Hibs Archives - SNN Sports

Celtic One Result Away from Title as Post-Split Premiership Fixtures Confirmed

Celtic could secure the Scottish Premiership crown on 26 April when they visit Dundee United, needing just a draw to mathematically confirm their dominance. The reigning champions hold a commanding 15-point advantage over Rangers with only five games left, putting them on the verge of a 13th league title in 14 seasons. In a post-split schedule that raises some familiar concerns about fixture balance, the SPFL has now confirmed the remaining fixtures for both the top and bottom halves of the table. The final Old Firm clash of the campaign is set for Sunday 4 May at Ibrox – a potentially fiery occasion even if the title is already wrapped up. Aberdeen kick off their top-six run with a home tie against Hibernian, while Rangers will travel to face St Mirren in their opener. The top-six fixtures will all conclude on Saturday 17 May with simultaneous 12:30 BST kick-offs. However, the post-split format has once again led to some uneven home-and-away tallies. Hibernian must travel to St Mirren for a third time this season, granting the Buddies 20 home matches and only 18 away. Motherwell, meanwhile, will end their campaign having played 20 away fixtures. It’s the first season since 2017-18 where fixture balance couldn’t be maintained across the league. At the other end of the table, St Johnstone begin their survival bid away to Motherwell. They sit bottom, five points behind the rest with time running out. Just six points separate seventh-placed Hearts from 11th-placed Dundee, with only the side finishing 12th relegated automatically. The team in 11th will enter the play-offs. Bottom-half clubs will conclude their campaigns a day later than the top six, with all games on Sunday 18 May at 15:00 BST. 🔝 Top Six Fixtures Saturday 26 April Dundee United v Celtic (12:30) Aberdeen v Hibernian (15:00) St Mirren v Rangers (15:00) Saturday 3 May Hibernian v Dundee United (15:00) St Mirren v Aberdeen (15:00) Sunday 4 May Rangers v Celtic (12:00) Saturday 10 May Celtic v Hibernian (15:00) Dundee United v St Mirren (15:00) Sunday 11 May Rangers v Aberdeen (12:00) Wednesday 14 May Aberdeen v Celtic (19:45) Rangers v Dundee United (19:45) St Mirren v Hibernian (19:45) Saturday 17 May (All 12:30) Celtic v St Mirren Dundee United v Aberdeen Hibernian v Rangers 🔻 Bottom Six Fixtures Saturday 26 April Hearts v Dundee (15:00) Kilmarnock v Ross County (15:00) Motherwell v St Johnstone (15:00) Saturday 3 May Dundee v Motherwell (15:00) Ross County v Hearts (15:00) St Johnstone v Kilmarnock (15:00) Saturday 10 May Hearts v Motherwell (15:00) Kilmarnock v Dundee (15:00) St Johnstone v Ross County (15:00) Wednesday 14 May Dundee v Ross County (19:45) Hearts v St Johnstone (19:45) Motherwell v Kilmarnock (19:45) Sunday 18 May (All 15:00) Kilmarnock v Hearts Ross County v Motherwell St Johnstone v Dundee

