Hibernian

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

All good things come to an end. And so it was for Hibs on Saturday as their unbeaten league run was finally burst by a wonder strike from former Hibee Kevin Nisbet.

It's hard to be too despondent about the result or too frustrated at the team after such a historic run.

And while the defeat was disappointing, it was far from catastrophic as we ended the weekend still in third place and with our destiny firmly in our own hands.

It's incredible to think Aberdeen could have gone 25 points ahead of us back in November had Rocky Bushiri not found a way to score an equaliser in that incredible 3-3 draw at Easter Road.

Since then, Hibs have been fantastic, and it's testament to this team's fighting spirit that Aberdeen's win on Saturday wasn't enough for them to reclaim third spot.

All focus now shifts to another huge game on Saturday as we welcome Dundee United to Easter Road.

United also have ambitions of third place and I'm sure there are plenty more twists to come in the race over the final four games of the season.

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers, external

As Hibernian consider triggering the option of an extra year on the contract of Martin Boyle, there is interest in the 32-year-old forward from Australia, the Middle East and England. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

Watch the Sportscene team analyse an "incredibly exciting" race for third spot after Aberdeen beat Hibs in the Scottish Premiership.

Hibs fans, we asked for your thoughts on head coach David Gray signing a new three-year contract at Easter Road.

Here's what some of you had to say:

William: Absolute legend, brilliant news.

Mark: Fantastic news. A few more teams need to be patient and trust in their manager. I've been a Hibs supporter for 57 years and this is some of the best news I've heard from Easter Road in that time. Congratulations, it is so well deserved.

Alan: I for one was against him getting the job but he and the players have been magnificent, a three-year contract is a big yes from me.

Malcolm: I very much doubted his appointment but I'm the first to say I was so wrong! I wish him all the best.

George: Given even more time he will become a really good manager. What he has done up until now is steady the squad he has and got them playing well.

Matt: It's only ever a good thing to tie down a manager doing as well as Gray, all the noises from the dressing room have been good. After a shaky start, he's got previously inconsistent players like Rocky Bushiri and Lewis Miller becoming some of the best in their position in the league, and a new deal hopefully makes it more difficult for a club to swoop for him in the summer. I'd be amazed if he's here at the end of the contract, but if he repeats his successes this season next time around, a big club will no doubt make a move for him.

Aidan: First of all it's very good news that the manager and assistants have agreed these new deals. Also, if Sir David can keep the momentum going for the rest of this campaign and into next season, we may be looking at memorable years to come and not just a one-season wonder.

Colin: Absolutely deserved. He believed in his players when the 'sack the manger' group were wanting him out. He's bought stability and continuity back to the club which is reflected in our league position and planning for next season.

Watch highlights as Aberdeen striker Kevin Nisbet downs former side Hibs with stunning winner.

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Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hibernian defender Warren O'Hora says it is "about how we react" after their 17-game unbeaten Premiership run came to an end at Pittodrie.

The 1-0 loss against Aberdeen was their first league defeat since the start of December and the result moves the Dons level on points with Hibs, who remain third on goal difference.

"It is a hard one to take, we knew the stakes going into the game, no doubt about it we are still in a good position but we haven't felt like this in a long time so it is tough," O'Hora told BBC Scotland.

"We were the first to say it in the dressing room, it is about how we react for next week. We need to react in a positive way, come Monday we will assess what happened and we will go through the positives and negatives and move on.

"If you look at the start of the season we were in a very bad place, but we go on this amazing run with the same group of players and it is the same staff, so it is definitely in us to have this character and this desire not to lose games.

"Of course today hurts, look it has to happen in football sometimes but we will never accept losing, as professionals we hate it."

After all the praise and plaudits that have been coming Hibs' way over the past few months, O'Hora was asked if what happened at Pittodrie serves as a reminder that there is still plenty of work to do between now and the end of the season.

"We were humble, we weren't getting ahead of ourselves at all," he responded.

"If somebody had offered us this at the start of the season, of course we would have taken somebody's hand off.

"We have got here from sheer hard work and being together as a group, there are amazing characters in that group and the staff have been amazing with us."

We asked for your views on Hibs' 1-0 defeat against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Sandy: What a run of games for David Gray and the squad, they created new history with it. Today we played well without finding that crucial finish. Jordan Smith was outstanding and he lost his series of clean sheets only to a good goal from an ex-Hibee. The run has ended but I'm confident we will run again. Onwards and upwards.

Michael: A really disappointing performance. Very tepid throughout the match I felt, and extremely lacklustre up top. I feel we played for a draw and it's backfired. Hopefully it's a blip and we can kick on next weekend.

George: Didn't look like losing, nor winning either as both huffed and puffed through the 90 minutes. Kevin Nisbet swings a foot out as he's falling backwards, so for me a tad lucky. The 17 superior goal difference now looking handy though.

Pat: Always disappointing to lose, well that's what my Hearts friends tell me. Possibly got this one wrong as felt we would happily settle for a draw only to forget about the curse of the ex-player. No need to be worried, we remain third with a significantly better goal difference. In SDG we believe.

