Hibernian's hopes of reaching the Conference League are in jeopardy following a surprising 2-0 defeat by Malisheva in Kosovo. Head coach David Gray described his team's performance as "way below the levels required," a sentiment echoed by the club's past European embarrassments.

The match, played on a challenging pitch after a pre-game sprinkler activation, saw Hibs struggle against an aggressive Malisheva side. Despite Gray's clear pre-match warnings about the opposition's intensity, the team failed to meet the required standard, with errors compounding their difficulties. Striker Nathan Lowe, making his debut, had two key chances that could have altered the outcome.

Gray took full responsibility, emphasizing the need for improvement and stating it's his job to "fix it." He highlighted that the team's performance was a reflection of standards unacceptable for the club. While the mood is gloomy for the traveling fans, Gray pointed to the second leg at Easter Road as an opportunity for redemption.

This Hibs squad achieved significant European success last season, pushing strong opponents like Midtjylland and Partizan Belgrade. Historically, Hibs have overturned first-leg deficits, notably a 6-1 victory against Inter Club d'Escaldes after an initial 2-1 loss. Gray stressed the necessity for every player to perform at their highest level in the home tie, urging unity and a commitment to meet the club's expectations.