April 15, 2025

Scottish Football: A Broken System That Needs Fixing

Scottish football is in crisis. The league structure is outdated, TV deals are laughable, and youth development is stagnant. Fans are desperate for change, but the decision-makers continue to bury their heads in the sand. Joe Quinn, a former SPFL scout, has had enough. His proposal isn’t just a tweak to the system—it’s a complete overhaul. The question is, will Scottish football finally listen, or will self-interest and inaction win again? The Root of the Problem: A Game Run by Self-Preservation Scottish football is a closed shop. Quinn argues that change doesn’t happen because too many people in power benefit from keeping things exactly as they are. Whenever real reform is proposed, clubs and officials close ranks, protecting their own positions rather than the health of the game. Fans already know the issues: the league is predictable and stale, smaller clubs get a raw deal, Scottish talent is leaving in droves, and the women’s game is consistently underfunded and ignored. Quinn’s proposal isn’t just another discussion paper—it’s a radical blueprint to drag Scottish football into the modern era. But will those in charge finally step aside for progress? The 14-14-14 League Model: Genuine Reform or a New Coat of Paint? One of Quinn’s most controversial ideas is a 14-14-14 league structure designed to increase competition, fairness, and financial stability. The potential benefits are clear: fewer repetitive fixtures, proper promotion and relegation battles, and more clubs at the top level. On paper, it makes sense. But history tells us good ideas don’t always make it past the SPFL boardroom. Mid-table clubs happy with the status quo will fight this to the bitter end. The SPFL has a habit of discussing reform, only to back down when it matters most. Will this time be different? Ditching Gambling Sponsors: Ethical Stand or Financial Suicide? Scottish football is swimming in gambling sponsorships. Betting logos are plastered across shirts, advertising boards, and broadcasts. Quinn’s plan calls for an outright ban, following the example set by the English Premier League. The moral argument? Clear-cut. Gambling addiction destroys lives, and football shouldn’t be complicit in feeding the problem. The financial reality? A nightmare. Clubs, particularly those outside the Premiership, rely on gambling sponsorships to stay afloat. If the SPFL cuts ties with the industry, where does the replacement funding come from? Quinn believes it’s the right move in the long term, but without a clear financial alternative, this could cripple smaller clubs. The League Cup: Time to Stop the Snoozefest Quinn is clear on this: the League Cup group stage is a glorified pre-season exercise. Fans aren’t engaged, clubs don’t take it seriously, and the format is uninspiring. His solution? Scrap the groups, return to a straight knockout competition, and inject real jeopardy and excitement back into the tournament. It’s a simple, logical fix. Whether the SPFL will embrace it is another matter entirely. Youth Development & Women’s Football: Time for Real Investment Scottish football prides itself on producing top talent. But in reality, Quinn believes the system is failing young players. The best prospects leave Scotland at the first opportunity, the women’s game grows despite, not because of, governing body support, and clubs treat youth and women’s football as an afterthought rather than a priority. His proposal calls for real, sustained investment—not just PR soundbites and token gestures. If Scottish football wants a strong future, it has to stop relying on the accidental emergence of “golden generations.” TV Deals: Why Does Scotland Keep Selling Itself Short? Scottish football’s TV contracts are, frankly, embarrassing. Sky Sports cherry-picks matches and does the bare minimum to promote them, clubs earn a fraction of what smaller European leagues generate from broadcasting deals, and fans are either overcharged or locked out entirely. Quinn demands a more aggressive approach to negotiating TV rights. Germany and other European nations offer free-to-air matches. Why is Scotland still accepting scraps? According to Quinn, the SPFL’s usual excuse is “It’s the best deal we can get.” He disagrees. In his view, Scottish football’s leaders don’t fight hard enough for a better deal. Will Anything Actually Change? Scottish football has heard big ideas before. We’ve seen bold proposals, promising plans, and endless discussions. And yet, nothing changes. This time, though, the pressure is mounting. Fans are growing restless. The game is losing relevance. If the SPFL and SFA continue to ignore these problems, they risk losing an entire generation of supporters. So, will Quinn’s plan finally force real action? Or will it be another great idea destined to gather dust? Have Your Say Is Scottish football stuck in the past? Would you support these changes? Let us know in the comments or join the conversation on social media using #SNNSports

April 2, 2025

Hibs cruise past Saints in first gear to go 15 unbeaten

St Johnstone gave their survival chances little hope, leaving Easter Road without having put up any semblance of a fight. With far too much room to manoeuvre Junior Hoilett fired a brilliant curling shot into the top corner in the 18th minute. Failing to heed the warning of the first, St Johnstone were soon two down before the half-hour mark courtesy of a cute finish from talisman Martin Boyle. Kieron Bowie continued to impress since returning from a long term injury, winning Hibs a penalty in the dying minutes of the game. Calmly slotting his penalty home to see Hibs slip away, sealing the already secured three points. Despite finding themselves five points adrift at the bottom of the table, St Johnstone played in a far more relaxed fashion than their status suggested. Under little pressure at the back but struggling to create any opportunities of note as Hibernian harangued them on the break, there was little for Jordan Smith to do on the day. A first half that could have been far worse for Simo Valakari had Mykola Kuharevich not missed a gilt-edged chance with the goal at his mercy following Boyle’s low cross. Beyond a powerful shot from Kieron Bowie, well saved by Andy Fisher, there was little of note to speak of until the eventual penalty, the visitors unable to put together a dangerous attack despite the flurry of changes from the manager at the interval. Victory means Hibs have suffered just one defeat from the last eighteen in all competitions. St Johnstone meanwhile could find themselves eight points off the relegation play-off places should Dundee pull off an unlikely victory at home to Rangers. Line-ups: Hibernian: Smith, Iredale, Bushiri, Miller, Obita, Levitt (Manneh 74), Triantis, Cadden, Hoilett (Campbell 88), Kuharevich (Bowie 65), Boyle (c) (Gayle 74) Unused subs: Bursik, Molotnikov, Ekpiteta, Moriah-Welsh, O’Hora Booked: Iredale Goals: Hoilett (18), Boyle (29), Bowie (90+5) St Johnstone: Fisher, Douglas (Carey 59), Mitchell, Balodis, Wright (Steven 46), Holt, Sprangler (c), Curtis (Duke-McKenna 46), Svedberg (Clark 82), Griffith, Kirk (Kimpioka 46) Unused subs: Sidibeh, Sinclair, Smith, Steven, Watt Booked: Sprangler, Svedberg, Holt Goals: Referee: Mathew MacDermid

March 29, 2025

Sunshine on Parkhead as Idah sends Celtic to Hampden!

