Latest news with #EasterRoad
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
I know how Martin Boyle can become Hibs double hero but beware a Midtjylland reaction
It's a massive chance for the capital club to take a step towards the league phase with the Easter Road blockbuster Wouldn't it be great if Martin Boyle becomes both a Hibs centurion and a European hero at once? The Australia livewire is sitting on 99 goals in green and white with the chance to hit the ton in style in tomorrow's Europa League qualifier. Boyle is the one man Midtjylland will not want to see charging at them again when the sides meet for the return leg in Leith with the score balanced at 1-1. The 32-year-old's blistering pace caused chaos in Denmark and he was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet after VAR ruled out his strike. Stick one in the channel and Boyle's after it in a flash. He gives Hibs a brilliant out ball and he's not just about pace these days either – he's bulked up, holds it in better now and gets the team up the pitch when they need it most. He's a big-game player too. You've seen it over the years, in so many big games, that he pops up with the goal And there would be nothing better than bagging the winner in a European tie in front of a packed Easter Road. His 100th goal is coming. It's only a matter of time but I hope it is against the Danes as I'm backing Hibs to go through. It will be tight but I can see them progressing with a 2-1 win. Hibs did brilliantly over in Denmark, even if the game did not quite go as expected. You might have thought there would be more chances, maybe a few more goals, but it turned into a tight battle. Looking at Midtjylland's record over the last few seasons – getting to the knockout stages last term – I thought they were pretty poor on the night. I don't know if that was the heat or because it's so early in the season but you'll see a better Midtjylland team tomorrow night Neither side created much in the first leg. It was scrappy and bitty, which suited Hibs just fine. The second half was littered with yellow cards, stoppages and scuffles, which knocked the home side right out of their rhythm. So to come away with the tie 1-1 was a brilliant result. David Gray would have bitten your hand off before the game to bring that back to a packed home game with a real chance of going through. It was a really disciplined defensive display from Hibs. The back three stood tall all night, barely gave Midtjylland a sniff and dealt with most things that came their way. Behind them, keeper Jordan Smith looked assured and calm. Never flustered, he was always in control. It was the kind of solid, no-nonsense performance you need in Europe. Midtjylland didn't impress much on the night – they were there for the taking. But make no mistake, they will be better at Easter Road. You expect a big reaction. A special mention goes to Dylan Levitt, who was tremendous and showed real quality on the ball all night. Plenty of Hibs fans were not convinced when he arrived two years ago but he turned it on in the second half of last season. In the first competitive game of this one, he was right up there again as one of Hibs' top performers. Over in Denmark, Hibs sat deep in a low block and Midtjylland did not have the creativity to break them down. It will be a different story when the side are reunited. With more than 20,000 fans roaring them on, Hibs will be expected to go for it. The first goal could be massive. Get it, get the crowd going and it's game on. I've played on a big European night at Easter Road — AEK Athens, years back — and when that place is bouncing, it drives you on. It can make all the difference. It's always difficult to juggle European games with domestic football but hopefully Hibs have the opportunity to do so over the next few months. They also face a tough test in their Premiership opener on Sunday as Hibs make their way to Dens Park. There's already pressure being piled on Dundee boss Steven Pressley, which seems daft given how early it is and how they've actually started. But do not expect Hibs to show any sympathy. Tomorrow could go the distance – extra-time, even penalties – but Hibs have the squad, the strength and the depth to handle both fronts and start the league campaign with a bang. I remember thinking last year that Gray might not survive the trip to Dens. That match in November finished 4-1 and it felt bleak. But it shows just how far this team have come. What they can't afford to be now is complacent because if they are, Dundee will punish them.
