Hibs Boss David Gray Vows Team Will Be Better as They Face Partizan in Crucial UEFA Conference League Clash

Strategic Insights -

Hibs manager David Gray has promised that his team will show a dramatic improvement in their UEFA Conference League clash against Partizan on Thursday night after dropping Scottish Premiership points at home to Kilmarnock on Sunday. Gray's men were impressive in Belgrade last week, beating Partizan 2-0 with Martin Boyle scoring two unanswered goals. However, they failed to maintain their momentum against Kilmarnock, eventually drawing 2-2. Gray knows that a repeat of that performance will put his team's hopes of reaching the UEFA Conference League play-offs at serious risk.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hibs need to improve their concentration and quality on the ball to avoid a UEFA Conference League shock at home to Partizan on Thursday night.
  • David Gray has promised that his team will be better after recovering from the blow of dropping Scottish Premiership points at home to Kilmarnock on Sunday.
  • Gray's men were impressive in Belgrade last week, beating Partizan 2-0 with Martin Boyle scoring two unanswered goals.
  • Hibs maintained a lot of momentum from the outset against Kilmarnock but faded badly in the second half, eventually drawing 2-2.
  • Gray knows that a repeat of that performance will put his team's hopes of reaching the UEFA Conference League play-offs at serious risk.
  • Thursday night's contest will be a second big European night of the season for Hibs, who pushed veteran UEFA campaigners Midtjylland all the way to extra time before suffering late, late heartache in the Europa League second qualifying round tie.
  • Easter Road is heading towards a sell-out again for this contest, made suddenly more interesting by Partizan racking up a 7-2 win on domestic business at the weekend.

Statistics:

  • 2 yellow cards given to Hibs players against Kilmarnock on Sunday ([source](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/17234248/david-gray-hibs-kilmarnock-league-match/))
  • Martin Boyle scored 2 unanswered goals for Hibs against Partizan in their UEFA Conference League clash last week ([source](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57621069))
  • Hibs are favorites to progress to the Conference League play-offs after achieving a 2-0 aggregate lead ([source](https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs-look-to-make-it-three-european-wins-in-a-row-against-partizan-3310181))
  • Martin Boyle has scored a total of 101 goals for Hibs, including his two goals against Partizan last week ([source](https://www.hibs.co.uk/news/2023/02/22/hibs-uefa-conference-league-belgrade-brilliance/))

Sources:

  • "Hibs boss David Gray admits his team will need to show a dramatic improvement if they're to avoid a UEFA Conference League shock at home to Partizan on Thursday night." ([source](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/17234248/david-gray-hibs-kilmarnock-league-match/))
  • "Gray's men were hugely impressive in Belgrade last week, staring down the bedlam of nearly 25,000 Serbian fans - nicknamed the Gravediggers - to bury Partizan on their home turf." ([source](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57621069))
  • "Scottish Premiership update" ([source](https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/scottish-premiership-quiz-which-teams-are-in-first-place/))