Dave: David Gray should have kept with the same line-up he had the previous games. He changed it out of panic and it didn't work. Leaving Junior Hoilett out was a big mistake.

Kenny: We played well at times but never looked dangerous in front of goal. The Aberdeen defence looked shaky but we never took advantage. I have said from early on in the season we need a centre-forward. Four cup finals to go.

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• Aberdeen are undefeated in their last six games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 16 March 2024 to 9 November 2024, a run of 20 games.

• Hibernian failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premiership since facing St Mirren on 16 February 2025.

• Kevin Nisbet has scored 10 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Aberdeen player.

• Hibernian have conceded 17 goals in the last 15 minutes of second halves, only Ross County (18) have conceded more in the Premiership this season.

Did you take in Hibernian's defeat by Aberdeen or were you following from home?

Have your say on the match

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "It's obviously a feeling we've not had for a very long time. It's never nice when it comes around. I certainly don't enjoy the feeling, none of the players do.

"Did we do enough to win it? Probably not. The players gave me everything. Kevin Nisbet scored a fantastic goal that separated the two sides. We created enough chances without being clinical within that.

"It certainly makes it tighter and all to play for moving forward. We're still currently sitting in third position with four games to go. We've given ourselves a brilliant opportunity. It is about the reaction now, you can't dwell on this result, this performance. It's certainly all to play for for everyone."

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This will be a reminder to Hibernian that there is still plenty of work to do between now and the end of the season.

David Gray's side remain third, but are now embroiled in what is shaping up to be a real dogfight, with Dundee United also still in the conversation.

All good things come to an end at some point and this result ends their remarkable unbeaten run in the top division. What will be fascinating is how they react.

You have to go all the way back to 7 December for the last time they emerged empty handed from a Scottish Premiership outing.

But this group of players have proven – after a wobbly start to the campaign – that they have the ability to bounce back, having looked like relegation fodder right up until December.

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Aberdeen forward Ester Sokler is out for the rest of the season with a leg injury, joining Kristers Tobers (hamstring), Sivert Heltne Nilsen (eye) and Vicente Besuijen (knee) on the sidelines, but Gavin Molloy is back in contention.

Hibs captain Joe Newell (groin) won't play again this season, while Elie Youan (toe) and Kwon Hyeok-kyu (ankle) are also out.

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David Gray says he has "loads of improvement" to come after his transformation of Hibs was rewarded with a contract extension until summer 2028.

The 36-year-old takes Hibs into the post-split fixtures - starting with Saturday's trip to Pittodrie - in third place after turning around a torrid start to both the campaign and his managerial career.

"It's obviously brilliant to get that recognition," said Gray. "It doesn't happen by accident, it comes from sticking to your beliefs, and everyone sticking together during that difficult time.

"I learned a lot about myself this season, my first year in management, the challenges that come with that.

"There's still loads of improvement and learning to be done. I'm learning all the time, trying to improve all the time, but I'm delighted with where we are at this moment in time, and when the club come forward and look to try and think about the future, it's always nice to get that recognition."

Gray says the potential to be the first Hibs side in four years to finish third in the Premiership is a "huge incentive".

The Easter Road men are three points clear of Saturday's hosts Aberdeen as well as Dundee United.

"The way the fixtures have fallen it's going to be really exciting," Gray said of the final five games.

"There's everything to play for, the form table tells you that as well. It's a huge incentive but it also shows you how hard it is to do it."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hibs head coach David Gray has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Saturday's trip to face Aberdeen.

Here are the main points:

• On his new contract, Gray says he's "grateful for all the support" he has within the club and is "delighted" to have extended his stay at Easter Road.

• After Jack Iredale became the latest to commit his future to the club, Gray says talks with players reaching the end of their deals are "happening all the time" and he is pleased to be "getting a few over the line and keeping this group together".

• The Hibs boss also sees the benefit from a "planning point of view" in getting players tied down early on which will help him prepare better for next season - "the earlier you can do your work the better".

• On the fight for third spot, Gray insists "there's everything to play for" but the challenge is "a real area of excitement" for his team.

• The prospect of being the first Hibs side in four years to finish third is a "huge incentive" but also "shows how hard it is to do it".

• On no Hibs players being included in the PFA Team of the Year (as voted for by the players) Gray says: "If you asked my opinion there'd be more of my players in it because I see them every day."

• He adds: "What we've demonstrated here is that there are no real egos in our dressing room. They are all really hard working and it's a really honest group of players who are improving all the time."

• On Saturday's trip to Pittodrie, Gray is expecting a "really tight" and "difficult" game but also one that is "quite open" and "exciting for the neutral".

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Having secured their place in the Scottish Cup final, Aberdeen turn their attention to chasing down Hibernian for a third-placed finish.

Jimmy Thelin's side cannot afford a defeat that would leave them six points adrift of the Leith visitors with just four games to go.

The Dons did not perform at their best in the semi-final win over Heart of Midlothian, but it did stretch their unbeaten run to seven matches - and only Celtic have beaten them in their past 11 games.

