Hibs in Euro hunt after clawing back 23-point deficit

Hibernian’s only victories in their first 12 games put them at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership in early November.

Head coach David Gray was, it seemed, a dead man walking. It was undoubtedly only a matter of time before he left.

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 Saturday’s stunning win over league leaders Celtic, that gap stands at one.

Hibs is in the running for third place and possibly guaranteed European group stage football next season, and they are already very close.

Gray’s side are now 13 games unbeaten in all competitions and are among the division’s form teams.

Even in the campaign’s trying first few months, they were performing below average. They are constantly liable for terrible individual errors.

Of Hibs ‘ 13-match unbeaten run, 11 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.

Since their early December defeat to Celtic in Glasgow, they have only 21 goals scored and 10 goals conceded.

Josh Campbell’s instincts to attack the box were clearly on display against the league leaders, Gray said after the game about how his 3-5-2 shape helped him.

The midfielder ghosted into space in Celtic territory before coolly finding the bottom corner in the second minute before firing a magnificent header home just before half-time to add more points for both him and Hibs.

With Martin Boyle and the fit again Kieron Bowie in front of him, Hibs has a potent front three that undoubtedly troubled Celtic. He also had four touches in the opposing box overall.

Every player Gray praised had reached their best levels, according to Gray effusively.

Two goals were scored in the opening half, but Celtic’s strategy continued after the break as they stepped up the pressure.

Before the game, I told them that each player should be at the top of their game, and I was correct. We deserved it, I believed we were entirely entitled.

When Celtic achieve that goal, your character and mentality will always be put to the test. Can you endure the test? They are always going to keep pushing. “

Gray claims that Hibs will continue to support them despite their remarkable rise in the Premiership and are only interested in catching the team from the top.

Before the split, he continued, “We’re trying to get as many points as we can,” and it’s still about catching the team in front of us. It keeps that run going, the feel-good factor going – a massive three points. “

Goal-scoring legend Campbell claims Hibs were eager to get at the Premiership champions early after Celtic pulled out of the Champions League in midweek following a late concession at Bayern Munich.

” We knew if we could get after them, start fast with high tempo, we’d get a chance and we did in the first two minutes, “he said.

What do Hibs fans think of your club’s remarkable three months?