Hibernian

Sportscene pundit and former Hibs midfielder Scott Brown analyses the 2-1 win at Ibrox that gives David Gray's side the chance to pip Motherwell to a fourth-place finish on Saturday.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Felix Passlack says Hibernian have put themselves in a great position to finish fourth in the Premiership after snatching a dramatic last-gasp victory over Rangers at Ibrox.

Hibs spent much of the game on the back foot after Thelo Aasgaard cancelled out Martin Boyle's early opener for the Edinburgh side.

With the clock ticking towards 90 minutes, Passlack teed up Dane Scarlett to prod home the winner and bank a precious three points that sets up a final-day shootout with Motherwell at Easter Road to secure European football next season.

"It feels great," Passlack told BBC Scotland.

"The first half wasn't good for us. We didn't stick to the plan, especially defensive-wise.

"We talked about it in half-time and I think we had three shots on goal. We scored twice. It was a great evening for us.

"We talked about in recent weeks and months that we try to finish fourth. Saturday it's on the table. Just one win.

"It sounds easy, but it will be a tough game at home and hopefully we will get those three points."

We asked for your views on Hibernian's 2-1 win against Rangers at Ibrox.

Here's what some of you said:

Danny: This result should - but sadly won't - put the David Gray haters' gas at a peep. It's been a weird season - we have beaten both Rangers and Celtic away from home and can still match last season's points. Yet, because we're in fifth rather than third and European football is not yet confirmed, the season is viewed by many Hibbies as a failure. We need to get over that and acknowledge Gray is doing a good job. On Saturday, a win against Motherwell and, yes, a win for Celtic would put a completely different complexion on this campaign.

Kenny: To beat Celtic and Rangers away takes a bit of doing but we have proved again that consistency has been the thing that's let us down from being higher up the league. But a win against Motherwell will get us forth place. A few weeks ago that looked very unlikely but it just shows what an up and down season it's been. Onwards and upwards.

Jim: Hibs never really looked in danger of losing. Rangers huffed and puffed with little end product. Hibs played a great game and the result wasn't flattering or a fluke. Bring on the 'Well.

John: Hibs really need to sign Martin Boyle for another year, what a difference our attacking threat is when Josh Campbell starts. Defence is much better when Grant Hanley is in charge of the backline. Also, massive praise to Felix Passlack.

Scott: Very unexpected win due to our poor record at Ibrox. Let's not kid ourselves though, this Rangers team is one of the poorest I can remember in my 61 years. However, the result brings up a huge final game against Motherwell at Easter Road with a view to European football next season.

William: Great result makes last game a cup final for both teams, and if Hibs win it will end a difficult season on a high and not have to rely on a Celtic cup win.

Chris: Just shows all those doubters that Hibs can do it! Great performance, now finish off the season in style and give Boyle the send off he deserves.

Watch all the highlights as Rangers suffered a fourth successive home defeat for the first time since 1983 as Hibernian edge closer to confirming European football. Available to UK users only.

Rangers slipped to a fourth successive defeat in their last home match of the season as Hibernian celebrated keeping their hopes of fourth place and European football alive on Wednesday night.

MATCH REPORT

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Hibernian manager David Gray: "Before the game, we spoke about coming here and winning.

"If I'm being honest, it was very much a smash-and-grab because of the way the game went. Rangers started really well and our goalkeeper had to make four or five massive saves, which kept us in the game.

"With 15 minutes to go, we knew we needed to win, so I threw caution to the wind, threw strikers on, went to a back four and opened it up.

"Even at that time, Rangers had a big chance before we scored.

"I was a bit disappointed with how we played at times, but I've just said to the players, it was all about winning for us."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The victory at Falkirk was a timely boost for David Gray and his players after a couple of major dents in their quest to grasp a European spot.

It was also an indication of the talent of Josh Campbell and what he can bring to what will be a much-changed squad for the new season.

Campbell, who turned 26 last week, has made 32 appearances this season but only six starts.

