Hibernian "definitely need to add to the top end of the pitch" says head coach David Gray, despite the surprise contract U-turn from Martin Boyle. (Edinburgh Evening News - evening news), external
Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
Raphael Sallinger - Hibernian
On the losing side, but made five saves.
Tom Sparrow - Motherwell
A midfielder by trade, Sparrow has never let Motherwell down at right back.
Stephen Welsh - Motherwell
On loan from Celtic, Welsh has been a real leader at Fir Park. Played with heart, soul and real quality. Had an effort ruled out for a foul.
Ryan Astley - Dundee
Scored the winning goal to send the Dundee faithful home happy.
Tuur Rommens - Rangers
Won all his duels against Falkirk and looks a good signing by Danny Rohl.
Findlay Curtis - Kilmarnock
Surely has to be in the World Cup squad. Made the previous squad, and since then his form has been electric.
Callum McGregor - Celtic
Much has been made - rightly so - of the impact made by the return of Martin O'Neill in steering Celtic to another title. But in his own way, the captain at the centre of this team has quietly done the steering on the pitch. Since the Dundee United game there has been much more of a steely resolve and intensity when required from Celtic, and McGregor has embodied that mission in the post-split games. His teammates voiced their praise for his leadership on and off the pitch throughout what's been a tumultuous campaign that saw Brendan Rodgers and then Wilfried Nancy depart. Throughout it all McGregor has been the constant. The emotion poured out of him at the end said it all.
Lukas Fadinger - Motherwell
A steely presence all season for Motherwell. His deflected goal was the difference against Hibs.
Nicky Clescenco - Kilmarnock
Took his goal well. Looked lively and creative in the rout of Livingston.
Joe Hugill - Kilmarnock
Two goals against Livingston upped his tally to eight in his past 12 games for Kilmarnock. Has thrived under Neil McCann.
Youssef Chermiti- Rangers
Looked like an absolute world-beater against Falkirk. His goals were superb. Has had his critics, but 15 Premiership goals is a respectable tally. His challenge next season will be to up that tally, and be more consistent.
A discussion with his young daughter prompted winger Martin Boyle's change of heart that led to a new one-year deal at Hibernian. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external
Watch all the highlights as Motherwell secured fourth spot and European football next season with a 1-0 win at Hibs. Available to UK users only.
Hibs fans, we asked for your views on the 1-0 loss to Motherwell that meant David Gray's side missed out on guaranteed European football and fourth place.
Here is what some of you said:
Stephen: Same old story, no fight, no guts, no guile. It's embarrassing seeing the gap between us and Hearts. Time for change. It's been a poor, poor season. Take a leaf out of Motherwell's book, we need a new manager and a new direction.
Colin: Poor performance when it mattered. Outplayed and outthought. It was there to be won but we underperformed. Big players didn't show today.
Roger: Every time we have a big match and a full house at Easter Road, Hibs don't turn up. It's happened over a few seasons and we have to sign players with the right attitude. I think David Gray has reached his peak and we need to think of appointing a new coach to take us a step further.
Scott: Being totally honest, Hibs didn't deserve fourth as they were far too inconsistent and Motherwell play great football. The hierarchy now have a decision to make - are they happy with top six or do they want to push the top teams? If it's the latter, Gray has to go.
Jamie: If 1-0 can ever be classed as a hammering, that's what we got today. Motherwell ran rings round us, we failed to generate any momentum and even against 10 men we were passing sideways and backwards. It was the right result - Motherwell have been better than us all season, but that shouldn't be acceptable for a club like Hibs.
Kenny: I've said all year that David Gray is not the man to take Hibs forward. All season his way of setting up the team has been negative. Hibs should now take a lead off Hearts and be going to challenge for the league. If the board have any ambition at all bring in an ambitious manager to take us forward. I would bring in the Motherwell manager right now.
Tugboat: Some of the players have really let David Gray down recently. Motherwell showed more desire than us today. Hopefully we'll have a productive summer, stability behind the scenes, and hit the ground running. I wouldn't mind missing out on Europe - I think it could be detrimental (other than to the club's bank balance).
Mark: We get players sent off in three games running, and lose all three. Motherwell get a player sent off against us, and we still lose. Not good enough. The only reason I want Gray to remain in charge is because, with our track record, it frightens me who we'd appoint next.
Image source, SNSHibernian head coach David Gray: "It was our cup final today to try to finish fourth. After 38 games, the league doesn't lie. If we had won today we would have got what we deserved, but unfortunately on the day we got what we deserved.
