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David Gray hails perfect Hibs timing of season first as every question answered in Skopje The hibees dug in and got the result they needed to set up a Conference League playoff clash with Belgian outfit Gent David Gray hailed his Hibs heroes for being magnificent in Macedonia, writes Craig Swan in Skopje. The Easter Road boss was bursting with pride after his side’s 0-0 draw with Shkendija in Skopje booked a Conference League play-off showdown with Gent. Gray’s team coped with stifling heat to stay cool and progress to face the Belgians. Leading 2-1 from the first leg, the Capital club kept a tight leash on their rivals and the beaming Hibs gaffer said: “It’s a fantastic result, a brilliant time to get our first clean sheet of the season. “I told the players to not underestimate the significance of this result, going through ties in Europe isn’t easy. “The level of opposition, they’re not a household name and not a team we’re used to watching every week in Europe. “But they have beaten some big teams here at home in the last few years so the players can be really proud of what they’ve achieved. “Back-to-back, getting into the play-offs is a fantastic achievement. “The defensive unit was very good, we didn’t panic, dive in or give them any silly fouls around the box. “We were really disciplined in our shape in the first half. I expected the game to be different to Easter Road and it was, but I felt we had a lot of control, even when we didn’t have the ball at times we restricted them to shots from distance. “It wasn't really a conducive pitch to moving the ball, there were a few mistakes. “The start of the second half was a lot better, created a few really good chances and if we had taken one of them it really changes the dynamic of the game." Gray had stars across the pitch. New boys such as Nathan Lowe and Adam Mayor shone, whilst established aces also sparkled in a performance of composure and control to stand tall and come through just days after beating Rangers at Ibrox. He said: “We have all been there before, when the score is what it is you naturally drop off and the opposition have nothing to lose so throw everything at you. “You have to defend what you’ve got, every player right to the very last minute gave absolutely everything. “Nathan sliding in to tackle in the 94th minute, there were blocks and people putting their bodies on the line. “A team that is difficult to play against, in this heat and on that pitch. We answered it all. “We got a taste of what it would be like in Kosovo and it was similar to playing in Partizan last year, albeit without the crowd. “The effort we put into Sunday [at Ibrox] to come here and get through, it’s a really strong start to the season. “Everyone is contributing and that’s huge. The squad is getting a lot closer to where we need to be.” However, Shkendija coach Artim Pollozhani felt his team had been hard done by and said: “Over the two games I think we deserved more. “I felt we were unlucky. The players gave us 100 per cent and I think, if we scored one goal, it would have been easy for us. “But in football it happens and sometimes you don’t get what you deserve. Hibs are a good team.”