His two goals were typical of how the midfielder can ghost in under the radar and find valuable space to trouble opposition defences.

He is now at an age where regular starts are key for his career and he will hope these will be at Easter Road in the years to come.

While Hibs could still drop down a spot or rise to fourth, they look set for a fifth-place finish, but the remaining two fixtures against Rangers and Motherwell are far from meaningless as good performances and victories may just be a deciding factor in how the management view future deals.

Sunday will also be a bittersweet moment for Martin Boyle. He will play his last game for Hibs and supporters will be keen to show their appreciation of his service to the club.

Initially joining on loan from Dundee before penning a permanent deal, other than a short spell in the Saudi Arabia, he has been a standout performer for Hibs. Over 400 appearances, in excess of 100 goals, club captain, numerous managerial changes, Boyle has handled everything that has come his way with style.

For many of these players this will be their final appearance for the club and they deserve a decent send-off, but no one more than Boyle who should be able to savour a rendition of Sunshine on Leith one final time.

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• Rangers have lost three consecutive league games for the first time since October 2000 - that run 26 years ago began with a 1-0 defeat to Hibs.

• Rangers have lost just one of their past 29 league meetings with Hibs (W19 D9), going down 2-0 at home in April 2025.

• All of Hibs' past five top-flight wins over Rangers have come away from home. However, Hibs have lost 12 of their past 13 league visits to Ibrox (W1).

• Excluding the curtailed 2019-20 season, Rangers have won their final home game in six of the last seven league campaigns (D1 – v Hearts in 2022-23) since a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen in 2016-17.

• Including the curtailed 2019-20 season, Hibs have only won their final away game in one of their past nine top-flight campaigns (D3 L5), beating Aberdeen 1-0 in 2020-21.

• Hibs forward Martin Boyle has scored four goals in his last four Scottish Premiership starts against Rangers, this after only scoring one in his first 12 starts against them in the competition beforehand.

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Rangers head coach Danny Rohl could makes changes after his side were consigned to third place. John Souttar and Ryan Naderi missed Sunday's game against Celtic.

Hibs are set to welcome Josh Mulligan back after almost four months out with an ankle injury, while Rocky Bushiri returns after a minor hamstring issue. Jamie McGrath is still suspended and Rudi Molotnikov (ankle) remains out.

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Josh Mulligan is set to end a four-month absence from the Hibs squad in Wednesday night's crucial game at Rangers.

The key midfielder has been out with ankle injury since the Scottish Cup defeat at Dunfermline in January.

Mulligan, 23, has been back in training since last month and is ready for the squad after not being risked on Falkirk's artificial pitch last weekend.

"He's never done any rehab on that surface and we didn't know how it would react, so given that he hadn't played any minutes at all and had been out for a long time, we didn't feel it was a risk we could take," head coach David Gray told Hibs TV.

"As a result of that, he's had more training over the weekend, and he's fully fit and available if selected and falls into contention for the squad tomorrow night with it being on a grass surface.

"What that does as well is give everybody a lift. I've seen that in the last 10 days. We've got competition for places and he certainly adds freshness as well."

Hibs have the chance to seal fifth place – which will be enough to earn a Conference League qualifier if Celtic beat Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup final – while they will also be eyeing a victory to potentially move within striking distance of fourth-placed Motherwell prior to their final-day home match with the Steelmen.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

The three points picked up from Falkirk on Saturday could yet prove to be huge for Hibs' season.

We have to hope Celtic can win at Fir Park on Wednesday night and that Hibs find a way to beat Rangers at Ibrox to set up a shootout for fourth on Saturday.

My head tells me such a scenario is unlikely. The football gods have been incredibly unkind to Hibs this season, so we're maybe due some good fortune.

I was so happy for Josh Campbell to get his goals at the weekend. He has a real aptitude for timing those runs into the box and popping up with important goals.

Josh has struggled for game-time and I think he sometimes suffers from being asked to play when we need a midfielder to chase down opponents and run all day, but when he's given the opportunity and remit to get in the box, he's a real threat.

