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Daily Mail
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Star man Bowie and clinical Cadden help Hibs through to UEFA Conference League play-off as boss hails team for surviving huge 'test of character'
David Gray told his Hibs side they came through a huge test of character after edging out FK Partizan on aggregate in a dramatic evening at Easter Road. Rescued by Kieron Bowie's 35-yard wonder goal and Chris Cadden's extra time clincher, the Leith men booked a Conference League play-off with Legia Warsaw. On a night when Dundee United crashed out of the same competition at Tannadice, Hibs looked to be going the same way despite being two goals up from the first leg. A pair of errors in the first half by keeper Jordan Smith allowed Milan Vukotic and Jovan Milosevic to draw the Serbs level in the tie. Bowie's outrageous dipping strike from 30 yards with his left foot put Gray's side back in command only for Andrej Kostic to dramatically level for the 10-man visitors in the 95th minute. Hibs came again and progressed through Cadden's close range strike in the first period of extra-time. Delighted with the way his players dug in, Gray said: 'Trying to analyse that would be difficult, but ultimately it's a brilliant result. 'We found ourselves 2-0 down. The message at half-time was it's all about a massive test of your character. 'It's not about ability, we've just demonstrated you're good enough to do it. It's not to do with shape, the shape was good. 'It's about character and demonstrating it. And we've certainly done that. 'We fully deserve to be in the next round, so it's a fantastic night's work.' Bowie's goal will be talked about for years to come at Easter Road. 'His goal was a special goal for a special night,' added Gray. 'Unfortunately, that actually didn't win the game there and then, but I'm delighted for him on a personal level. He's had a lot of praise recently, and deservedly so, but he's been through a lot as well. Two really long-term injuries, it's a real test of character to keep going into the gym every day, keep working hard. 'To join a new club, then get a setback again, then need an operation on it, to then pull himself through that, and then to do what he's doing now, I think he fully deserves it for everything that he's done up until this point. 'And as I keep saying, there's a lot more to come for Kieran Bowie, which is a real positive for everybody.' Kieron Bowie is ecstatic after his goal lit up the Conference League tie in Leith Gray also felt goalkeeper Smith deserved huge credit for making a string of fine stops after his first half nightmare. 'As a goalkeeper, you've got no hiding place,' he said. 'If you make a mistake, you get punished, and that's what happens. That's why it's quite a lonely position to be in and it takes a strong character to be able to do that. 'As I've just said, I had no doubts about Smudge in the second half. What he does do then is, he doesn't take any risks. He didn't overplay, he didn't put himself in positions again. 'He simplified his game and he made some big saves. That's all you can ask of your goalkeeper in those moments.' Extra-time hero Cadden said: 'This is why you sign for a club like this. This is the best I've seen this stadium in five years since I've been here. It's amazing. We deserve that with all the effort we put in. I'm buzzing.'
Daily Mail
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
WE'LL BE BACK: Jim Goodwin insists that Dundee United are desperate for another crack at Europe after penalty shootout heartbreak
Jim Goodwin insisted that devastated Dundee United are already desperate to get back to the European stage next season. The Tannadice boss men had their appetite whetted by two wonderful games against Rapid Vienna, even though the adventure ended in penalty shoot-out agony. United let a 2-0 lead on the night slip against the Austrians, then lost 5-4 on spot-kicks after a scoreless extra-time. But Goodwin - and an appreciative home crowd - only had praise for the efforts of his injury-hit group. 'Being involved in nights like this gives you a taste of these competitions,' he said. 'The players have loved it, although we are so disappointed to go out. 'We have to take inspiration from what we've done and want to work harder than ever to do it again next season. There's nowhere to hide for the unfortunate Ama Fatah after his spot-kick miss 'We can take a lot of confidence from going toe-to-toe with a very good European team, and we could've won it. We were 2-0 up at half time but we never thought the tie was over. 'I have to give my players huge credit because they never allowed their heads to drop at 2-2. When the draw was made, people expected Rapid Vienna to wipe the floor with us.' United head for Kilmarnock on Sunday in the Premier Sports Cup last 16. 'I don't think it will be difficult for us to lift our heads and get going again,' said Goodwin, who has brought Luca Stephenson back on loan again from Liverpool. 'But I do have concern about energy levels. This is my first time managing in Europe and I can appreciate how tough it is to balance everything.' United secured a 2-0 half-time advantage thanks to a header and penalty from striker Max Watters. Yet half-time alterations by Rapid turned the game in the visitors' favour. Janis Antiste's deflected header off Iurie Iovu dragged Rapid back into contention. And substitute Ercan Kara equalised to tee up extra-time. United sub Amar Fatah struck the post with the first penalty kick in the shootout and Rapid netted all five. Zac Sapsford, replaced at the break by Fatah, was added to Goodwin's growing casualty list. The Australian, a huge miss in the second period, watched the penalty dramas in crutches. Goodwin said: 'Zac took a knock on the ankle when winning the penalty. 'It was swollen up at half time. We will assess him and hopefully get him available for Sunday.' Rapid Vienna boss Peter Stoger said: 'This tie was so close. In the two games maybe we had the better chances, but United played two great games.
BBC News
35 minutes ago
- BBC News
Watters thanks 'unbelievable' fans
Max Watters has thanked the "unbelievable" Dundee United fans after they watched their side suffer an agonising Conference League exit at the hands of Rapid Watters scored twice in the first half of the second leg to give United a 4-2 aggregate lead, but Jim Goodwin's weary side conceded twice before going on to lose on penalties in front of a raucous sold-out Tannadice."They were unbelievable," Watters said of the United fans. "They were there from minute one to the very end. Outstanding. "We have to say thank you to them because it helps us when we're down, when we're struggling, when we're tired."
