David Gray savours ‘massive performance’ after Hibernian draw in Belgium

David Gray savoured “a massive performance and a massive result” as Hibernian kept themselves on course to reach the main phase of the Conference League with a spirited 0-0 draw away to Gent.

For the second Thursday night in a row, the Hibees ground out a stalemate on foreign soil after they eliminated Shkendija in North Macedonia last week.

It could have been even better for Hibs in Belgium if Owen Elding’s 15th minute penalty had not been saved by Gent goalkeeper Davy Roef, but Gray was delighted with the way his side frustrated their hosts in the first leg of their play-off round tie in the Planet Group Arena.

“I think it’s a brilliant away performance at this stage,” the manager told BBC Scotland. “The players really executed the game-plan and managed the game incredibly well.

“It’s our third clean sheet in a row as well, which certainly coming over here was the challenge, coming into the game as underdogs.

“We missed a penalty, but what I liked was the reaction from that, we had real control in the game.

“We didn’t carry enough of a threat, but in terms of the game-plan and what we’ve tried to do, the players showed real courage and were very worthy of their clean sheet.

“It’s a massive performance and massive result away from home in Europe against a very good side.

“I thought physically we were excellent. I don’t like singling players out, but the two boys in the middle of the pitch (Miguel Chaiwa and Josh Mulligan) especially.

“Physically we were excellent and the shape of the team was good. They’ve got a lot of threats but we restricted them to very few chances, some short, some distance. They very rarely played through us.”

Gray, whose side fell to Legia Warsaw in the play-off round last year, believes Hibs have given themselves a good chance of making it to the league phase for the first time.

“It’s only half-time, I’m not getting carried away here,” he stressed. “We’ve not achieved anything other than kept the tie alive. But certainly it’s all to play for in the second leg.

“It’ll be a brilliant night with a sell-out crowd at Easter Road, I’m sure. And the players, if any of them had any doubts about whether they think they can do this, they certainly will believe in it now.”