Hibs reaction to Euro triumph as Easter Road boss hails 'angry' response on night of intensity and late drama
David Gray’s men overturned 2-0 first leg defeat to secure progress
Hibs boss David Gray hailed his European heroes for bringing the intensity to Easter Road as they pulled of a stirring UEFA Conference League comeback. Trailing 2-0 from their first leg against FC Malisheva in Kosov, the home side ran out 4-1 winners on the night to secure progress to the third qualifying round.
Gray, who will prepare his team to face Shkendija from North Macedona in Edinburgh next Thursday night, before travelling to Skopje for the return leg a week later, said: “I want to focus on the reaction and intensity of the players, we asked them to get the crowd behind us and they did that. Last week was disappointing but we fully deserved to win tonight and should have been out of sight.
Nathan Lowe bagged killer third
“We created chances, missed three or four big ones and hit the woodwork a few times. If we were more clinical it would have been more comfortable.”
The loss of a late goal created some unnecessary tension for the home fans, who will be back in big numbers for Sunday’s Scottish Premiership kick-off, Gray saying: “Their goal at the end made it a little bit edgy but at the same time we fully deserved everything we got tonight. We are in the next round, we need to build momentum going into the league game on Sunday against Motherwell now.
“We have looked at the last leg (Shkendija versus Slovenian side Bravo) to do our due diligence and we’ll watch the second leg now too. We know where we’re going now, but the attention is on Motherwell first then we’ll look at that.
“The big thing is we’re ready for it, that’s what we’re geared up for - Thursdays and Sundays for as long as we can.”
Hibs had been roundly booed and even individually abused by raging travelling fans in Pristina last week. They were definitely fired up for this one.
Gray said: "Was there an anger? I think you're right, nobody likes losing and they're proud boys.
"I felt it, there was an edge to training because they wanted to put it right. We had to earn the right because of last week and they did that.
"I thought we were outstanding, the front three were really lively all night. It looked a little bit closer towards the end when we lost a goal to a wonder strike, but we were fully deserving of going through.
"We benefitted from 90 minutes last week and we'll benefit from another one tonight. We have to enjoy the fact that it's job done and legs won't feel as tired on Sunday now we're through. The biggest thing for us now is rest and recovery."