Josh Campbell goal seals victory for Hibs over MSV Duisburg in the Netherlands

Hibs won their first pre-season friendly in the Netherlands beating MSV Duisburg 1-0 thanks to a Josh Campbell goal. 

As in Saturday’s victory over Edinburgh City, head coach David Gray selected two sides, each playing 45 minutes each.  

All three new signing started the game meaning Josef Bursik was in goal, with Marvin Ekpiteta and Warren O’Hora as the centre-half pairing.

Jordan Obita and Lewis Miller started on their respective flanks. There was a midfield three of Luke Amos, Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Josh Campbell, with Martin Boyle – who captained the first half team – on the right, Rudi Molotnikov on the left, and Dylan Vente up-front. 

Hibs had the better of the first half then just before the half-hour mark Josh Campbell rose highest to meet a Martin Boyle cross and powered a header past the Duisburg ‘keeper. 

Hibs had the ball in the net for a second time on 40 minutes, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside.  

A brilliant passage of play starting with Marvin Ekpiteta saw the Hibees work through the lines before Boyle was released down the right flank.  

He picked out Vente in the box, who cleverly flicked the ball past the ‘keeper, but the linesman had his flag raised. 

Gray opted to change the full starting XI at half-time as he continues to build up the players’ match fitness. 

The second half side saw Jojo Wollacott in goal, Kanayo Megwa at left-back, Rory Whittaker at right-back, and Rocky Bushiri and Riley Harbottle at centre-half. Joe Newell captained the side and was part of a middle three alongside Nohan Kenneh and Dylan Levitt. Chris Cadden was right-wing, Jair Tavares left-wing, and Elie Youan up-front.  

Jair Tavares, Elie Youan and Dylan Levitt all had chances in the second half as Hibs ran out 1-0 winners against MSV Duisburg. 

Hibs: First half XI: Bursik; Miller, O’Hora, Ekpiteta, Obita; Moriah-Welsh, Amos, Campbell; Boyle (c), Molotnikov, Vente 

Second half XI: Wollacott; Whittaker, Harbottle, Bushiri, Megwa; Kenneh, Newell (c), Levitt; Cadden, Tavares; Youan 

Unused sub: Boruc 

MSV Duisburg; Starting XI: Kunz; Montag, Uzelac, Michelbrink, Fakhro, Meuer, Muller, Symalla, Coskun, Egerer, Hahn 

Subs: Braune; Fleckstein, Bookjans, Gockan, Yavuz, Sussek, Croonen, Sadlek, Adamidis