Linfield boss says Shelbourne favourites for All-Ireland rematch: ‘In house, they will feel this is an incredible opportunity to make the league phase'
The Irish League champions punched their ticket to the two-legged winner-takes-all affair with a nervy 2-0 win over Faroese side Vikingur Gota at Windsor Park on Thursday night.
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Scotsman
8 hours ago
- Scotsman
David Gray delivers Hibs injury boost ahead of Legia Warsaw
The Hibs head coach has provided his verdict on a victory at Livingston in the Premier Sports Cup Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... David Gray says he could have Jamie McGrath at his disposal for a crucial clash against Legia Warsaw, after Hibs secured their spot in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win at Livingston. The Easter Road head coach made six changes off the back of a 4-3 aggregate win in the Conference League against Partizan Belgrade less than 72 hours prior, and with Thursday's UEFA Conference League play-off first leg versus Legia to consider. His rotated team proved their worth as Thibault Klidje scored the opener and Josh Mulligan rifled home the winner late in the second half. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hibs take on Rangers next month at the last eight stage but focus now turns to a crucial first leg at Easter Road against Polish opposition. Speaking after the game, Gray was asked for an injury update on summer signing McGrath who missed both the Partizan second leg and clash at Almondvale. He is hopeful of calling upon him for play-off action. David Gray delivers Hibs injury boost Gray said: 'We are very hopeful of that as well, he's due to train on Monday. He will be in full training between now and Thursday and as long as he keeps progressing that would be a positive. Another positive would be Nicky Cadden again, the physios probably thought it was too long with the extra time the other night. We got another 30 mins into him today so everyone should be in a good position come Thursday.' Goal scorer Kildje was one particular standout that Gray talked up after impressive displays against the Lions. He said of the striker who signed from Luzern for a record fee and performance as a whole: 'I'm delighted for Thibault getting his goal, when you bring a striker to a club you want them to get off the mark as quickly as they can. 'We have been patient with him, we don't want to rush him because he's getting used to the intensity of our training and the physical challenges. He is still settling but he was a constant threat, he brought energy and he took his goal well. He put in a very strong performance, there is a lot of improvement still to come and he will take a lot of confidence from that. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad David Gray verdict on Hibs vs Legia Warsaw 'Everyone was of a very high standard, which was to the benefit of the group. I thought it was a very professional performance, we had good control of the game and deserved to go through. I'm delighted for the players because before the game we knew people would be looking at this asking how we'd cope with another game in Europe, extra-time, coming to Livingston on an artificial pitch, and the mental fatigue because of the schedule we've been on. 'I thought it was a brilliant performance from that point of view. We were able to make changes and the level of performance didn't drop, so it was really good day's work from everyone. We knew this schedule was coming so had to be prepared for it, so that's why you have a squad. 'That was the challenge for the players who haven't been playing. It was job done in terms of that, really good from the squad and we've got minutes into a lot of players. Everyone has come through it okay, we have a few bumps and bruises but I'm expecting everyone to be ready for Thursday. 'We have been quite consistent over the piece in terms of certain positions. Something we demonstrated last year was the strength of the group. That showed, bringing on Josh Mulligan, Elie Youan and Junior Hoilett gave us legs. It's a very good headache to have for me.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With Rangers to come next month for a chance to go to Hampden, Gray said: 'It's a very tough draw, as we know, we knew who we'd face if we got through. To win the trophy you have to beat the best teams. It will be a tough test but one we'll look forward to when it comes around. There's a lot of football to be played and I've always said when you come to this football club it's about trying to win something.'
Belfast Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Linfield boss David Healy outlines main reason Larne let slip League crown… and it's not fixture chaos
Linfield manager David Healy says he believes that Irish League sides can still reach the group stages of major European competition and challenge for the Premiership title despite Larne's struggles in the 2024/25 season.
Scotsman
16 hours ago
- Scotsman
Pundit floored by sensational Hibs moment that outclassed ‘outrageous' strike as he holds Legia play off hope
Hibs moved within one round of the league phase of the UEFA Conference League with an aggregate win against Partizan. Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Disbelief coursed around all corners of Easter Road as the Hibs faithful celebrated one of the most stunning strikes witnessed at their famous old home. With their participation in this season's UEFA Conference League in the balance after Partizan wiped out David Gray's side's two-goal first leg advantage, Scotland striker Kieron Bowie found himself around 40 yards from goal and took centre stage in a pulsating tie. With several options around him, the former Fulham man wasted little time in trying his luck from distance and sent a powerful, looping volley over visitors goalkeeper Marko Milosevic and into his net via the far post. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The reaction of team-mate Martin Boyle said it all as the Australia international put his hands on his head in utter disbelief over what he had witnessed from Bowie. It was far from the final act in a pulsating night at Easter Road - but it did prove to be a defining moment as it set the foundations for Hibs to progress into a play-off round tie with Legia Warsaw as the two sides meet in the first leg later this week. For pundit Andy Walker, who had a short loan spell at Hibs during his playing career, Bowie's strike was 'sensational' and the former Celtic and Sheffield United striker expressed his hope that David Gray's men could secure safe passage into the league phase of UEFA's tertiary club competition. He told Go Radio: 'I said earlier this week, I don't think I would see a better goal than Ben Brannan, the Kilmarnock volley that was absolutely outrageous. And that one last night from Kieran Bowie. Sensational stuff. So certainly it looks as though Easter Road is a place to be to see some special goals. It'll be a great tie against Legia Warsaw. I really hope Hibs can make that step. I just love to see any of the Scottish clubs that are involved in Europe getting involved in the group stages, the guaranteed European football that takes you up to Christmas and beyond. It's exactly what the players want. The players will learn a lot from it, just as the managers and all the coaching staff will as well.' What did David Gray say about Kieron Bowe's goal for Hibs against Partizan? Hibs head coach David Gray celebrates at the full time whistle | SNS Group Speaking after the game, the Hibs boss said: 'It's a good clearance. No, as I say, take his goal out of it, he was exceptional tonight. Everything he did from the first second onwards, he was a real handful. Everything we've spoken about Kieron before was there again to see. His goal was a special goal for a special night. I spoke about if you win the game tonight, it would be a special night. It doesn't matter how you get through, it would be a special occasion. It was great a goal, probably unfortunate that didn't actually win us the game there and then. So I'm delighted for him on a personal level because of what he's been through.'