The bhoys are set to enjoy yet another day out at Hampden as Maeda and Idah fire home to end Hibs’ impressive 15-game unbeaten run in the Scottish Cup Quarter Final tie at Celtic Park today. The game marked Brendan Rodgers’ 20th win from 20 in this competition and maintains their attempt at another domestic treble. It also marked the highest away attendance in domestic action at Celtic Park since 2018! First Half The first half kicked off and from the outset it was clear the home side were bruised from the result in the capital two weeks ago and were out to prove a point. In the opening ten minutes, it was all Celtic with the away side weathering the storm of constant pressure from Celtic’s channels. Nicolas Kuhn and Jeffrey Schluup causing problems for Hibs backline with balls over the top and in behind the Hibs defence. A smile from Hibs manager David Gray shows he expected this response from the Glasgow side. The best chance for the away side came in the 17th minute when a quick thrown in was taken and Keiron Bowie fired a shot towards the stopper Schmeichel. The Goalkeeper was furious at the linesman as he believed the throw-in taken from the wrong place. The home side were relentless in their attack with the away side throwing constant bodies at shots from outside the box, to the applause of the traveling support. In the 34th minute Hibs were dealt a huge blow as their most in-form player Nicky Cadden went off with a suspected hamstring injury. Just five minutes later, the deadlock was broken by Celtic’s talisman Daizen Maeda with his 27th goal of the season. A ball was fired into the box from Schluup, which was not dealt with by the Hibs defence. A shot from Kuhn was saved by Smith but then fell to the feet of the Japanese International who tapped it home from two yards out. The first half ended with a rocket of a shot from Reo Hatate saved by Smith again. Second Half The second half began the way the first half ended with the home side quick to move the ball up the park, signifying a long second half for the travelling side. By the hour mark, Hibs had not offered much with Celtic controlling the ball. Chances came and went for the home side with the Hibs defence dropping deeper and deeper. Despite all the pressure from Celtic, they still only had a one-goal advantage. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers knew this, which is why he did not make his usual hour mark substitutions knowing fine well the game was not won. Hibs opted for a change in tactics as they began playing long balls in the hope they could catch the Celtic defense high up the pitch. As we entered the final 20 minutes of the game, Celtic’s strangle hold on the game wasn’t as prevalent as it was in the first hour, with the home side not being able to finish the game off with the chances they’d had along with the away side growing into the game. Both sides’ energy levels showed around the 75th minute as both managers opted for changes in personnel on the pitch. The togetherness of the Hibs team and supporters was demonstrated in the 78th minute when you could hear the 7,000 strong out-singing the Parkhead side. The depth in Celtic’s bench was demonstrated as all substitutions connected to score the winning goal in stoppage time. A nice pair of exchanged passes between McCowan and Yang allowed the ball to be played right into the path of Adam Idah, giving his manager something to think about for next weekend’s Old Firm Derby. Full Time The Final whistle blew and the game ended 2-0 to the current holders of the Scottish Cup as they make their way through to their 82nd semi-final. They join Aberdeen and Hearts in the next round as Brendan Rodgers maintains his 100% record in the competition. Rodgers spoke to the difficulty of this game and said, “We had to be the real Celtic today”. For the Leith side, their 15-game unbeaten run comes to an end at the hands of a controlled Celtic side. The players applauded the travelling support who remained loud throughout the match. On this, the opposing manager said “The Hibs supporters were fantastic today and that’s what we all want to see, it creates atmosphere”. Manager David Gray admits his disappointment and gives his players and fans plaudits but felt the best team won today. Their eyes will cast themselves back to league action as they aim to maintain their place in the league. Celtic now look to a fixture that is marked in every fan’s calendar as they face Rangers next Sunday.

