Hibernian

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "Yeah, I think what you've just said there, I understand why you say that [could have been better, could have been worse].

"I think it started really, one thing I would say is this ties very much still alive, there's a lot of football still to be played.

"Josh's [Mulligan] goal is huge because it makes it only one goal in it again.

"We've already just said this to the players, we went over to Midtjylland, and we went over to Partizan, had huge performances and results away from home. We're going to need to do that again

"And it's big moments in the game today [again]... to lose the goal just before half time was a poor goal to lose. You can talk about the penalty and decisions and everything like that. We're not going to do that. It is what it is, we can't affect that now.

"Clearly the one that's the factual one on the offside was a big moment in the game.

"So if that goes 3-0, that's a very different night tonight. And I thought we had really good, clear-cut chances in the game, and should have done better with them.

"But I've just reminded the players, we've just gone toe-to-toe with a team that went to the quarter-finals of the competition last season, and I think we were very good value for it at times.

"I thought we were really brave, really got after it. I can't fault the effort, can't fault the application towards it.

"We'll need to be better in certain situations, but this ties is still very much alive, as I've just said."

On Legia's penalty award, he adds: "I don't know if they've seen it as a second phase, whatever phase, when that phase of play starts.

"I do think it is offside, I don't know if that counts in that phase, but at the same time, I've not seen it back with the lines or anything like that, so I'm not going to sit and moan about decisions that I can't affect now.

"I say that all the time, one thing I don't do is moan about refereeing decisions, so I try and worry about things I can affect, which is my team's performance.

"But again, I'll just reiterate to the players, as I've just done, there's a lot to be positive about.

"Now, [we] hate losing football games, I'll never accept losing games of football, but it's slightly different over two legs because it is only half-time in the tie.

"And listen, it's all the play for going over there, because of that goal it is only one goal in it, and we know, we felt it ourselves in a positive way this season and in a negative way already, that big moments in games and momentum within that and we've got the momentum now after back of that goal."

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Josh Mulligan's late strike resuscitated Hibernian's hopes of progressing to the Conference League as they emerged from the first leg of their play-off with Legia Warsaw at Easter Road trailing 2-1.

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Josh Mulligan is flattered by comparisons with John McGinn as he "strives" to emulate the Scotland midfielder and former Hibs hero.

Mulligan, a summer arrival from Dundee, has impressed in his early Easter Road career and scored a stunning strike last weekend to seal the 2-0 win over Livingston and set up a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final trip to Rangers next month.

The 22-year-old is now looking to help Hibs build a first-leg lead over Legia Warsaw in tonight's Conference League play-off.

"Obviously McGinn was a great player, he's still a great player," said Mulligan.

"To be compared to someone like him is a really good compliment. But I just thought I'd focus on my own game and not try to get caught up in that or start comparing myself to other players.

"It's a nice comparison. In the last five years, he's been a massive player for Scotland as well, probably one of the most influential.

"To look at him, he's someone you want to look at and strive for."

With Hibs' exploits in Europe catching the eye, Mulligan hopes it can help him break into Steve Clarke's Scotland squad and become an international team-mate of McGinn.

"There's other players my age that have managed to break in," the Under-21 midfielder added.

"You try not to think about it too much. You just think, play well in the next game. If you keep doing that, you never know.

"The European stuff has definitely helped because you're playing against better teams and more exposure and all that stuff.

"Hopefully in the next two games against Legia, we can get a good result and make a bit of history as well."

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Hibs head coach David Gray wants to use a teeming Easter Road to his side's advantage as they prepare to host Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their Conference League play-off tie.

Both of Hibs' previous European ties this season have started away from home - to Midtjylland and Partizan Belgrade - but they welcome the Polish side to Leith first in their final qualifying tie.

Their previous home legs have been at a packed and raucous home ground, with Gray now hopeful that the side will thrive in another bustling atmosphere.

"We've already had two sell-outs, soon to be three sell-outs tomorrow, I'm sure, at Easter Road, and how good that is to play in that environment and coach in that environment myself," Gray said.

"It's a big game, everybody wants to make themselves available as you'd expect, bumps and bruises and knocks go away.

