More Hibs goals to come - but 20 strikes claim raises eyebrows with skipper
Boyle relishing potential of front three in season opener against Motherwell
Easter Road should be a far calmer place on Sunday when Hibs begin their Premiership campaign at home to Motherwell.
On Thursday night, ahead of the club’s Conference League second qualifying round second leg against Malisheva, there was tension. Understandably so. Hibs had lost the first match 2-0 in Kosovo, a result labelled embarrassing and one that turned up the heat on head coach David Gray and his players.
Elimination at this stage of the competition would not be tolerated by many supporters. But Hibs rose to the occasion, winning 4-1 and setting up a clash with KF Shkendija of North Macedonia.
That tie is parked this weekend as Hibs focus on domestic commitments. After finishing fifth in the league last season, they take on the team that finished a place above them and who defeated them on the final day of last term in Motherwell.
The Steelmen were also in Conference League action on Thursday, easing past HB Torshavn of the Faroe Islands. Under their new head coach Alfred Johansson, they have started brightly. Hibs did not beat them when managed by Jens Berthel Askou in four attempts in the 2026/27 campaign.
At least Hibs go into this game with a spring in their step. A week ago, Martin Boyle performed his press duties from Pristina with a sombre tone in his voice. He was far more positive back in Leith.
“It was night and day,” captain Boyle said of the display at Easter Road. “I’ve been at the club a long time and there are always twists and turns here!
“I said after the first game I hoped that would be our blip for the season. Maybe it was a mindset thing and we approached it the wrong way. We had a lot of making up to do, we knew there would be a lot of stick coming out way after last week.
“It was unacceptable by the standards we set for ourselves so we had to learn from it and stick together. We did that and I think that shows the signs of a good team. Hopefully the fans went home happy watching that.
“The way we worked, the way we attacked, the way we moved the ball - we should have won the second leg by more. We got an early shot away to set the tone, got the confidence going, the fans got a boost from that.
“Once we got the first goal everything changed and we were dominant. It wasn’t ideal conceding a goal because it got a wee bit nervy in the end but we saw it out and the most important thing is we’re in the next round.
“It was a European night and if that doesn’t get the juices flowing then I don’t know what would. My dad came down at the last minute so he went back up the road happy as well!”
‘There’s still a lot more work to be done’
More than 15,000 Hibs fans also went home happy and their hopes of reaching the main phase of a European competition remains in tact. “The club has never achieved the league phase before but lets not get carried away, we’re into the next round but that’s it,” said Boyle. “There’s still a lot more work to be done and over the years the draw hasn’t been lucky to us.
“We will do our analysis of them when the time comes, of course it will be tricky because every game in Europe is. We will identify their strengths and weaknesses, by the time we play them the gaffer will have told us everything we need to know.
“But it’s about Sunday with Motherwell in the league first then we’ll look at next Thursday after that.”
Hibs ended last season on a low note when meekly surrendering 1-0 to Motherwell, costing them fourth place. While Hibs ended up reaching Europe by virtue of Celtic winning the Scottish Cup and the Conference League spot cascading down to them, some supporters were underwhelmed by the second campaign under Gray. Patience is thinner in the stands than before.
The manager has reconfigured his front line and started both Malisheva matches with Boyle, Owen Elding and Nathan Lowe. The latter duo are both 20-years-old and carry plenty of promise. Like Boyle, they netted against the Kosovans and are poised to lead the line against Motherwell.
Lowe, in particular, will have enjoyed hitting the taget. He missed two good chances in the first leg and was in the right place at the right time to head home the third goal on Thursday night - although Boyle’s strike was the pick of the bunch, an excellent individual effort as he skinned four defenders before slotting home.
“People keep telling me it was a great goal but I can’t remember it!” the 33-year-old laughed. “I must be getting too old and forgetting things. It was a goal at the end of the day, I’m happy to contribute and am ready to go again. There’s no better feeling than scoring goals and luckily I’m in a position to do that.
“Nathan and Owen both got their goals too which is great for the strikers. They’re young boys breaking through so I’m sure their confidence will be high as well.
“Nathan missed a couple in Kosovo but I said it afterwards, I’d be more angry if he wasn’t getting in those positions to score. He got the luck he needed this week, a tap in to get himself going.
“I saw him interviewed the other day saying he wants 20 goals - so that’s just 19 to go now, no pressure! He’s a young lad who wants to come here, improve and score goals. He’s unpredictable at times but I’m sure the three of us can have a great relationship.
“As for Owen, he is a fantastic talent and his left foot is brilliant. It’s good to see how we have linked up and it’s good to have that target in the box with Nathan.
“There will be more goals to come from the three of us.”