'Fantastic': Hibs revel in huge week, give big transfer update and injury lowdown
Edinburgh News · Mark Atkinson · 2026-08-16T16:31:02+00:00 · nguồn gốc
'Fantastic': Hibs revel in huge week, give big transfer update and injury lowdown on four players
Head coach tells players they have to be more clinical
Hibs head coach David Gray savoured a “fantastic week” for the club after defeating Partick Thistle 1-0 to reach the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals - but urged his players to get sharper in front of goal.
Hibs recorded their third positive result in seven days by following up a 2-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox and a goalless draw at Shkendija to secure European progress by overcoming the Jags with a resolute performance.
Owen Elding’s 12th-minute goal was enough to see off Championship outfit Partick - although the victory could have been more comfortable had the Irishman not converted two further good chances later in the match. In the end, Hibs had to hold firm, with goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger making a series of smart saves.
“That result sums up a fantastic week for the football club,” said Gray. “When you think back to the efforts and everything we've put in this week - winning at Ibrox, going away to North Macedonia, dealing with the heat, dealing with the different atmosphere against a really good side, getting through that tie and making sure we're in the next round.
“The bit I've just been critical to the players just now in the dressing room there was you need to take chances. We've already suffered that this season, where we lost the game to Motherwell, where the game should have been out of sight. We had three or four gilt-edged chances against the goalkeeper.
“Then the opposition get a little bit of a lift, and they had a real go while still in the game - and when it's a cup tie like that, and there's only one goal in it, you always run the risk. And in the end, it was heavily reliant on our goalkeeper, who made some huge saves to stop them going to extra time.
“The game should have been out of sight, to be honest, and that's something that we certainly need to improve on, because we won't continually get these chances. And I don't want to be sitting here every weekend, playing really well, creating lots of chances, but not being clinical enough.”
Hibs injury update
Gray will now prepare his team for Thursday’s first leg of the Conference League play-off tie against Gent away in Belgium. The head coach utilised his squad by making four changes to the team and gave an update on defenders Jordan Obita and Grant Hanley, midfielder Callum Wright and forward Rudi Molotnikov, who all missed out against Partick.
“Callum obviously started over there [in North Macedonia] and there's not been a lot of time on the training pitch. He missed a bit of pre-season, so he played two 30-minute blocks coming on as sub, and then started over there, and just had a little bit of a reaction.
“He was never going to be down to play today - he was a little bit tired, a bit fatigued from that game - because we've got time until next Thursday, so we'll get a bit of training into him.
“It was great because we knew we'd get Jamie McGrath back as well, so it was probably more precautionary with Callum - and Jordan Obita exactly the same. He got a bit of tightness at the end of the Rangers game, and then certainly the last five-to-ten minutes over in Macedonia, and he's been playing terrific really, been in a really good place himself physically. But again, feeling anything at this stage, we can't afford to be taking risks.
“And then if you look at the ones that didn't even make the squad, it shows you the strength of the squad coming back. You’ve still got Rudi Molotnikov, Jacob MacIntyre, Alasana Manneh, Grant Hanley. Grant will be benefiting from our two training days this week as well, and following with the squad for Thursday as well, which will be good to get a bit more strength and depth in that defence, because we've been a little bit stretched.
“Hopefully, coming in tomorrow, it’ll only be Rocky [Bushiri]. Everybody else should be available.”
Gray also confirmed that Hibs continue to be active in the transfer market and expect further incomings and outgoings before the window closes on September 3.
“We've got a couple of weeks still, so I do,” Gray said on transfers. “I think we are still looking, as I've always said, and being consistent with that. I do expect there to be movement both ways to be honest, I think we are a little bit thin in a couple of areas. I think there will be movement either way, and I think that's only natural.
“I'm not saying that's going to happen tomorrow or the next day. I don't think we're close to doing anything at this moment in time - but we're certainly looking at areas in which we can try and improve this group as much as we can.”