Hibs Advance in Conference League Play-offs Despite Mixed Reactions
Hibernian are one step from the Conference League groups after Thursday night’s goalless draw with Shkendija in North Macedonia – a result that did the job, even if it hardly set pulses racing.
For some fans, that was enough. For others, it simply underlined old concerns.
‘Job done’ – but not exactly a spectacle
The away clean sheet, and with it a place in the play-off, framed much of the reaction.
“Job done. Not pretty but a clean sheet away in Europe is nothing to be sniffed at,” said Calum, summing up the pragmatic camp. The performance might not make any season review DVDs, but it was efficient, controlled and, crucially, avoided drama.
John struck a similar tone. “Well done Hibs, not the best of games to watch but who cares. Getting to the play-offs is all that counted. I feel the team were never in any danger, Shkendija played better at Easter Road.”
That sense of calm – of Hibs managing the tie rather than chasing it – will please David Gray. Over two legs, his side kept things tight, protected their aggregate advantage and never really looked like throwing it away.
Style debate rumbles on
Yet even on a night when progress was secured, the old argument about Hibs’ approach under Gray resurfaced.
Kenny, buoyed by the recent win over Rangers, wants more ambition as a default setting.
“A great result following on from the win against Rangers at the weekend,” he said. “David Gray now needs to have more faith that we can beat teams around us without resorting to the defensive tactics that we seem to deploy in the Premiership.
The fans will get behind the manager and the team if we can play off the front foot and stop losing goals when we give the ball away just outside the 18-yard box. The players are there, no good being too negative.”
That Rangers victory has clearly raised expectations. It showed a Hibs side on the front foot, aggressive and dangerous. The contrast with a cautious European display, even in awkward away conditions, is not lost on supporters who believe the squad is capable of more than containment.
Concerns over quality and recruitment
Not everyone bought the idea that Shkendija posed a serious threat.
“Gray says Shkendija were a really good side, they were awful and we played at their level over the tie with poor passing,” argued A Graham. “We were lacklustre up front and our record signing can't get a game.
Hopefully some more signings to come as I'm struggling to see improvements in the ones we have so far. Hopefully we'll click into gear as the Rangers game seems the exception to the norm right now.”
That cuts to the heart of a nagging worry: if this is Hibs playing within themselves, when does the gear change arrive? And if it isn’t, has the summer business actually moved them forward?
A record signing watching on rather than influencing the tie only sharpens those questions.
One hurdle to clear – and a chance to make history
Strip away the aesthetics and the bottom line is simple: Hibs are in the Conference League play-off, and one tie away from a first-ever appearance in the competition’s group stage.
Neil captured that mix of satisfaction and anticipation.
“Well done Hibs, not pretty but a professional job. Let's hope we can get over this last hurdle and into the next stage for the first time.”
Professional, if unspectacular. Stable, if not yet sparkling. The European journey continues, but as the stakes rise in the play-off, so will the demand from the stands: can Gray’s Hibs turn solid progress into something that truly looks and feels like a team ready for the group stage spotlight?
