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Edinburgh Reporter
4 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
David Gray expects tough test and hostile environment against FK Partizan
David Gray expects a tough test against FK Partizan tomorrow in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. Since the return of competitive football this season, his players have put in three positive performances – drawing twice in normal time with Champions League regulars FC Midtjylland and picking up their first three points of the season at Dundee. He said: 'I expect a tough test and a hostile environment,' 'With the level of performance we've had in the last three games, the players should be going over there full of confidence. We're really looking forward to the challenge, it'll be a tough test, one some of the players haven't had before, but we will make sure they're ready. 'It's a new, different challenge. A lot of the players have played at Celtic Park, Ibrox, Tynecastle. These are big pressure games with big crowds. Yes, it'll be slightly different because of the hostile fans in the home end and the temperature of the stadium, but it's something the players should relish and look forward too. 'We need to believe we can go there and get a positive result. If we can play to our very best, like we have in the last few games, we know we're a good side.' In terms of team news, Gray will have a similar squad available to him, but he was able to provide a more positive update on Nicky Cadden. 'Nicky picked up a hamstring issue. I don't think we will be ready for Thursday. It's only a mild issue, so we won't take any risks at this stage, but apart from him, Rudi, and Joe, everyone else is available from the squad that was in Dundee. 'We're another week fitter, stronger, and the players need to feed off the feel good feeling at the training ground at the minute.' Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
7 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
How to watch Conference League draw as Hibs discover possible opponents
Hibs will soon find out who they could face in UEFA Conference League play-offs 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... Hibs are now in the UEFA Europa Conference League draw after suffering a late loss to Midtjylland at Easter Road on Thursday evening. After 119 minutes of play, the Danish SuperLig side found a winner, breaking the hearts of home fans inside the stadium and sending them into a third tier qualifying draw. It was, however, a mammoth effort from David Gray's side to push FC Midtjylland as far as they did with the head coach detailing his pride in the squad after the game. Speaking post match, Gray said: 'I can't ask the players for any more. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hibs head coach David Gray at full-time following the Europa League second qualifying round defeat to FC Midtjylland at Easter Road. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'They gave me absolutely everything. I think when you add the manner of the goal we lose right at the end, it's taken three spectacular efforts to beat us over the tie against a top team. 'I'm proud of the players, proud of the effort I got from every single one of them. Ultimately, it's a bit raw at the minute. 'The players can take a lot of pride from the way they defended. The concentration needed to be there when you play against a team at this level. that's what is required. As I said, I can't fault the effort and what they've given me over the course of 210 minutes.' Hibs will now face Serbian club Partizan on Thursday 7 August before hosting the return fixture a week later and if they are successful in the third qualifying round, will then make it to the tournament playoffs. Ahead of the play-off draw, here is all you need to know about how and when to tune in... Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad When is the Conference League draw? The Conference League draw will take place later today, Monday 4 August, at 1pm at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. How to watch the Conference League draw The UEFA Conference League draw will be available to watch on TNT Sports and through Discovery+. Who else is in the Conference League draw? There are currently 60 teams competing in the third qualifying round of the Conference League, one of whom is Hibs' Premiership rivals Dundee United. Dundee beat UNA Strassen 2-0 on aggregate to reach this current round and Thursday 7 August will see them take on Rapid Wien. Other potential opponents in the play-off rounds include AEK Athens, AZ Alkmaar, Aris Limassol, Besiktas, Dinamo City and Sparta Praha. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad When are the play-offs? The play-offs will take place on 21 and 28 August 2025 and will see 48 teams competing. As well as those successful from the third qualifying round, the play-offs will also introduce Crystal Palace, Fiorentina, Mainz, Rayo Vallecano and Strasbourg.