March 9, 2025

Hibs claim victory in a dominant derby display

Venue: Easter Road Time: 12:30 Date: 02/03/2025 Hibs extend their unbeaten run to 15 after a strong display in the Edinburgh derby, getting ever closer to a third-place finish. Hearts had the first chance of the game through Lawrence Shankland. Beni Baningame won his tackle in the middle of the park, giving the ball to Shankland, whose effort from distance was saved. Hibs took the lead, and after looking second favourite to reach Jack Iredales’ long ball, Martin Boyle raced past Gearald Taylor before slotting a side-footed effort into the corner. Minutes later, there was a mix-up between Jordan Smith and Rocky inside their box. The ball was poorly cleared by the defender, and Jorge Grant made no mistake, smashing the ball into the back of the net from 16 yards. After the hectic start, Hearts started to settle into the game; they kept the ball better and were patient in their build-up play. In the 33rd minute, Shankland played Elton Kabangu through on goal. He drove into the box, putting his finish low and hard past Smith. However, as he ran into the corner to celebrate, the linesmans’ flag went up, leaving the game 1-1. Shankland was first to enter the referees’ book. After committing a foul on the touchline, he kicked the ball into the stand and was given a yellow. The first half eventually settled, and Hearts looked more assured out of the two. However, both back lines have shown signs of frailties, something that each team looked to capitalise on in the second half. It was a half-chance for Hibs to start the second half as Nicky Cadden fired his cross into the box. Josh Campbell was close to connecting with his head. However, it went just by him. Hibs started the second half better, and in the 60th minute Nathan Moriah-Welsh went just wide of the post with a well-struck volley. In the 73rd minute, a wonder strike from Hibs centre-back, Iredale, put them a goal ahead. The ball fell to him at the edge of the box, and after taking a first touch to compose himself, he rifled the half-volley across the goal and into the side netting. Leaving Craig Gordon with no chance. Hibs successfully saw the game out, dominating the full second half. A strong team performance restricted Hearts ability to attack and gave them what was a fully deserved victory and an emotional rendition of “Sunshine on Leith.” The dream start for Hibs In what was a scrappy start, the home team were the one to take the lead, Jack Iredale playing the long ball looking for one of his strikers to chase. With Boyle left one-on-one against Hearts’ right back Gerald Taylor, he made no mistake in breaking through on goal. The early lead was exactly what Hibs were after, and their captain provided an excellent finish from the edge of the six-yard box. The advantage had them looking likely to extend their fantastic unbeaten run to fifteen and was sure to settle the nerves of both the players and fans. Hearts bite back Just three minutes after their rivals took the lead, Hearts made no mistake in punishing Rockys’ poor defensive clearance. Jorge Grant was the player to fire the ball into the back of the net as he finished from the edge of the box. Exactly as they needed, Hearts were straight back in the game and looked the better team. They created more chances and kept the ball better, looking to pinpoint areas of weakness in the Hibs’ team. They took the momentum from the goal and used it to control the remainder of the second half. Hibs reclaim their advantage After dominating the second half, it was Hibs who went a goal ahead. A stunning strike from Iredale, who found himself at the edge of the box after a loose clearance. The left-footed strike had Gordon watching as the ball flew past him into the side netting. His first Hibs goal will be one he never forgets, possibly the greatest and most important he ever scores. After the goal, Hibs continued to dominate, making the most of their lead. Strong play from Nicky Cadden applied constant pressure to Taylor, allowing them to create plenty of chances. Manager comments: David Gray: “Delighted to win the derby… 3 real tough games, to beat Celtic here, to go up to Tannadice and win and then to finish that off by beating your local rivals at home.” Neil Critchley: “I thought the first half we were slightly the better team, had good control on the game and played the way we wanted to… Second half, I feel we just lacked belief in what we were doing a little bit” Attendance: 19,873 Lineups: Manager: David Gray Hibernian: J.Smith, W.O’Hora{L.Miller}, M.Boyle{J.Hoilett}, C.Cadden, J.Iredale, N.Cadden{J.Obita}, K.Bowie{D.Gayle}, N.Moriah-Welsh{D.Levitt}, N.Triantis, J.Campbell, Rocky Substitutes: J.Bursik, L.Miller, D.Levitt, E.Youan, H.Kwon, J.Obita, J.Hoilett, D.Gayle, M.Kuharevich Manager: Neil Critchley Hearts: C.Gordon, B.Baningime{Musah Drammeh}, J.Grant{C.Nieuwenhof}, L.Shankland, M.Steinwender, B.Spittal{K.Vargas}, E.Kabangu, J.Wilson{S.Kartum}, J.Penrice, J.Mccart, G.Taylor Substitutes: Z.Clark, C. Nieuwenhof, A.Forrest, H.Milne, L.Neilson, S.Kartum, A.Forrester, M.Drammeh, K.Vargas