"I know they're all feeling good about themselves as well, after a really good result and performance at the weekend, and everything's gearing up now, there's no distractions, there's no game in between, which is another real positive step that we can really focus on.

"A brilliant opportunity, a brilliant game to look forward to, but a real tough test at the same time."

Despite being at home in the first leg and wanting his players to enjoy that special "environment", he is keen to emphasise that they cannot get lost in the emotion of the night and must remain focused on their game plan.

"It's slightly different for us this time," Gray said. "We've been away in the other legs first, which maybe changes the psychology behind it.

"But, to be honest, it didn't really because my mindset was to try to start the game well. and that will be exactly the same challenge again tomorrow night.

"We just want to make sure that if the players go out and give the account of themselves that they have been doing, the level of performance we've had."

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Hibs head coach David Gray has been speaking to the media before the first leg his side's Europa Conference League play-off against Legia Warszawa.

Here are the key points from his news conference:

• The challenge to the players at the start of the season was to make history and qualify for the group phase of the competition, with Gray saying "it is certainly an exciting time" to be connected with the club.

• Gray says the club are "where they want to be" when they compete against "top European sides", with the challenge of facing "top European coaches" something that energises him.

• The head coach expects "top side" Legia to be "very aggressive" in the tie, adding that it will be a "tough test" for his side.

• He says that the "mentality" of the players has to be positive, as there will be periods in the game where they will suffer.

• Hibs being able to postpone their domestic fixture that fell in between both legs is a "real positive step" for Scottish football, as it brings the nation in line with other European leagues, Gray reckons.

• Hibs "want to make sure the tie is still alive" going to Poland and that they are "in a strong position" for the second leg, says Gray.

• He hopes the atmosphere inside Easter Road is similar to that of the last two ties in the competition, with another sell-out crowd expected.

• Hibs' previous two first legs have been away from home, but Gray says the mentality stays the same and they won't "shut up shop" at home to try to stay in the game.

• Joe Newell is the only player unavailable with all other squad members fighting to be in the matchday squad.

Hibernian manager David Gray has challenged his squad "to create history" by qualifying for the league phase of a Uefa competition when they face Legia Warsaw for a place in the Conference League. (The Scotsman)

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Miguel Chaiwa believes his experience of playing in last season's Champions League can help him thrive at Hibernian.

The 21-year-old midfielder made an eye-catching debut for Hibs in Sunday's League Cup win at Livingston after joining earlier this month from Young Boys.

The Zambia international featured as a substitute in the Swiss side's Champions League play-off win over Galatasaray a year ago and then in their league phase matches against Celtic and Red Star Belgrade.

"It has helped me a lot," Chaiwa said. "We played good teams in the Champions League.

"I've got one or two experiences playing against top teams, so it was a really, really good platform for me."

Chaiwa made his Hibs debut on the same day Thibault Klidje, who scored the opener, made his first start.

The Togolese forward had been restricted to four substitute appearances prior to Sunday, but Chaiwa expects his fellow African to make a big impact at Easter Road.

"We played against each other in Switzerland," he added. "I knew him personally, he's one of the good guys and has a little bit of shyness in him.

"But I know what he's capable of doing. He's energetic. He can run, he can jump, even though he's short. He's willing to give everything.

"I think he will do well at Hibs once he gets a run of games, absolutely."

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

It's been a great few days as a Hibs fan.

Thursday night saw a sell-out Easter Road crowd roar the team into the Conference League play-offs before a more subdued affair on Sunday saw the Hibs go marching on into the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup, where we'll meet Rangers in Glasgow.

It was brilliant to see the strength and depth that David Gray has at his disposal on Sunday. Miguel Chaiwa made a hugely impressive debut alongside Alasana Manneh in the middle of the park. Scotland hall of famer Grant Hanley stepped in for the rested Rocky Bushiri, while record signing Thibault Klidje made his first start for the club, helping himself to a goal to cap a terrific performance.

Gray used his squad superbly on Sunday as he negotiates the Thursday-Sunday- Thursday schedule of European football, and despite six changes, his side didn't skip a beat in the blistering heat on Livingston's new pitch.