"Motherwell desereved to win and congraulations to them because they finish fourth. It was disappointing because of what was at stake. But over the piece Motherwell were the better side.
"The magnitude of the game and the occasion, our first-half performance did not reflect the occasion which is really disappointing. Second half was much better, we were much more agrressive and had much more intensity.
"I didn't change shape. It was more a case of understanding there was 45 minutes to go in the season and the magnitude of the game.
"But congratulations to Motherwell, we've been chasing them for a long time. Going into the split our home form was really strong, but it's now three defeats at home and we won our two away games.
"We've let ourselves down post-split. There will be a lot of time now to reflect on the full season."
Ten-man Motherwell secured fourth spot in the Scottish Premiership and guaranteed European football with a narrow win over Hibernian, who have to sttle for fifth place and hope Celtic win the Scottish Cup to get into the Conference League.
What did you make of that final performance from Hibs and the season as a whole?
Image source, SNSHibernian thought Martin Boyle was leaving after the game against Motherwell
Martin Boyle has agreed a new one-year deal to stay at Hibernian, despite previous confirmation from David Gray this would be the forward's final season.
The 33-year-old has been linked with Aberdeen and clubs further afield, but will now extend his second spell at Easter Road.
"There have been positive talks around his future and he is going to be staying another year," Gray told BBC Scotland before the Motherwell game.
"It's a big decision for him and his family and his advisers, and the Gordon family from the investments made across the time. We feel this is right for everybody.
"You see what he brings to the football club. What he brings, not just on the pitch but off it as well, it's brilliant for everyone involved."
Image source, SNSHibs welcome Jamie McGrath back from suspension so Rudi Molotnikov (ankle) is set to be the only absentee.
Motherwell have Stephen Welsh back in their squad but Paul McGinn, Jordan McGhee, Eythor Bjorgolfsson, Zach Robinson and Andy Halliday remain out.
Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSMartin Boyle wants to end his "crazy rollercoaster" Hibs career on a high by securing European football for the club with victory over Motherwell on Saturday.
The 33-year-old plays his final game at Easter Road with David Gary's side looking to pip the visiting Steelmen, who are currently a point ahead, to fourth place.
Forward Boyle, a Scottish Cup winner with Hibs in 2016, bows out with no regrets while hoping supporters have seen his love for the club over the years.
"It's a little bit surreal," he said.
"The boys gave me a good send-off after training. I'm fully focused on the game, I think my kids are walking out with me before the game so hopefully I can enjoy it with them, put in a solid performance for the club and secure a European spot.
"It's been a crazy rollercoaster. I think everyone knows what this clubs means to me. Full credit to everyone that stuck by me, managers and staff, it's been fantastic.
"I can't say a bad thing about the club. I've loved it, hopefully everyone can see that and seen that I've given everything for the club. Hopefully I can go out with one more memorable moment."
Boyle, who has spent the past 11 years with Hibs bar a short stint in Saudi Arabia, has no plans on what lies ahead in terms of club football and stresses his full focus is on a World Cup place with Australia.
"Not a clue," Boyle added when asked if he'd thought about his future beyond Hibs.
"Not even thought about it. I've not even put myself in the shop window. My full focus is ending on a high and going to the World Cup.
"I've still got a lot of work to do before the squad is announced. I'm going to pre-camp on Tuesday and I hope I can take this form into camp and get selected.
"I was unfortunate position to miss the last World Cup so to make the squad is my full focus."
Image source, SNSHibs and Motherwell have drawn their past two league meetings, but haven't done so three times in a row since December 1999.
Motherwell have kept a clean sheet in two of their three league games against Hibs this season, as many as their previous 15 beforehand.
Hibs haven't lost their final game in any of the past five league seasons (W1 D4), although their latest three have been drawn: 1-1 v Hearts in 2022-23, 1-1 v Livingston in 2023-24 and 2-2 v Rangers in 2024-25.
Including the curtailed 2019-20 campaign, Motherwell have only won their final league game in one of the past six seasons (D2 L3), beating Dundee United 3-2 in 2022-23.
Since the Scottish Premiership rebranded in 2013, Hibs forward Martin Boyle has been directly involved in 99 goals in the competition (66 goals, 33 assists), one away from being the seventh player with 100+ goal involvements in this time, after James Tavernier (178), Leigh Griffiths (122), James Forrest (117), Alfredo Morelos (105), Callum McGregor (105), and Lawrence Shankland (101).
