David Gray hails Hibernian’s performance despite Conference League hopes ending

David Gray insists Hibernian put in a sterling performance in agonisingly missing out on Conference League football with a 5-4 aggregate defeat by Legia Warsaw.

Having lost 2-1 in the first leg at Easter Road, Hibs fell further behind in Poland in the 13th minute through a strike from Vahan Bichakhchyan drove in from the edge of the box.

However in a sensational start to the second half in Poland, three goals in 11 minutes from defender Rocky Bushiri, captain Martin Boyle and substitute Miguel Chaiwa to make it 3-1 and put Hibs ahead 4-3 overall.

Fellow Hibees sub Junior Hoilett was then shown a straight red card by referee Lawrence Visser for a tackle on Jan Ziolkowski but after looking at his monitor, the official downgraded it to a yellow.

In the third of seven added minutes, the home side levelled the overall tie at 4-4 with a strike from Juergen Elitim.

In the eighth minute of extra-time, Mileta Rajovic smashed the ball high into the net for the winner, with Legia’s Jan Ziolkowski sent off for picking up the second of two yellow cards with six minutes remaining.

Boss Gray told BBC Scotland: “That’s as good a performance I’ve seen in Europe from a Hibs team in my lifetime.

“I’m immensely proud of that. It’s hard to take because of that. We need to make sure we come back stronger.

“Obviously I’m very deflated, I’m devastated for the players. I’m really, really proud of that level of performance.

“The bravery of every player, everyone who came on the pitch, I’m really proud.

“We need to remember this feeling. It’s a really sore feeling and I’ve also just reminded the players of how far this group have come.

“Eight or nine months ago, bottom of the league after 13 or 14 games, to being where we are right now, minutes away from [the Conference League].

“A lot to be proud about, even though we never accept losing games of football.”