Daily Record
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hibs get Nectarios Triantis transfer answer as Sunderland stance revealed
He spent the past couple of campaigns on loan in the capital with Easter Road chiefs ready to splash out big on a full-time deal Hibs have had to admit defeat in their fight to get Nectarios Triantis back. The Easter Road club has been informed that the Australian won't be returning to Leith,. A decision still has to be taken on the Sunderland player's future for the season ahead. Triantis was one of Hibs' top players last season and they had tried opening talks with Sunderland over a deal. The capital club were willing to pay a club record fee but if Triantis is to leave the Stadium of Light it won't be for Scotland. He has big English Championship interest along with keen suitors from major European leagues and America. The 22-year-old is waiting for the new English Premier League boys to make a decision on his future. If he does leave then it will be for a different league from the Scottish Premiership. He has spent the last two seasons at Easter Road and is now looking to kick on next term. He also wants to be in a position where he can secure his international future, with Australia and Greece both keen to cap him. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Nectar Triantis triggers Sunderland wage rise as hopes over Hibs return fade amid big time transfer options
Triantis also has a number of big options in the English Championship and in Major League Soccer It is looking increasingly unlikely that Nectarios Triantis will be returning to Hibs. The Easter Road side has held talks with Sunderland over a permanent club record deal. The midfielder was a standout on loan at Easter Road last season. David Gray and his board have pushed the boat out to try and land the 22-year-old on a permanent basis. They have been forced to wait as Triantis has gone back into the Sunderland fold for their pre-season trip. The Australian has also triggered a significant wage increase as a result of the Black Cats promotion back to the Premiership. Hibs would struggle to get near those wages. Triantis also has a number of big options in the English Championship and in Major League Soccer that Hibs wouldn't be able to compete with financially. The player also has to make a decision over his international future with Australia and Greece both options. That will be a big factor in his decision as he will want to go and play at the highest club level to enhance his international ambitions. Hibs best chance would be to get Triantis back on loan, but that would only potentially happen at the end of the window and would be a long shot if his other options weren't to materialise. Gray said before their draw in Midtjylland that he hadn't given up on getting Triantis back. The Hibs head coach, speaking to the BBC, said: "He was brilliant to work with. 'He's earned the right to go back to his parent club for pre-season there. They're on a different schedule from us, as they started later, so there's always going to be time within these situations to see exactly what the lie of the land is." You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic page, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Celtic community here.
Scotsman
7 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Revealed: How Hibs Euro rival's first Easter Road experience whetted appetite
Europa League second qualifying round tie in Denmark tomorrow night 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... Midtjylland skipper Mads Bech Sorensen already has one game against a Hibs XI on his CV. But the Dane would never claim to have been through the full Easter Road experience. The former Brentford centre-half revealed: 'I actually played against Hibs six years ago, so I've been to the stadium once before. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I think it was their reserves we played. I remember it as quite intense. A good match. I can't even remember the results. It was a good experience. 'There was no spectators at all. We played at the stadium but with no crowd. 'It will be a little bit different next week. I hope it will be better from what I've heard. It should be a great atmosphere. Sorensen has experience in UK 'I've played in the UK. I've played a few Scottish sides before. Hopefully, it should help me and the team. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'They all share the same quality. Hard work. They are all hard-working. 'You know it'll never be easy when you play Scottish sides, they'll work hard, they'll be physical, they'll make it a tough day, no matter what. 'But Hibs looks like a tactically good team. They want to play with the ball. They have quite a good flow when they build up. So of course we need to set the pressure on up front.' European success vital to Midtjylland model Midtjylland's status as European regulars is vital to the model of a club founded in 1999. Upstarts, pioneers, new kids on the block, they've built their reputation on achieving success beyond the Danish Superliga. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's very important, it's one of the main goals every season,' said the skipper, who will lead his team into Europa League action at home to Hibs tomorrow. 'We always go for the championship - and we want to get into the group stages of Europe. 'For that, you need to be consistent. We have a young team but very talented, but we need the consistency to be there to be in Europe every single year.' Midtjylland are motivated by more than just Europe, of course. The disappointment of losing the title to arch-rivals Copenhagen – by just a single point, not less – last season is still very much part of their motivation. So can they compete on two fronts? After dropping points on the opening weekend of league action, with a couple of individual howlers contributing to a 3-3 home draw against newly-promoted Odense Boldklub, it will be a tricky proposition. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Speaking from his club's £20 million training ground, a remarkable facility that includes Midtjylland's own primary school, the usual array of pitches plus a whole heap of facilities shared by everyone, meaning the youngest prospect can bump into the club captain at any time, Sorensen said: 'We want to seek revenge, we want to win the championship, because it was close. 'The year before we did it on the last day, so of course a bit disappointed, but it only motivated us more. We need to have a good season; we need to win the championship back. And we need to do well in Europe as well.'
The Herald Scotland
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Hibs and Dundee United learn who they'll face in Euro draws
The draw for the third stage was carried out earlier and should David Gray's side make it through, they would then get Norwegians Fredrikstad FK. Read more: Lose and they would drop into the Conference League. The Easter Road men have now learned they would face Ukrainians Olexandriya or Serbs Partizan Belgrade in the third round of Conference League qualifying. Dundee United were also in the draw for that and if they can get past Luxembourg side UNA Strassen in the second round, they would then be up against Decic from Montenegro or Rapid Vienna.