With Jamie McGrath still suspended, Campbell has the chance to make sure he's starting against Motherwell if he can back up Saturday's performance with a similar impact against Rangers.

I've no idea how the game at Ibrox will go, Rangers' season is done but they'll want to bow out with a win in their final home match.

Hibs can't be distracted by what's going on there. With a job to do I'm sure David Gray will have the team focused on the task in hand.

Hopefully things go our way and we're in for a thrilling last game of the season on Saturday.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

Former Aberdeen and Hibernian winger Junior Hoilett would not be surprised to see Martin Boyle join the Dons this summer when the forward's deal at Easter Road expires. (Daily Record), external

Elie Youan appears to be leaving Hibernian after the French forward's barber posted on social media: "Last haircut for @e.youan, four years deep." (Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Kieran O'Hara - Dundee

A clean sheet and a penalty save as Dundee safeguarded their Premiership status.

Findlay Curtis - Kilmarnock

A star showing from Curtis with two huge goals over fellow relegation rivals St Mirren.

Stephen O'Donnell - Motherwell

What a block to deny Lawrence Shankland. Gave everything for the Motherwell cause.

Kieran Tierney - Celtic

There feels like there is so much more impetus about Celtic ever since the international break. Seasoned campaigners like Tierney have really come to the fore as Celtic make their final charge to defend their title. An assist for Maeda's first goal.

Jordan Obita - Hibernian

On the scoresheet in what was a big away win at the Falkirk Stadium.

Josh Campbell - Hibernian

Two well taken goals on the way to a big result which keeps alive Hibs hopes of catching Motherwell.

Callum McGregor - Celtic

A captain's performance as the Celtic leader marshalled his teammates to great effect throughout a potentially pivotal Old Firm victory.

Cam Congreve - Dundee

Another goal for the consistently excellent Welsh international on loan from Swansea.

Toyosi Olusanya - Aberdeen

Finally, his first goal for Aberdeen. Big moment for the former St Mirren man.

Lawrence Shankland- Hearts

Denied by O'Donnell, but you don't keep the Hearts captain down for long. When the next chance came along there was never any doubt Shankland would find the net. Could be a huge goal.

Daizen Maeda- Celtic

In a decidedly mixed season, Maeda was outstanding in the Old Firm derby. Time seemed to stand still as his stupendous overhead kick looped into the net behind Jack Butland. Maeda never stood still throughout this match, his energy levels saw him chase down Rangers players throughout. Two goals on the day and six goals in four games. Coming to the boil at just the right time.

Hibs fans, we asked for your opinions on the 3-1 win over Falkirk. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Scott: Too little, too late for me. Most decent teams can turn it on when the pressure is more or less gone. David Gray is not the man to take us to the next level, if he remains expect similar results next season.

Brian: We've left our title push a bit too late, unfortunately!

Martin: Good first-half which nobody saw coming, and fair play to the much-maligned Josh Campbell on a good double. That said, where was this type of concentrated performance when it mattered a few weeks ago against our neighbours?

Kenny: Great result but a little too late for us this season. David Gray has taken the team as far as he can. We might still make the lower reaches of European competition but it's not good enough for us fans.

We are underachieving as a club and we should now look to Hearts and be matching them. We need changes at the club and soon.

Paul: A welcome three points all round. A good performance with a special mention for the forgotten man Josh Campbell. Let's hope we kick on and win our last games. All to often we have let ourselves down this season, but I still hope that European football will come to Easter Road.

William: Great result but an incredibly poor game of football. However, this will surely give Hibs a chance to catch Motherwell if we win are last two games.

Hibernian moved closer to claiming European football for next season with a dominant win at Falkirk, arresting a run of three straight Scottish Premiership losses.

Have your say on the game here.

Read the match report here.

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Hibs head coach David Gray: "Delighted for the players, I know there was a lot of pressure going into the game today, I thought our first half performance was really, really good in terms of real difficult pitch, this surface, a difficult place to come and play.