March 2, 2025

SPFL Weekly: Five Talking Points

Rangers’ second-half performance saves Barry Ferguson’s embarrassment, Hibbies go 14 games unbeaten and Hearts move into top six. There was also a debut home win for new ‘Well boss Michael Wimmer, St Johnstone closes the gap at the bottom, and Celtic win emphatically in unconvincing display. Here’s our round-up of the big talking points from Matchday 28 in the 2024/25 SPFL season. AvenGERS thrust into blockbuster action A heroic second-half performance saw the Light Blues come from two goals down to defeat Killie 4-2. The script replicated a typical superhero blockbuster with the protagonist struggling against a grave threat, only to overcome it in the picture’s second half. Cyriel Dessers was the hero who saved Barry Ferguson, the man chosen as Phillipe Clement’s successor on Monday. Dessers’ two decisive goals carried the Light Blues into the lead to give the interim manager his first SPFL victory. Throughout the first half, Ranger’s defence was terrorized by Kilmarnock’s front two, Bobby Wales and Marley Watkins, prompting Ferguson to make the bold decision to hook French centre-back Clinton Nsiala after just 30 minutes. A goal from Vaclav Cerny ten minutes before half-time gave them hope, and the team talk from boss Captain Hamilton must have helped rally the gang as his team put on a gritty and determined performance in the second half. A tired Kilmarnock ran out of steam as the game wore on, and the Glasgow side only grew in confidence. Ferguson’s team must continue to perform to close the 13-point gap on Celtic. Is there a Hollywood ending in sight, or is it too little or too late? All eyes will be on this weekend’s sequel as Motherwell visits Ibrox. Unbe-Leith-able! Hibs march on Hibernian extended their unbeaten run to 14 matches after late goals from Kieron Bowie and Junior Hoilett, which gave them a dramatic 3-1 victory at Tannadice. Their goals came after Dundee United had a second-half leader disallowed for handball in the second half following a lengthy VAR check. Jim Goodwin was incensed by the decision, but referee Dermot Gallagher on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch agreed with the VAR’s decision that Sam Dalby headed the ball onto his arm. The positive vibes continue to build in Leith following the announcement that they have signed Aberdeen’s Jamie McGrath on a pre-contract deal, and Hibs owner plans to make £7m donation to cover club losses. Wimmer feels at home Michael Wimmer experienced his first taste of victory on his Fir Park debut following his arrival last week. Attendance last night was at 4,258, and the home fans would have been excited to see how their new boss got their team playing. However, it was set pieces where they looked most dangerous. Defender Dan Casey scored the two goals to stop the Lanarkshire side’s rot, leading them to their first win in eight matches. The game also saw a landmark for ‘Well midfielder Callum Slattery, who made his 100th appearance for the Steelmen, with his first appearance coming against Annan Athletic just over four years ago. The visitors, Dundee, will now look over their shoulder as they have now lost five games in a row, leaving them three points off bottom spot. Jammin’ Jambos into top six Hearts fought a challenging game, coming from behind to beat St Mirren 3-1, which saw them leapfrog the Paisley side. Victory has taken them into the top six for the first time since August. 17-year-old James Wilson got the equaliser and won man of the match, amusingly posing post-match with a bottle of rum that his parents probably don’t want him drinking. The goal that put the Jambos ahead at Tynecastle was by Calem Nieuwenhof, who was making his first start in almost a year. Hearts manager Neil Critchley told BBC Sport after the game: “It was a really tough game. I didn’t think we were at our best, but we’re finding ways to win games. “We weren’t clean or efficient in our play. I wouldn’t say sloppiness but not our usual selves on the ball. But moments went for us, and we showed real grit and resilience.” Hearts now have eight wins in their last 10 in all competitions. Their next game? Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday. Saints close the gap St Johnstone’s 1-0 victory over top-six hopefuls Ross County significantly boosts their fight for Premiership survival. Only 3 points now separate them and Dundee, who are above them in the play-off relegation spot with 10 games left to play. Fans at McDiarmid Park will feel better about themselves after the win following back-to-back defeats. Mackenzie Kirk’s close-range finish was the decisive goal that, despite a slim scoreline, was a thoroughly deserved result. County ‘keeper Jordan Amissah put in an inspired performance to keep the Saints at bay and the scoreline respectable. Saints Manager Simo Valakari told BBC Sport about the importance of the result: “It was a big win. This match was our most must-win game for our hopes for the rest of the season.” “I’m most happy with how the players performed in this high-pressure game.” County came into this with four wins from their previous five away league games. Their fans were hopeful of the top six but now will have one eye on what’s happening behind them as they still are worryingly close to the relegation play-off spot. League Table