Edinburgh Reporter
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Josh Mulligan looks forward to going back to Dens Park with Hibs
Josh Mulligan believes the Hibs players are fully focused on taking the positives from Thursday's tie against FC Midtjylland into the start of the league campaign which kicks off today away at Dundee – the midfielder's former club. 'We just need to get ready to go again after Thursday night,' said Mulligan. 'It'll be a strange feeling going back to Dens so soon, but it is just another football match at the end of the day – and it is one that we all want to win. I am looking forward to it.' With only a short turnaround between fixtures, the 22-year-old says there is no time to dwell on the past and is eager to begin the league campaign on the front foot. 'We are going there wanting to bounce back with a win. It is only a couple of days turnaround, so we just need to put that result out of our system and get ready to go again. 'It is massive to get off to a winning start. You saw how well Hibs did towards the end of last season and the league is absolutely massive for us. We've got a good run of fixtures to start with, so we need to make them count.' Thursday's tie also marked Mulligan's first experience of European football – something he believes will only help the squad grow as the season progresses. 'This whole experience is new to me, playing Sunday and Thursday – that was my first experience playing European football and the same for a few boys in the changing room. So we are learning as we go, but it is a good challenge – that is the level that you want to play at. 'We went toe-to-toe with Midtjylland who are a very good team, so we can take pride and confidence in that. 'Momentum is a massive thing in football. After tonight we need to make sure we keep our heads up and get ready to go again on Sunday.' Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hibs Europa League reaction - David Gray concedes three 'wonder strikes' proved Hibs undoing after late heartache
The Hibs boss has been reacting to his side's heart-breaking Europa League exit 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 concedes it has took three 'wonder-strikes' from FC Midtjylland to seal Hibs' Europa League exit - but admits he is extremely proud of his players. The capital club suffered late heartache in front of a bumper crowd of 19,356 at Easter Road tonight as Junior Brumado's sensational overhead kick in extra-time knocked them out of Europe's second-tier competition. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The second round qualifying tie was finely poised at 1-1 after the first leg in Denmark last week, and it took until four minutes into extra-time in the capital before the visitors made the breakthrough. Dario Osorio's sumptuous strike from distance broke the deadlock before Rocky Bushiri hit back minutes later. However, Brumado would have the final say on a night of thrilling drama to ensure Hibs now drop into the Conference League where they will face Serbian giants Partizan Belgrade next week. 'Mixed emotions,' Gray admitted. 'I say it all the time, I hate losing so I'll never accept losing games of football. But I can't ask the players for any more. They gave me absolutely everything. 'I think when you add the manner of the goal we lose right at the end, it's taken three spectacular efforts to beat us over the tie against a top team. I'm proud of the players, proud of the effort I got from every single one of them. Ultimately, it's a bit raw at the minute.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On Midtjylland's winning goal, Gray commented: 'You'll always look at it and say 'can you do a bit better to stop the shot'. I've only seen it live, I've not watched it back. But at the time, I think it's as good a strike as I've seen at Easter Road, to be honest. 'He hits it really, really well, through bodies. We'll obviously analyse everything and look at every opportunity we gave up in the game, but it has took a strike from 40-yards tonight, and an overhead kick from a dead ball from 30-yards in the first leg. 'So the players can take a lot of pride from the way they defended. The concentration needed to be there when you play against a team at this level. That's what is required. As I said, I can't fault the effort and what they've given me over the course of 210 minutes.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gray voices delight at squad improvement from first leg Gray was delighted with his how players performed, admitting they were far braver in possession compared to last week's first leg in Herning. 'You need to try and improve all the time' said Gray. 'Even when you look at how the two ties have went, I think we've improved tonight in terms of having more control in the game in certain areas. 'Some passages of play we were a bit braver on the ball. Still not at our absolute best, we can still improve in certain situations. But the way we played tonight was a lot braver, which we had to be because we weren't going to constantly sit in. 'But when you think back to what their biggest threat is, set-pieces are huge for them. They're a big, strong, powerful side and we defended them incredibly well. We reduced them to shots form distance and it's taken three wonder strikes to beat us. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'You'll always look at that, learn from it. But that's also great for the players to test themselves. I say it all the time, when you test yourself against elite level opposition - they were a Champions League team last season for a reason. They've got some top, top players and it's great for our players to feel that.' Midtjylland boss explains late change of goalkeeper Midtjylland boss Thomas Thomasberg felt his side marginally deserved to progress over two legs, but conceded he was preparing in anticipation of spot kicks to decide the tie. 'Yeah (I felt the better team won), but I give credit to Hibs,' he said. 'We had to work really hard in both games. I think we were the best team, but credit to them and the effort they put in. 'We struggled in both games but we're through to the next round and that was the aim. We didn't think we would walk through to the next round, Hibs was a difficult opponent but of course we are happy it ended like it did.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Thomasberg opted to change his goalkeeper in the closing stages of injury-time with penalties looming. Explaining his decision to replace No.1 Jonas Lossl with understudy Elias Olafsson, he admitted: 'Yes, of course (we were preparing for pens). 'We knew if we got to penalties Elias is the best for this, I talked to them about it before and they knew this could happen. I didn't think we would wait so long for the winning goal.'
STV News
31-07-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Hibs v Midtjylland: David Gray names starting team for Europa League qualifier
David Gray has named his starting team for Hibernian's Europa League qualifier with FC Midtjylland. The sides go into the game at Easter Road all square on aggregate following a 1-1 draw in Denmark last week. Hibs will be hoping to use the home crowd to their advantage as they look to take another step towards the League Phase of Europe's second-tier competition. The winners will play Norwegian side Fredrikstad in the third qualifying round, while the losers of the tie will drop into the same stage of the Conference League. Gray has started with Smith in goals behind O'Hora, Bushiri, Iredale, McGrath, Mulligan, Levitt, Obita, Boyle and Bowie. The game kicks off at 8pm. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
