Hibs Secure Play-Off Spot in Conference League

Hibernian are one step from the Conference League group stage after a goalless draw with Shkendija in North Macedonia, a result that calmly completed the job from the first leg and booked a place in the play-off.

It wasn’t a night for the purists. It was, however, a night that did exactly what it needed to do.

Relief, not romance

For some supporters, that was more than enough.

“Job done. Not pretty but a clean sheet away in Europe is nothing to be sniffed at,” said Calum, capturing the mood of those who simply wanted safe passage and nothing more.

John struck a similar tone. Entertainment could wait; progress was the only currency that mattered.

“Not the best of games to watch but who cares. Getting to the play-offs is all that counted,” he said. “I feel the team were never in any danger, Shkendija played better at Easter Road.”

The sense from that camp is clear: in Europe, you survive first and judge the aesthetics later.

The Gray question

But the performance, coming so soon after the statement win over Rangers, has sharpened the focus on David Gray’s approach.

Kenny, buoyed by that league victory, wants the manager to trust his side’s attacking instincts more often.

“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 complaint is specific. Hibs, he feels, are sitting too deep, too often.

“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.”

The message is a challenge as much as a compliment: the squad is good enough, now let it off the leash.

Doubts beneath the surface

Not everyone is convinced by Gray’s post-match praise for Shkendija, either.

“Gray says Shkendija were a really good side, they were awful and we played at their level over the tie with poor passing,” said A Graham, who saw the tie as a warning rather than a platform.

The criticism goes deeper than one sluggish night. The attack, in particular, is under scrutiny.

“We were lacklustre up front and our record signing can't get a game,” he added. “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 performance hangs over this European tie like a question mark. Was that the glimpse of what Hibs can be, or a one-off spike in an otherwise flat start?

One hurdle left

Amid the debate, one fact stands firm: Hibs are into the play-off, still chasing a first appearance in the next stage of this competition.

Neil summed up that pragmatic satisfaction.

“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.”

The tie in North Macedonia will not live long in the memory. What comes next just might.