"But the players carried out that game plan really well in the first half, scored three really good goals and a real professional performance in the second half.

"I think in terms of the last three games, the results and the challenges we faced, they certainly got the rewards today."

"I'm delighted for Josh [Campbell] on a personal level, someone who really cares about the football club, been at the club for a very long time and had to be really patient for game time.

"He'll be frustrated on a personal note for how many minutes he's probably played, but today he's certainly got his rewards for everything he put into it, his energy, his work rate, and he's always a threat in the box.

"It doesn't happen by accident, he does that consistently, and I'm delighted for him that he managed to get his rewards for that today.

"Nothing's achieved yet, absolutely not.

"We've been frustrated in the last three weeks because of not picking up any points, and the effort just went into the three games, but we've done our job today, which is to control what we can.

"Really good away performance at a difficult place, three points at this moment in time

"All we can do is our job between now and the end of the season."

Hibernian wide man Nicky Cadden, 29, hopes not to be "unlucky" to be withdrawn following a red card again this season after the club's recent spate of dismissals. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Falkirk welcome back Liam Henderson but Scott Bain (ankle), Louie Marsh and Ethan Williams (both thigh) are out.

Hibernian trio Grant Hanley, Raphael Sallinger and Felix Passlack return from suspension but Jamie McGrath drops out after his red card last weekend. Josh Mulligan (ankle) and Munashe Garananga (hamstring) have a chance of returning but Rudi Molotnikov (ankle) is out.

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Goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger will start for Hibs in the crucial game at Falkirk on Saturday, head coach David Gray has confirmed.

The Austrian returns from a one-game suspension after being sent off in the first half of the 2-1 derby defeat by Hearts for catching the ball outside his penalty box.

Jordan Smith - last season's number one - performed strongly in the remainder of the derby and subsequent 2-1 loss to Celtic but will make way.

Asked if he had a tough decision to make over which keeper to start, Gray said: "Yeah, I do. But I've spoken to both goalkeepers and it'll be Rafa that goes back in this weekend.

"It's not an easy decision because all Smudge can do is wait for his opportunity and do everything he can, and he's certainly done that, but I think over the piece, Rafa has been very consistent this season.

"I've been very open with the two of them and Rafa will start the game."

Defenders Felix Passlack and Grant Hanley also return from suspension, with Hibs' European hopes having been hindered by four red cards in their past three matches.

"It's pretty self-explanatory, I spoke about that even going into the last one, and the results show that as well," said Gray. "Four red cards in three games, three defeats.

"To give yourself the best chance, you need all 11 men on the pitch."

Josh Mulligan has been "training well" after being sidelined since January but Gray did not say whether the key midfielder would return to face a sixth-place Falkirk side just two points behind Hibs.

In addition to trying to fend off the Bairns, Gray's side are still striving to overhaul fourth-place Motherwell, who are six points ahead with three games remaining.

"Everything we set out to do is still possible at this stage," he said. "We are quickly running out of games but there's no bigger game than the biggest game of the season this weekend.

"If we beat Falkirk this weekend it puts us five points ahead of them with two games to go, but, more importantly, three points behind Motherwell before they play their game [against Hearts] that night. We've still to play them and then anything can happen."

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• Hibs have had a player sent off in three consecutive Premiership games, the first side to do so in the competition since St Johnstone in September 2024. On Opta's records (from 2005-06), no side have received a red card in four successive Scottish top-flight matches.

• Hibs have lost their past three league games, last losing four in a row in April 2023 under Lee Johnson.

• Falkirk won for the first time in their past 13 top-flight meetings with Hibernian (D5 L7) when the two sides faced off in January (4-1).

• Hibs have only won two of their past 12 away games at newly-promoted opponents in the Premiership (D5 L5), beating Dundee 2-1 in November 2023 and Dundee United 3-1 in February 2025.

• After drawing five of their first eight home league games of this season (W2 L1), Falkirk haven't drawn any of their last 10 on home soil (W5 L5) since a 0-0 stalemate with Motherwell in December.