Hibs head coach David Gray was full of praise for his players and staff for their collective efforts over the last week.
Hibs booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup with a 1-0 win over Partick Thistle at Easter Road.
Owen Elding’s first-half strike was the difference between the sides as the team rounded off an excellent week – backing up an impressive win over Rangers with a European progression and now safe passage into the last eight of the League Cup.
Speaking to Hibs TV after the match, Gray said: “I think it’s been a fantastic week for the Football Club.
“For everything that we’ve gone through; winning at Ibrox, then going to Macedonia, travelling in the heat and getting through the tie, and then being into the next round of the League Cup – it’s very much everything we set out to do.
“I thought we started again brilliantly, created numerous chances, and I’ve just been a wee bit critical of the players there.
“I was critical about the fact that we suffered the last time here at home against Motherwell, and we’re not taking our chances.
“We had five or six really good chances to go and win the game and put the tie to bed. We didn’t take them, and then, as that happens, the opposition grow into the game.
“I thought second half they had a real go, and I thought they would do. I was relying on the goalkeeper who made some huge saves, to stop it going to extra time.
“But ultimately, I just praised the players again in the dressing room because of everything that’s gone on this week. We rotated the squad; there were a lot of tired bodies in there.
“It certainly wasn’t going to be used as an excuse, but it was a very difficult tie today because of the exertions during the week and because of the opposition we were playing.
“There was no guarantees today – all the pressure was on the players, but they found a way to get into the next round of the cup. It’s another clean sheet, so back-to-back clean sheets, which is always a foundation of successful teams, as you know.
“The character has been tested a lot already in the very early part of the season and they have found the answers.”
The relentless schedule continues with the Hibs flying out to Belgium in midweek for a crucial UEFA Conference League first-leg with Gent.
“I’m absolutely delighted for the players,” Gray continued.
“I’ve just said that, and the staff – they’ve worked tirelessly to try to turn the players around, making sure everyone’s ready for three times in a very quick turnaround.
“This is what we want to be involved in. These are the rewards for last season, and we want this to continue for as long as it can.”
“I’ve already said this has been a fantastic start to the season for what we’ve done. We’ve now dust ourselves down and look forward to the play-off in Europe. We have the right to go and have a real go against a good side, but we can all look forward to it now.”
