Hibernian Aims for Continued Success Against Motherwell
Scottish Premiership: Motherwell vs. Hibernian
Venue: Fir Park, Motherwell Date: Tuesday, 25 November Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Listen to commentary on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & Sounds, and follow live text updates on the BBC Sport website & app.
While Hearts have been the focal point of discussions in the Scottish Premiership this season, Hibernian is steadily accumulating points following a shaky start. After only securing one victory in their first seven league matches, Hibs have rebounded impressively, winning four out of their last six games.
Head coach David Gray, who faced scrutiny after last season's slow beginning, is now steering the team toward a potential repeat of their third-place finish from the previous year. A victory against Motherwell on Tuesday could bring them within six points of the league leaders, Hearts.
What Has Changed?
Hibernian has transformed their ability to convert draws into wins. An earlier European qualifying campaign took a toll on the squad, resulting in a series of draws. A late defeat in the derby against Hearts served as a wake-up call, prompting a turnaround that has seen them win four matches and draw one since.
Despite a narrow loss to Rangers, where they missed a crucial penalty, Hibs have maintained a solid scoring record while also improving their defensive capabilities. After conceding ten goals in their first seven matches, they have since recorded three clean sheets and allowed only four goals in their last six fixtures.
Defensive reinforcement from a fit Grant Hanley and the impressive performance of goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger, who has a league-high save percentage of 82%, have been pivotal in this improvement.
Gray Reflects on the Remarkable Turnaround
The statistical performance of Hibernian as a team is encouraging, particularly in attack, where they rank highly in key metrics. They are second only to Celtic in terms of big chances created and expected goals (xG), while also ranking third for touches in the opposition box.
Historically, strong underlying metrics correlate with success over the season, and Hibs’ current position reflects their true potential. Nearly a year ago, Gray’s managerial journey took a positive turn following a dramatic 3-3 draw with Aberdeen, which ignited a remarkable run to finish third.
Gray hopes that a favorable result at Fir Park on Tuesday will replicate the momentum from last season, especially given the better start this time around. Reflecting on his experiences, he expressed gratitude for the lessons learned during his first year as a head coach, stating, "When I think about that first period, I certainly learned a lot from what my first year looked like, being maybe 30 seconds away from potentially losing [my] job. So, to then be sitting where we finished, the success from last season, the feel-good factor around the club, moving in the right direction and then putting ourselves in a good position now. That’s all we’ve done, though."