However, Hibs overshadow that, with the runaway leaders their only nemesis - twice - in 23 outings in league and cup that have lifted David Gray's side out of the doldrums and off the bottom of the table since scoring twice in stoppage time to draw 3-3 with Aberdeen in an Easter Road thriller in November.

That was also the beginning of an 11-game unbeaten home run and they have since beaten the Dons twice - 3-1 at Pittodrie in December and 2-0 at Easter Road in February - and are on a run of seven straight home wins since sharing another six-goal thriller with Rangers.

However, the Dons will look to repeat last May's 4-0 win there that went some way to helping them finish top of the bottom six last season.

Only this time the stakes - European qualification places - are higher and both sides will be keen to take advantage of any dropped points by Dundee United, who are ahead of the Dons on goal difference but face that difficult home game at home to Celtic earlier in the afternoon.

Read the rest of this weekend's Scottish Premiership picks.

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From fighting for his future to signing a new deal in the space of five months, it has been quite the turnaround for David Gray in his first season as Hibs head coach.

The 36-year-old has been rewarded with a new three-year contract after steering the club from bottom of the table to third place.

A cup-winning legend in Leith as a player and captain, Gray is now making his name in management and has overseen a club record-equalling 17-game unbeaten run in the Premiership.

What is your reaction to Gray's new deal? After so much managerial churn at Hibs in recent years, have the club finally found the right man for the long term? And what does he need to continue to drive Hibs forward?

Let us know your thoughts.

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• Aberdeen have won just one of their past nine league meetings with Hibs (D3 L5), a 4-0 victory in May 2024.

• Hibs are looking to win three successive league meetings with Aberdeen for the frst time since December 2004, and could also win two in a row away to the Dons for the first time since September 2004.

• Aberdeen have only lost one of their past eight league games (W4 D3), and are unbeaten in five (W2 D3) since defeat to Celtic in February (5-1).

• Hibs have won each of their past three league games, all by at least two goals. Hibs last won four in a row by 2+ goals in the top fight in February 2008 – a run which included a 3-1 win over Aberdeen.

• Martin Boyle has scored (four) or assisted (one) a goal in each of his past five Scottish Premiership games; the last Hibs player to do so in six in a row in the competition was Marc McNulty in March 2019.

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Defender Jack Iredale has signed a new deal to stay at Hibs until summer 2028 after proving to be a "fantastic addition to the squad".

The 28-year-old centre-back, who arrived on a two-year contract from Bolton last summer, became a regular starter in late November and has made 26 appearances this season.

His solitary goal was a memorable one - a stunning volley in the 2-1 derby win over Hearts at Easter Road last month.

"Jack has been a fantastic addition to our squad this year, he is a top professional and he's a good player," said head coach David Gray.

"He had to wait patiently for his chance this season, but he grasped it with both hands and is thoroughly deserving of his new deal."

Sporting director Malky Mackay said Iredale is a "good character and role model for the younger players coming through".

Hibernian wide man Chris Cadden, 28, has not given up hope of a Scotland recall. (Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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In terms of fanbase and financial strength, Hibernian are undoubtedly one of Scotland's top clubs, so perhaps some will shrug at the idea of them finishing third in the Scottish Premiership being a significant feat.

But digging through the archives highlights the scale of the achievement, should the Leith side secure their current position over the course of their final five league games.

Since finishing third in the top tier with an exciting young team under Tony Mowbray in 2004-05, Hibs have only gone on to repeat that once in the following two decades - in 2020-21 under Jack Ross.

If David Gray is able to replicate Mowbray and Ross' achievements, it will be just the third time in 20 years that Hibs will be able to class themselves as Scotland's 'best of the rest'.

And that is before you take into consideration the start of the season Gray endured, and also the fact it is just his first year as a permanent head coach.

Now on a remarkable 17-game unbeaten league run, Hibs have a three-point cushion in third spot, and former Easter Road midfielder Kevin Thomson is backing them to end the campaign there.

"I think Hibs will get there," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "It's hard to predict these post-split games because the top six are all playing each other.

"Points can be dropped or you can easily go on a good run. Everybody thinks the Hibs bubble is eventually going to burst, they're almost due a defeat.

"But I think they will do enough to finish third and it'll be up to the rest to try and chase them."

Meanwhile, fellow ex-Hibs midfielder Stephen McGinn feels Gray's decision to switch to a 3-5-2 formation has been "perfect" for a lot of the players, with many "reinventing themselves" in the set-up.

"Someone like Lewis Miller, who was really struggling as a Hibs player as a right-back," McGinn added. "He's come into his own on the right of a back three three.

"Rocky Bushiri, who was really struggling as one of two centre-backs, has been moved to the middle of the three as almost an old-fashioned sweeper.

"Jack Iredale probably hasn't got the pace to be an out-and-out left-back or one of the two centre-halves, but at left of the back three he's been absolutely perfect.

"Then you've got the strikers almost going to a split with either Junior Hoilett or Josh Campbell hitting the box."