February 27, 2025

Hibs boys keep swinging as Bowie downs United

A first club goal for Kieron Bowie capped off Hibernian’s terrific run of fourteen games unbeaten, leapfrogging defeated Dundee United in the process with the hosts denied a controversial equaliser. As normal time had elapsed, it looked as though the visitors would head home with a creditable draw until a pinpoint through ball set Bowie on course to lash home the winner with a fitting finish for a player who had missed ten months of football prior to his return from injury.. However Hibs were made to work for it after a less than convincing header from Rocky Bushiri saw the ball land at Ross Graham’s feet, the defender firing a shot that took a deflection to loop over Jordan Smith and give the home side the lead just six minutes in. After firing his opening effort comfortably into the palms of Jack Walton, Mykola Kukharevych would make mistake with his second as he met Nicky Cadden’s corner at the back post for the equaliser. With Bowie’s belter setting them on their way, Junior Hoilett put the game out of reach with a goal in the tenth minute of added time after Dwight Gayle’s ball over the top of backtracking United defence left the Canadian to beat Walton one on one. Jim Goodwin’s far for impressed with the way VAR denied Sam Dalby a goal that would have put United ahead, ruling out the header from the league’s top scorer for a handball after a drawn out check offering little clarity to supporters. Dalby will rue not making the most of his header in the first half, sending Ryan Strain’s header well over with Strain’s free-kick in added time almost creating a leveller as the effort was spilled by Smith, the keeper’s blushes spared by the quick thinking of his defenders. Sunshine follows Hibs to Dundee A terrific performance against Celtic at Easter Road was capped off by the rendition of ‘Sunshine on Leith’ sung in unison by adoring fans and delighted players. Yet it seems that, contrary to popular belief, the there can be sunshine of Dundee as Hibernian produced a gritty performance to keep the party going for a remarkable fourteenth game. Tannadice is one of the most difficult grounds to travel to so for the side to earn a win with three goals is an achievement that should and will give them confidence. The result marks their first win in three attempts over Jim Goodwin’s side this season as they hopped over tonight’s losers into fourth and only one point behind Aberdeen. Standing in their way of the highest point in their campaign so far is Hearts, who travel to the ‘Holy Ground’ on Sunday. Turbulent year threatens good season For all the acclaim United have received for spending much of the season in fourth despite only just getting promoted, Jim Goodwin will be far from please with the performances he has seen from his side since the new year. Three wins and six losses have put fans in a bit of tizzle with split fast approaching. VAR decisions not withstanding you could hardly claim they were deserving of much in the game, unable to put Hibs under the kind of pressure they have done in the past. Granted, Sam Dalby will feel he should have added 13th league goal to his tally, if not for the effort chalked off then at least for the header that he will no doubt know he should have done better with. Now they must travel to an Aberdeen side only just showing signs of recovery following a turbulent few months of their own. Line-ups: Dundee United: Walton, Graham, Gallagher (c), Adegboyega, Ferry (Babunski 86), Campbell (Fiorini 86), Ševelj, Strain, Paton (van der Sande 72), Dalby Unused subs: Harding, Fotheringham, Middleton, Richards, Sibbald, Trapanovski Booked: Stephenson Goals: Graham (6) Hibs: Smith, Iredale, Bushiri, O’Hora, N. Cadden (Obita 67), Triantis, Moriah-Welsh, Miller, Campbell (Hoilett 76), Kuharevich (Bowie 67), Boyle (c) (Gayle 67) Unused subs: Bursik, C. Cadden, Ekpiteta, Kwon Hyeok-Kyu, Manneh Booked: Kuharevich, Campbell Goals: Kuharevich (18), Bowie (90), Hoilett (90+10) Referee: David Dickinson Attendance: 10, 674

