Hibs head coach David Gray praised his side’s character after securing a memorable 4-1 victory over KF Malisheva at Easter Road last night.
That result booked a place in the Third Round of the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.
A superb first-half performance saw Owen Elding, Felix Passlack and Nathan Lowe all find the back of the net.
Martin Boyle added a fourth in the second period before the visitors pulled one back late on.
But Hibs held on to claim a thoroughly deserved victory and secure safe passage into the next round.
“I thought it was fully deserved,” Gray told Hibs TV after the final whistle.
“When you think back to what we spoke about before the game, it was all about getting a reaction. I’ve seen that level in training, but it’s one thing seeing it there – can you then deliver it in a game when it really matters, under pressure.
“I thought the way we started the game was exactly that. There was real intent, we drove forward, and we did everything we’d spoken about. It gave the fans something to really get behind, which they certainly did, and they drove us on throughout that first half.”
“The scoreline arguably flattered the visitors, as we created numerous chances – hitting the woodwork on three occasions and registering a further 10 shots on target in what was a dominant display.
“With a little bit better finishing, the game could have been out of sight much earlier,” Gray continued. “Rather than it being about the opposition, it was more about how well I thought we played, how dangerous we looked going forward, and it could have been a lot more comfortable in the end.
“The pleasing thing was the number of chances we created. I spoke about having more intent and being more aggressive going forward, and I thought the front three were really lively all night.
“They all got their goals, but there were probably another three or four chances we should have taken. That’s certainly something to work on, but I’d be a lot more disappointed if we weren’t creating those chances or looking dangerous.”
Gray was also quick to acknowledge the backing of the Easter Road supporters, who got right behind the team from the start.
“After the disappointment of last week, the focus was on making sure there was a reaction. The players certainly delivered, and the fans responded as well,” added the Head Coach.
“That’s the best way to answer a really poor result and performance. I’m delighted for the players because they deserve it. They put so much into training every day, but it’s all well and good doing that – you have to take it onto the pitch, and tonight they certainly did.”
Attention now turns to the start of the William Hill Premiership campaign, with Motherwell the visitors to Easter Road on Sunday, before Hibs host KF Shkëndija in the first leg of the next round of European qualifying.
Gray added: “It’ll be a completely different task and a different challenge in the next round.
“The biggest thing tonight is enjoying the fact that we’re into the next round. That’s job done on that front, and now our attention turns to Motherwell at the weekend.
“We know it’ll be a tough test, but it’s one we can now look forward to. We’re at home, we want to get the league season off to a really positive start, and we’ve got a great opportunity to do that.”
