Hibernian secured their place in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Ross County at Victoria Park in Dingwall. Manager David Gray praised the team’s professional performance under pressure, following a difficult run that included back-to-back defeats to Hearts and St Johnstone.
Hibs took control early in the match, with Thibault Klidje opening the scoring after just seven minutes. The forward, who returned to Hibernian after a loan spell at Randers in Denmark, rose to meet an excellent cross from Felix Passlack to give the visitors the lead. Adam Mayor then extended the advantage from the penalty spot in the 16th minute after referee Matthew MacDermid penalized Ross County defender Akil Wright for holding at a corner. Mayor’s finely struck spot-kick doubled the lead, setting the tone for Hibs' dominance in the first half.
Ante Suto added the third goal just before halftime, capitalizing on a deflected shot to slide the ball past the County goalkeeper, Brad Foster. It was Suto’s first goal of the campaign, and Gray highlighted the importance of contributions from across the squad, emphasizing that success depends on the collective effort of both new and established players.
Ross County made tactical changes after the interval that helped stem the flow of Hibernian’s attacks, but the Premiership side had already established a commanding position. The victory puts Hibernian just two wins away from securing silverware this season and marks Gray’s first time leading the team at Hampden Park as full-time manager.
Gray underlined the significance of the semi-final opportunity, noting that the club has clear goals set since the start of the season. “From day one of pre-season, we discussed goal-setting and planning for the season and what we could achieve,” he said. He also acknowledged the challenges of Scottish football’s knockout competitions, where teams face fewer rounds before reaching a final, making each match critical.
While not getting ahead of himself, Gray expressed satisfaction with his players’ response to recent pressures and praised their resilience. “It’s a massive pat on the back for the players because of the pressure they were under last week,” he said. “More importantly, they’ve sent the club to Hampden for a semi-final, something that has eluded me as a manager in recent seasons.”
Hibernian will now prepare to face their semi-final opponent with the aim of securing a place in the final, presenting fans with a rare and eagerly anticipated opportunity for silverware.