Hibs Advance in Conference League Play-Off but Fans Divided
Hibs grind it out in North Macedonia – and the fans are split on what it all means.
A goalless draw against Shkendija was enough to push David Gray’s side into the Conference League play-off, the tie managed rather than mastered, the job completed without much glamour. For some, that was plenty.
“Job done,” said Calum. “Not pretty but a clean sheet away in Europe is nothing to be sniffed at.”
That summed up one half of the mood: pragmatic, quietly satisfied, aware that in continental football, results trump aesthetics.
John struck a similar note. The spectacle didn’t bother him in the slightest. “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.” In his eyes, Hibs controlled the tie across the two legs and did what was required.
The context matters here. This came on the back of a statement league win against Rangers, a result that briefly lit up the early season and raised expectations. That’s where the tone begins to change.
Kenny looked at the bigger picture. For him, Europe is a springboard, not a hiding place.
“A great result following on from the win against Rangers at the weekend,” he said, before turning the spotlight on Gray. The manager, he argued, now has to trust his team more in domestic games. Too often in the Premiership, Kenny feels Hibs retreat into themselves.
“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’s the tension. European ties demand control and caution. The league demands bravery. Hibs, in the eyes of many, still haven’t found the right balance.
A Graham was far less forgiving about what unfolded over the two legs. Gray had talked up Shkendija, but that didn’t wash.
“Gray says Shkendija were a really good side, they were awful and we played at their level over the tie with poor passing,” came the blunt verdict. The criticism cut deeper than just one performance. Hibs, he felt, looked blunt and disjointed.
“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 Rangers win, once a spark of optimism, now risks being written off as an outlier unless Hibs can find that intensity again – and quickly.
Neil, though, circled back to the bottom line. Progress in Europe is not routine for Hibs. It still matters. It still carries weight.
“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.”
That’s where the club now stands. Through, but under scrutiny. One tie from a place in the group stage, yet still wrestling with identity, ambition and style.
The play-off will answer a simple question: is this just a functional European run, or the start of something that finally matches the noise coming from the stands?