February 27, 2025

Rocky 33 – the story of a career reborn, fit for the silver screen

Hollywood could do worse than take a page out of born again Hibs hero Rocky Bushiri’s script. As he was being helped off the pitch, suffering an injury yet still somehow denying Jota on the line with his final act you could almost hear the whisper ‘Careful, he’s a hero’. For Rocky Bushiri has always had a touch of the super-heroic about him, even if it is Nicky Cadden who wears the mask these days. It’s not just the way he plays, but the way he speaks too. “You work in secret a bit, so you’re ready when you can go again,” he had said about the time spent out of the squad as the season looked set to pass him by. Lurking in the shadows, analysing from the bench as his teammates tumbled from bad result to bad result. Nowadays, Bushiri is his club’s own Superman, the beating heart of a Hibs back-three that has gone thirteen games unbeaten, including the victory over Celtic, condemning the league champions to a second consecutive defeat and resulting in one of Scottish football’s finest spectacles, the moment ‘Sunshine on Leith’ blasts out the tannoys surpassed only by the gusto of the fans who made their appreciation known to the players, “a special moment” to cherish as Gray put it. Yet far from sunshine and rainbows, Rocky’s career could have been the script for the film that carries his name if only Sylvester Stallone hadn’t lived it first, albeit the defender has never had to sell his dog to make it happen. From a young talent on the fast-track to notoriety, Bushiri was breaking records right from the start as he became K.V. Oostende’s youngest ever debutant. The now defunt club’s doors passed through by some familiar faces to fans in the country with none other than Fashion Sakala, Jack Hendry, Ante Palaversa and Ewan Henderson (who spent time with Rocky at Hibs no less) all plying their trade at Oostende at various intervals. There would be a successful loan with Eupen as he cut his teeth in the professional game, the centre-back’s star rising with appearances at the U21 Euros for Belgium and signing for then Premier League side Norwich City in 2019. Then, the 6 foot 2 motor stalled. Three years and no appearances for the Canaries. Loan spells didn’t help much either with a move to Blackpool in League 1 yielding just 7 appearances before being cut short. Manager Simon Grayson saying “We thank him for the bits he did for us, it didn’t quite work out that one”, the indifference for a 20 year old who had only recently uprooted from Belgium somewhat striking. Bushiri’s return to Belgium did little to get the engine going, spells at St Truiden, Mecheleh and a return to Eupen led to 21 appearances across three seasons. Not an ideal platform for development in your formative years. By the time he had joined Jack Ross’ Hibernian on loan in 2022, there remained excitement at the prospect of what the player could bring to a vastly under-perfoming side and whilst game time was forthcoming, the performances fans applaud today were less so. 12 games would bring 11 starts but also 5 yellow cards, including a double against Dundee. The season itself was as chaotic as the managerial changes suggest. Jack Ross (fired), David Gray (caretaker), Shaun Maloney (fired) before a return for caretaker Gray. 0′, 0′, 2′, 90′, 0′ minutes during the split showed just how much Gray believed in the young defender when it came to the crunch. An ignomonious end to a season but joy of a loan move made permanent was overshadowed by the rumours that the club had forgotten the agreement with Norwich had a clause that forced them to Bushiri after a certain number appearances. Hibs would call it a canard but the rumour was supported by the fact that Bushiri’s name appeared on the list of players set to leave the club at the end of the season. It didn’t stop there either, Bushiri’s name became entangled once again with a club failing to master the fundamentals of administration. Playing 90 minutes against Morton in the League Cup despite having been suspended, resulting in a 3-0 forfeit and swift exit from the competition. Rocky needed an Adrian, but he was surrounded by Paulies. Injury capped off insult for once as the next season saw Rocky miss 17 games with an ankle injury despite having gone from a player Lee Johnson said “he was probably happy to move on” to one “he wouldn’t sell for £10m”. Last season looked set to be a breakout season for the player who, whilst not exactly earning acclaim outside the confines of Easter Road, was at least starting consistently. Then came David Gray, and this time no more Mr Interim. This was a manager who hadn’t shown much faith in the defender’s abilities in the past and the signings of Warren O’Hora, Marvin Ekpiteta and Jack Iredale in the summer could have told you that he was didn’t have much of it for the future. And so it was, Bushiri would sit on the bench for 15 league games, giving his seat the appearance of memory foam, playing just 7 minutes of SPFL football. Hibs were rock bottom of the table, injuries began to bite the side and Gray was forced to bring the by now DR Congo international in from the cold. A 4-1 defeat to Dundee looked to be the last straw for both of them, and then … Pandemonium. There’s only one word for a game that made absolutely no sense. A flying Aberdeen side with just one defeat to date arrived in Edinburgh accompanied by a narrative that had been swelling with each passing week and looked set to unfold as expected. The side had conceded the most goals after scoring first had … conceded two goals after scoring first. 2-1 down with added time running out before the

February 26, 2025

Hibs announce Jamie McGrath

Hibs have announced a pre-contract agreement with Aberdeen midfielder Jamie McGrath. The 28-year-old has signed a four-year deal that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2029. McGrath was out of contract with the Dons in the summer. Since Emiliano Marcondes’s departure last season, Hibs have lacked a creative midfielder. Hibs will hope McGrath is the answer to their midfield issue, with the Irishman scoring 11 goals in 27 games this season. Manager David Gray said: “We’re delighted to have agreed a pre-contract with Jamie. He’s a player that we’ve admired for some time. He’s a creative player that will add extra quality in our midfield and in the final third.” A Republic of Ireland international, McGrath has made 13 appearances for his country, scoring four goals. He will continue at Aberdeen until the end of the current season before linking up with Hibs in the summer.

