Hibs issue Josh Mulligan transfer update as David Gray makes history and reacts to Rangers penalty

A stoppage-time winner from Callum Wright got Hibs off and running in this season’s Premiership as the capital outfit prevailed in Govan for the third season in a row - the first time that has ever happened for Hibs in their 151 years of existence.

All of those triumphs have come under Gray, who praised his players for the way they defended and responded to Miguel Chaiwa’s unfortunate 85th-minute own goal to cancel out their early opener via Josh Campbell from the penalty spot.

Asked post-match if he referenced to his Hibs players the opportunity to write themselves into the history books, Gray replied: “I did. It's something I've constantly tried to do in the last three seasons. It's the third season now. A lot of people speak about history and usually it's because something's not been done for a very long time and it's a negative thing.

“I've always tried to challenge the group to recreate our own history. That's certainly something I spoke about today. I actually asked the question of the group, when do you think the last time it's been done? Three times and nobody knew the answer clearly, but it's because it's never been done before.

“It shows you how good an achievement it is, how difficult a place this is to come, but also the quality we've got within the group that we're able to go and do that. At times, as I say, we had to ride our luck, we had to go under immense pressure, but the belief was in there for the players and they should be really pleased with that and I'm delighted for them because they deserve it.”

Latest on Josh Mulligan transfer speculation

Midfielder Josh Mulligan was one of the players that drove Hibs to victory amid reports that Italian Serie A side Genoa are preparing a bid for the 23-year-old. Gray explained that there has been no contact for him or any of his squad.

“Not that I'm aware of, not at all,” said Gray. “What I would say is, I've said this a lot about some of the players in the group at the moment, if people are talking about us, it’s because you're doing good things and you're progressing well, we have got a really good group at the minute, they're all pulling in the same direction.

“Josh was one of 11, 14 players we got on the pitch that were very, very good today and that's the most important thing. But in terms of interest, noise, that will always be there whilst the window's open. But as far as I'm concerned, there's nothing to speak about on that front.”

Hibs took the lead in controversial circumstances after VAR recommended a review for an incident involving Rangers’ Vanja Dragojevic and visiting defender Jason Kerr. The Serbian was pinged for holding the centre-half and while the hosts did not agree with the award, Gray was adamant that referee Don Robertson came to the right decision.

“I think, straight away, the referees have came in and spoke to us about the penalty decision, about that sort of situation because that does happen quite a bit at corners,” said Gray. “There's a lot of contact, a lot of people fully focused on the player rather than the ball.

“At the time I didn't think much of it, but the goalie coach actually said straight away, I think that could be a penalty, then they broke away, then you kind of forget about it and then they'll stop the game.

“But seeing it back now, I think the officials and the VAR have got no option but to give it. They put them in a position that they have to give it because it's not looking at the ball, it's impeding the player, it's trying to head the ball and the ball lands exactly in that area, that's the big issue there. So, left the referee no choice but to give the penalty, so I think it's the right decision.”