David Gray reserved special praise for the Hibs supporters who travelled to back the team, with a significant travelling support making the journey.
Gray told Hibs TV after the final whistle: “It was an incredible effort from them. I think it was reported that we were expecting about 300. Certainly a lot more than that made the journey.
“And to be honest, it sounded like 3,000 – so massive credit to them. They get to go home happy. I hope they have a safe flight back, and we’ll see them at Easter Road on Sunday.
“We’re all in this together. When you think back to where we’ve been, the ride we’ve been on for the last couple of seasons, we’re certainly going in the right direction, and there’s a lot to be positive about.”
Gray also hailed the result and performance and said his players should be proud of securing a place in the UEFA Conference League Play-Off Round with a goalless draw with KF Shkëndija last night.
In challenging conditions in the North Macedonian heat Hibs showed great character and resilience to progress through the tie, setting up a Conference League shootout with KAA Gent next week.
“It’s a fantastic result and a fantastic achievement.
“Especially off the back of Sunday, because of the highs of going and winning at Ibrox.
“Then when you think back to where we were last Thursday, and everything that went into that game, knowing the job is to get into the next round.
“To a man, it was a massive performance – and the players fully deserve what they got.
“It’s a really difficult place to come, against a very good side that got to the knockout stages of the competition last year, so it shows the magnitude of that,” he explained.
“But also the heat, everything we had to deal with, and we had the answers to it.
“It’s an incredible time to get a first clean sheet of the season, so that’s a huge positive for us as well.
“In the second half, we were much better for the first 20 minutes. I thought we had the three best chances of the game at that point,” Gray continued.
“You really need one of them to go in. If one of them goes in, it takes the sting out of the game and completely changes the atmosphere within it, and it allows the players to relax a little bit in the game.
“But whilst the scoreline was so tight, the home side were always naturally going to have a real go, and they certainly did that.
“That’s when you need your players to stand up and be counted. To a man, they’ve done that. There were big blocks at big times, and we found a way to get through in the tie, which is incredible.”
Hibs have now made it to the Play-Off Round of the UEFA Conference League for consecutive seasons, and for the third time in four years.
He added: “The character’s been tested a lot this season. The character after the Kosovo game, which was such a poor result and performance for us, but the character we showed to bounce back and get a result.”
“We’ve had a very good start to the season, especially by getting through tonight. Don’t underestimate the significance of that.
“We’re in a Play-Off Round again, in European football for back-to-back seasons, and it shows you the trend that the Club is going in – and the ambition of the Football Club.
“The players can be really proud of what they’ve achieved. We’ve now got another away tie to look forward to. The players will be in a good place for it because it’s exactly where they want to be competing.