Josh Mulligan hit what would have been a contender for goal of the season, if everyone wasn't still talking about Keiron Bowie's wonder-strike at Easter Road on Thursday. That was genuinely the best goal I have seen scored live, as soon as it left his boot I knew it had a chance, and when it nestled in the top corner I don't think I've heard a Hibs crowd roar so loud since Bowie's gaffer got his incredible napper onto Liam Henderson's corner at Hampden Park back in 2016.

There's a lot of noise and optimism around football in the capital this season, and Hibs are doing their bit to ignore the bluster and just quietly get on with the job in hand. It's great fun.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

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Hibernian midfielder Miguel Chaiwa says he has "no choice" but to "adapt quickly" to Scottish football as he made his debut on Sunday afternoon, nine days after arriving in Scotland.

The Zambia midfielder joined Hibs from Swiss Super League side Young Boys on 8 August and put pen to paper on a three-year deal.

With a busy schedule, boss David Gray rotated his squad for the League Cup tie against Livingston on Sunday that included giving Chaiwa his first start.

And the midfielder helped Hibs to a 2-0 victory over Livi.

"First time in a new environment, in a new city, in a new club so I just had to give everything," the 21-year-old said.

"What the coach told me, I had to prove it on the pitch.

"The coach had to tell me it would be more intensive, more duels. So I had to adapt it, even in training, even the very first day I came here.

"At the moment, speaking of it, it's quite difficult to adapt it. I have no choice but to quickly adapt to the style of play in Scotland."

Chaiwa will be hoping for more minutes in Thursday's Conference League tie against Legia Warsaw.

"For me, I might say they are a really, really good team," he added.

"Conference League football, it's all about results. So we have to make sure at our home ground we win. So we just need to focus on the next game."

"It's quite an amazing atmosphere [at Easter Road]. It's wonderful, really. As a player, you have to work very hard to give to the fans what they really expect from you."

We asked for your views on Hibernian's 2-0 victory against Livingston in the Scottish League Cup.

Here's what some of you said:

Andrew: Absolutely delighted with the performance considering the fact we had just played one of the most draining and emotionally exhausting ties we'll have all season. Thibault Klidje was a threat and well worthy of his goal but I think Miguel Chaiwa was outstanding in midfield. He is so composed and physical and a real asset to the team. Onwards and upwards hopefully.

John: I'm glad David Gray trusted his new guys to get the job done and gave much needed rest to key players. Some very decent performances and some very inconsistent refereeing as several Hibs players victims of bad tackles

Stevie: Hibs are the next level right now, the squad is strong and the future is bright, good season ahead.

Allan: Really professional job done by Gray and the boys. Never looked in danger of conceding. Excellent man management by Gray by resting some players and giving much needed minutes to players who have been unfortunate not to play more. Brilliant headache for the gaffer to have as all the players that came in performed very well. Chaiwa looks a great find, alongside the other new recruits. Credit to the recruitment staff and management team. Potential to be a special season with special players.

Adam: Hibs have established an ideal squad with good defensive players and a strong midfield. Kieron Bowie is an outstanding young centre forward who can only improve.

Sandy: Two great goals, one from debutant Klidje and a hammer strike from the bargain of the season Josh Mulligan. This Hibs performance was miles above anything from just a season ago. David Gray has one huge problem, who to pick and where? What a squad. Onwards to Thursday and the European match.

Record signing Thibault Klidje marked his first start with a crucial goal as Hibernian defeated Livingston to secure a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "It was very much job done, a real professional performance. I have spoken a lot about needing to use the squad and they all delivered today. A clean sheet at a very difficult place to come and now our attention turns quickly towards Europe which everyone will be excited about.

"Thibault Klidje was excellent, delighted for him on a personal note. That will do his confidence the world of good. We've been patient with him, we'll continue to do that. He's a work in progress, he needs to settle. I credit the group because of how quickly he has settled in.

"We've got players that can come on and affect the game, it was a real team performance today.

"There is still loads to improve on but as far as we're concerned it was a very professional performance and we can look forward to Thursday."

On Grant Hanley, Gray adds: "I think that might be only the second game of his career on astroturf, he's got his first blister of his career today. I said 'welcome to Livi away, that's what happens'. He was solid, really composed. The whole back five today, I don't want to single anybody out, because it was a real collective performance."