Sportscene pundit and former Hibs midfielder Scott Brown analyses the 2-1 win at Ibrox that gives David Gray's side the chance to pip Motherwell to a fourth-place finish on Saturday.
Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSFelix Passlack says Hibernian have put themselves in a great position to finish fourth in the Premiership after snatching a dramatic last-gasp victory over Rangers at Ibrox.
Hibs spent much of the game on the back foot after Thelo Aasgaard cancelled out Martin Boyle's early opener for the Edinburgh side.
With the clock ticking towards 90 minutes, Passlack teed up Dane Scarlett to prod home the winner and bank a precious three points that sets up a final-day shootout with Motherwell at Easter Road to secure European football next season.
"It feels great," Passlack told BBC Scotland.
"The first half wasn't good for us. We didn't stick to the plan, especially defensive-wise.
"We talked about it in half-time and I think we had three shots on goal. We scored twice. It was a great evening for us.
"We talked about in recent weeks and months that we try to finish fourth. Saturday it's on the table. Just one win.
"It sounds easy, but it will be a tough game at home and hopefully we will get those three points."
Highlights: Rangers 1-2 Hibs
We asked for your views on Hibernian's 2-1 win against Rangers at Ibrox.
Here's what some of you said:
Danny: This result should - but sadly won't - put the David Gray haters' gas at a peep. It's been a weird season - we have beaten both Rangers and Celtic away from home and can still match last season's points. Yet, because we're in fifth rather than third and European football is not yet confirmed, the season is viewed by many Hibbies as a failure. We need to get over that and acknowledge Gray is doing a good job. On Saturday, a win against Motherwell and, yes, a win for Celtic would put a completely different complexion on this campaign.
Kenny: To beat Celtic and Rangers away takes a bit of doing but we have proved again that consistency has been the thing that's let us down from being higher up the league. But a win against Motherwell will get us forth place. A few weeks ago that looked very unlikely but it just shows what an up and down season it's been. Onwards and upwards.
Jim: Hibs never really looked in danger of losing. Rangers huffed and puffed with little end product. Hibs played a great game and the result wasn't flattering or a fluke. Bring on the 'Well.
John: Hibs really need to sign Martin Boyle for another year, what a difference our attacking threat is when Josh Campbell starts. Defence is much better when Grant Hanley is in charge of the backline. Also, massive praise to Felix Passlack.
Scott: Very unexpected win due to our poor record at Ibrox. Let's not kid ourselves though, this Rangers team is one of the poorest I can remember in my 61 years. However, the result brings up a huge final game against Motherwell at Easter Road with a view to European football next season.
William: Great result makes last game a cup final for both teams, and if Hibs win it will end a difficult season on a high and not have to rely on a Celtic cup win.
Chris: Just shows all those doubters that Hibs can do it! Great performance, now finish off the season in style and give Boyle the send off he deserves.
Watch all the highlights as Rangers suffered a fourth successive home defeat for the first time since 1983 as Hibernian edge closer to confirming European football. Available to UK users only.
Rangers slipped to a fourth successive defeat in their last home match of the season as Hibernian celebrated keeping their hopes of fourth place and European football alive on Wednesday night.
Image source, SNSHibernian manager David Gray: "Before the game, we spoke about coming here and winning.
"If I'm being honest, it was very much a smash-and-grab because of the way the game went. Rangers started really well and our goalkeeper had to make four or five massive saves, which kept us in the game.
"With 15 minutes to go, we knew we needed to win, so I threw caution to the wind, threw strikers on, went to a back four and opened it up.
"Even at that time, Rangers had a big chance before we scored.
"I was a bit disappointed with how we played at times, but I've just said to the players, it was all about winning for us."
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
The victory at Falkirk was a timely boost for David Gray and his players after a couple of major dents in their quest to grasp a European spot.
It was also an indication of the talent of Josh Campbell and what he can bring to what will be a much-changed squad for the new season.
Campbell, who turned 26 last week, has made 32 appearances this season but only six starts.
His two goals were typical of how the midfielder can ghost in under the radar and find valuable space to trouble opposition defences.
He is now at an age where regular starts are key for his career and he will hope these will be at Easter Road in the years to come.
While Hibs could still drop down a spot or rise to fourth, they look set for a fifth-place finish, but the remaining two fixtures against Rangers and Motherwell are far from meaningless as good performances and victories may just be a deciding factor in how the management view future deals.
