David Gray reminds Hibernian they have time to turn around Legia Warsaw tie

David Gray reminded his Hibernian players that they have 90 minutes at least to turn around their Conference League play-off tie against Legia Warsaw on Thursday night.

Josh Mulligan’s 86th-minute strike gave the Hibees a lifeline in their 2-1 defeat in the first leg at Easter Road last week.

While wanting a positive start to the match in Poland, Gray noted that patience could also be key.

The Hibs boss said: “You always want to start every game well, regardless of what the actual scoreline is or the state of the tie. So it doesn’t change from our point of view.

“We are one goal down with 90 minutes minimum of football to be played.

“So it doesn’t need to be gung-ho, really stretched, being really expansive and exposed.

“We also need to fully respect the level of opposition. We already know, we already felt it. They’re a very good side. We’re going to have to be our very best again.

“But it’s a challenge that the players are all looking forward to.

“And as a coach, I’m looking forward to it as well and we have a lot of football to be played.

“It is one goal. To go win the game in 90 minutes we need to score two.

“So if we lose the first goal in the game, for example, and there’s a bit of adversity, nothing really changes from that point of view.

“So a lot will be made about the first goal and what that means, but momentum is everything in football.

“That goal for us at Easter Road, in 80-plus minutes, makes us only one goal behind and really keeps the tie alive. So it certainly is all to play for.”

Gray was pleased that Hibs had a free weekend to prepare thanks to a new SPFL policy but is now keen for kick-off.

He said: “You just want to go play a game, don’t you?

“The players will be waiting and counting down the time until Thursday.

“From a coaching point of view and sports science and everything else, you want to try and give the players as much rest as you can.

“And obviously as a coach, you’re looking back on how we played in the last game, what went well, what we need to do to give us the best chance to go over there and get into group stage football.

“That is something that we spoke a lot about, it and the challenge in front of us is still a huge one.

“I said it straight after the first game, I still feel the same way having watched it back, there is everything to play for and still a lot of football to be played in this tie.”