to play for this season? Stopping Hearts winning the league.

"I think if you asked 99% of Hibs fans, would you want to make Europe or would you want to make sure you stop Hearts winning the Premiership, they would pick stopping Hearts.

"So these are their big games. This is their opportunity. Hearts are obviously going for the title. So it's a massive game and I'm looking forward to it."

Former Hibs midfielder Scott Allan believes his old side are in a good place despite losing key asset Kieron Bowie in the January window, and have come out of it looking stronger.

He said: "I definitely think they've strengthened. Getting the money in [club record fee] for Bowie was fantastic business considering they only signed them for £600,000.

"He had a great start to the season and was a focal point for Hibs but the signings they've brought in [look good].

"Dane Scarlett was excellent against Dundee United. Felix Passlack comes in with a good pedigree, Munashe Garananga is in from Copenhagen, so they've managed to fill positions in their team that they probably had to strengthen.

"So I think Hibs are in a good position."

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

We go into tonight's derby on a run of one defeat in eight league games - with the dramatic late comeback against Dundee United acting as a timely confidence booster for the squad.

David Gray had to shuffle the pack last midweek to get his latest recruits some minutes on the pitch before a massive Edinburgh derby.

It led to a disjointed performance, particularly in the second half where some enforced changes disrupted Hibs' play, but we found a way to win - and what an important three points they could be with Motherwell showing no signs of letting up in their hunt for fourth place.

Gray has been under scrutiny in recent weeks, but I question how deserved this really is. The cup defeat to Dunfermline followed by an awful display at Falkirk led to knives being drawn for Hibs' head coach, but those performances shouldn't be viewed in isolation.

The underlying stats show Gray is on track to achieve back-to-back top-six finishes for the first time in years for Hibs, and his win percentage puts him above most of our recent managers if you exclude seasons outside the top division.

Sometimes the football has been a tough watch, but the reverse is also true. At times under Gray we've played some great stuff, we score our fair share of goals (only the top three in the league have netted more) and for all the team have given us some huge disappointments this season, there has also been some brilliant moments.

For me, Gray is doing a good job, particularly when you look at the players that haven't been available for selection consistently this season.

I hope he can dig out another huge moment from the team tonight, where a second successive derby win would give the club a huge lift going into the last phase of the season.

The derby is a huge occasion and one Hibs fans go into with real anticipation of getting a result.

You can see how much it means to everyone at the club and the fixtures are always even affairs. Although Hearts will point to a historically good record in the fixture, in recent times there's nothing to split the teams, and we're right to fancy our chances again.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Hibernian boss David Gray insisted his "welcoming" squad can help settle their new players in before the Edinburgh derby on Tuesday night.

With Jordan Obita, Grant Hanley and Chris Cadden all ruled out for the Tynecastle trip, and Jamie McGrath and Warren O'Hora in a race against time for fitness, the Hibs' head coach may have to rely on his winter signings.

"Ante Suto, for example, scored a last-minute winner in the [last] game," Gray said of one of his new additions. "He certainly comes in with a spring in his step, but straight away, he's right on with it.

"The players are congratulating him right after the game and that really brings that togetherness. It's something I've spoke a lot about, the togetherness within the group.

"That's the biggest compliment I can give the current group, is when new players come, how quickly they can settle because of how welcoming the boys are and how good they are when new players are coming in."

Suto was one of three deadline day signings, along with defender Munashe Garananga and right-back Felix Passlack.

"They definitely bring a freshness," Gray added. "On day one, when you walk into a new building, you're eager to try and impress. You're obviously trying to do everything the best you can, but you're also probably a bit nervous at times as well.

"The more time you get on the grass, the better. It has only been one week with some of them, but you start to see little things.

"You go over the last game and that's when the debrief becomes really important, we're talking about trying to implement the way we want to play and then trying to add that into training.

"A lot of that can go out the window in the first minute in the derby, so we'll wait and see what happens."

And, despite Hearts leading the table, Gray insisted that Edinburgh derbies are never as simple as where either team is in the league.

"League position, even the division you're in, it doesn't matter. It's the Edinburgh derby and a brilliant games to look forward to, to be involved in

"It's a massive plus for the derbies when you've got your whole support behind the goal, it really adds to the atmosphere and it's one that the players should be really looking forward to.

"You don't want to get carried away with it, you need to be calming the chaos."