February 25, 2025

SPFL Weekly: Five Talking Points

Rangers gave Philippe Clement his marching orders, Hibernian defeated a lethargic Celtic, there was no new manager bounce for Motherwell, and the cool-as-ice Kabangu kept Hearts ticking. Meanwhile, Ross County continued their push for the top six, and Aberdeen stave off capitulation with back-to-back wins. Here’s our round-up of the big talking points from Matchday 27 in the 2024/25 SPFL season. Clement sacked – Who’s next? Rangers 2-0 home defeat to St Mirren was the straw that broke the camel’s back. A dismal showing at Ibrox sealed Philippe Clement’s fate in a week filled with speculation about a potential US-led takeover by San Francisco 49ers’ investors. His dismissal came just hours after our report last night, which anticipated the club’s official announcement. After the match, Clement apologised to the fans, telling BBC Sport: “I can only say sorry and apologise [to the Rangers fans] from me and the team. This is not what Rangers teams need to show on the pitch. We all know this was by far below the standards we all expect.” However, for Rangers supporters, it was too little, too late. Some even set up a JustGiving page to fund his rumoured £1.2 million compensation fee. During his 16-month tenure, Clement showed rare glimpses of promise, particularly in Europe, where Rangers secured automatic qualification for the Europa League round of 16. Yet, he struggled to translate those performances into domestic success, leaving the club 13 points adrift of league leaders Celtic. Attention now turns to his long-term successor, with former Everton boss Sean Dyche, ex-Rangers title-winning manager Steven Gerrard, club legend Barry Ferguson, and former Light Blues midfielder Gennaro Gattuso all linked. Ferguson has been announced by the club to manage until the end of the season. VAR controversy mars heroic Hibs performance The heat on VAR grows with Brendan Rodgers’ latest comments following Celtic’s 2-1 defeat to Hibernian. An equaliser for Celtic was ruled out in the second half after the VAR overruled the on-field officials. Their decision was that Alistair Johnston crossed the ball after it was out of play, with the linesman originally calling it in. Regarding the controversy, Rodgers told BBC Sport: “I was very disappointed we didn’t get that, especially when the linesman didn’t think it was out. He probably has the best view. “I don’t know how you can tell the ball is definitely out from an image from the 18-yard line. We need to see evidence the ball was out. If you don’t have that, you’re having a guess.” However, the debate surrounding the decision has unfairly overshadowed Hibernian’s outstanding and fully deserved performance. They fought with grit and determination to withstand Celtic’s attacks while capitalising on a fatigued Hoops defence in transition. A defining moment came when Rocky Bushiri heroically cleared the ball off the goal line following a surging run from Jota, sparking a deafening roar from the home crowd. By the final whistle, as Sunshine on Leith echoed around Easter Road, there could be no denying that Hibs had earned their moment of celebration. No new manager bounce for the ‘Well One could forgive the neutral fan who gave little thought to this fixture last weekend. However, there has been renewed interest following the appointment of Michael Wimmer as Motherwell’s manager. The German spoke about bringing “intensity, energy, and passion” to proceedings. Still, there was little evidence of this in the first half of a 1-0 defeat to Dundee United. Both sides came into the game in poor form, but the Tangerines struck first and stopped the Lanarkshire side from having a new manager bounce. The visitors did react positively in the second half but lacked the clinical edge to get back into the match. On the second-half performance, Wimmer told BBC Sport: “We can work with the second half. It was really good. It was aggressive, we had opportunities, and we played forward. That’s what we want to see.” The Steelmen are now on their joint longest losing streak in ten years and worryingly looking over their shoulders at the teams behind them in the table. Kabangu injection saves Hearts Nine years ago, the Perth club witnessed a bejewelled Elton John in a stellar concert at McDiarmid Park, singing hits such as Crocodile Rock and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. This weekend, they saw another Elton dazzle before their eyes. Elton Kabangu, the January recruit from Hearts. The Belgian scored twice in a 2-1 away victory to see Hearts look towards the top six and European places. Putting aside last week’s disappointing home result to Rangers, where he failed to take his chances, he was a thorn in the Saints’ side throughout and put away two clinical finishes to take his toll up to six goals from seven games. Hearts boss Neil Crichtley told BBC Sport about his performance: “I’m delighted for Elton Kabangu to get two goals after his disappointment last week. He’s such a great personality to have at the training ground every day. I thought he was fantastic again.” The Saints are running out of games to turn things around, languishing six points adrift at the bottom of the table. Their manager, Simo Valakari, joined the club in October to do just that. With each passing game, that is looking increasingly less likely, and preparations for the Championship may lie ahead. Battle for top six Ross County is on an excellent run of form, with five wins from their last 9. Their only two defeats from that run came against the two Glasgow giants. They came from behind this weekend to beat Dundee 3-1. On the performance, Cowie told BBC Sport: “I was most pleased with how we responded to going behind, we were not spooked by it and deservedly got back in the game at 1-1. “We came out the traps flying after half-time and scored two goals. A fantastic win, and it keeps the momentum going.” The man from Inverness has given the Dingwall fans hope, as the club is only two points off the

February 24, 2025

Hibs

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