Sunday will also be a bittersweet moment for Martin Boyle. He will play his last game for Hibs and supporters will be keen to show their appreciation of his service to the club.
Initially joining on loan from Dundee before penning a permanent deal, other than a short spell in the Saudi Arabia, he has been a standout performer for Hibs. Over 400 appearances, in excess of 100 goals, club captain, numerous managerial changes, Boyle has handled everything that has come his way with style.
For many of these players this will be their final appearance for the club and they deserve a decent send-off, but no one more than Boyle who should be able to savour a rendition of Sunshine on Leith one final time.
Image source, SNSRangers have lost three consecutive league games for the first time since October 2000 - that run 26 years ago began with a 1-0 defeat to Hibs.
Rangers have lost just one of their past 29 league meetings with Hibs (W19 D9), going down 2-0 at home in April 2025.
All of Hibs' past five top-flight wins over Rangers have come away from home. However, Hibs have lost 12 of their past 13 league visits to Ibrox (W1).
Excluding the curtailed 2019-20 season, Rangers have won their final home game in six of the last seven league campaigns (D1 – v Hearts in 2022-23) since a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen in 2016-17.
Including the curtailed 2019-20 season, Hibs have only won their final away game in one of their past nine top-flight campaigns (D3 L5), beating Aberdeen 1-0 in 2020-21.
Hibs forward Martin Boyle has scored four goals in his last four Scottish Premiership starts against Rangers, this after only scoring one in his first 12 starts against them in the competition beforehand.
Image source, SNSRangers head coach Danny Rohl could makes changes after his side were consigned to third place. John Souttar and Ryan Naderi missed Sunday's game against Celtic.
Hibs are set to welcome Josh Mulligan back after almost four months out with an ankle injury, while Rocky Bushiri returns after a minor hamstring issue. Jamie McGrath is still suspended and Rudi Molotnikov (ankle) remains out.
Image source, SNSJosh Mulligan is set to end a four-month absence from the Hibs squad in Wednesday night's crucial game at Rangers.
The key midfielder has been out with ankle injury since the Scottish Cup defeat at Dunfermline in January.
Mulligan, 23, has been back in training since last month and is ready for the squad after not being risked on Falkirk's artificial pitch last weekend.
"He's never done any rehab on that surface and we didn't know how it would react, so given that he hadn't played any minutes at all and had been out for a long time, we didn't feel it was a risk we could take," head coach David Gray told Hibs TV.
"As a result of that, he's had more training over the weekend, and he's fully fit and available if selected and falls into contention for the squad tomorrow night with it being on a grass surface.
"What that does as well is give everybody a lift. I've seen that in the last 10 days. We've got competition for places and he certainly adds freshness as well."
Hibs have the chance to seal fifth place – which will be enough to earn a Conference League qualifier if Celtic beat Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup final – while they will also be eyeing a victory to potentially move within striking distance of fourth-placed Motherwell prior to their final-day home match with the Steelmen.
Matty Fairnie
Fan writer
The three points picked up from Falkirk on Saturday could yet prove to be huge for Hibs' season.
We have to hope Celtic can win at Fir Park on Wednesday night and that Hibs find a way to beat Rangers at Ibrox to set up a shootout for fourth on Saturday.
My head tells me such a scenario is unlikely. The football gods have been incredibly unkind to Hibs this season, so we're maybe due some good fortune.
I was so happy for Josh Campbell to get his goals at the weekend. He has a real aptitude for timing those runs into the box and popping up with important goals.
Josh has struggled for game-time and I think he sometimes suffers from being asked to play when we need a midfielder to chase down opponents and run all day, but when he's given the opportunity and remit to get in the box, he's a real threat.
With Jamie McGrath still suspended, Campbell has the chance to make sure he's starting against Motherwell if he can back up Saturday's performance with a similar impact against Rangers.
I've no idea how the game at Ibrox will go, Rangers' season is done but they'll want to bow out with a win in their final home match.
Hibs can't be distracted by what's going on there. With a job to do I'm sure David Gray will have the team focused on the task in hand.
Hopefully things go our way and we're in for a thrilling last game of the season on Saturday.
Former Aberdeen and Hibernian winger Junior Hoilett would not be surprised to see Martin Boyle join the Dons this summer when the forward's deal at Easter Road expires. (Daily Record), external
Elie Youan appears to be leaving Hibernian after the French forward's barber posted on social media: "Last haircut for @e.youan, four years deep." (Scottish Sun), external
