Hibs have 'all the answers' as unbeaten run continues

In early November, Hibernian were bottom of the Scottish Premiership after just one win in their first 12 games.

Head coach David Gray was, it seemed, a dead man walking. His departure was surely just a matter of time.

A week or two later, after the staggering 3-3 draw with Aberdeen at Easter Road, the Leith side were 23 points behind their visitors.

But, after Sunday's win over Edinburgh rivals Heart of Midlothian, they are a point above the stuttering Dons, having also beaten league leaders Celtic in recent weeks.

The race for third place and, potentially, guaranteed European group-stage football next season is very much on - and Hibs are the favourites just now.

Gray's side are now 15 games unbeaten in all competitions and are among the division's form teams.

In those difficult opening months of the campaign, they were underperforming their xG (expected goals). Horrible individual errors continually cost them.

Now those have been curbe and Hibs - who face Celtic again in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals - look capable of turning a bleak autumn into a glorious spring.

Of Hibs' 15-match unbeaten run, 13 have been in the league, catapulting them up the division and fuelling optimism aplenty in Leith.

Their last longer unbeaten streak in the league was from 31 January to 5 May in 2018 - a run of 12 games.

They have scored 26 league goals since they lost to Celtic in Glasgow in early December - and conceded just 12.

Few, if any, have bettered Jack Iredale's effort to down Hearts at Easter Road.

The 28-year-old defender last scored for Bolton Wanderers in November 2023 against Exeter City, but his left-footed strike from distance would have pleased the world's best forwards.

"The ball just sat up nicely and I thought, why not?," Iredale told BBC Scotland. "Buzzing that we've got the win, you see what it means to the fans and the club. It's a good day.

"Being a centre-half, you don't get up the pitch too often. Usually, I'd come from a set-piece, but today was a bit different."

The chance had an expected-goals value of just 0.03 according to Opta, highlighting just how good the strike was, even if Iredale was humble in his description.

Even Hearts legend John Robertson appreciated the quality of the match-winning moment.

"You find the most unlikely of heroes in derby matches," the former striker and manager said on Sportsound.

"There's players who have popped up over the years that have scored goals in derbies and that's all they are remembered for.

"If Jack Iredale is only remembered by Hibs fans for one moment, what a moment."

The 2-1 win over Celtic last month prompted a rendition of The Proclaimers' classic Sunshine on Leith from the Hibs fans and the adopted club anthem rang around Easter Road again after they secured back-to-back wins over Hearts for the first time since 2009.

Players and fans are both riding the crest of a wave at present and Gray is keen to ensure moments like the derby win are appreciated by the squad.

"The players need to enjoy these moments and the scenes after the game, the connection that's building all the time," Gray said. "We need to keep moving forwards, but it's certainly one for the fans."

Former Hibs manager John Collins added on Sportsound: "This is the best atmosphere I've felt at Easter Road for a long, long time.

"That rendition of Sunshine on Leith was just fantastic."

The jubilant scenes post-match were unsurprising after a rousing second-half display, capped off by Iredale's goal.

Hibs went through the gears after a lacklustre first half, with Nectar Triantis becoming increasingly influential in the middle of the park and Nicky Cadden's delivery causing all kinds of problems down the left.

Cadden has been a revelation since arriving on a free transfer in the summer and he drove standards in the derby win, delivering 11 crosses, creating two chances and having more touches in the opposition box (five) than any other player.

"It was as good as I've seen them play in the second half," former Hibs midfielder Scott Allan said on Sportsound.

"They could see a weakness down Hearts' right-hand side. I felt there was only going to be one winner - Hearts just didn't have the answers.

"David Gray will be delighted with the run they are going on leading into the split and everybody in the place has a buzz about them.

"I find it very hard to find a side who are going to give Hibs a going over. They have all the answers just now."

Hibs fans, what do you make of a remarkable three months for your club.

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