Malisheva 2-0 Hibernian: Scottish Premiership side suffer shock defeat in Conference League qualifier as boss slams 'unacceptable' display
Hibernian's Conference League hopes hang in the balance after suffering a shock 2-0 defeat to Kosovar side Malisheva in a qualifier; David Gray labelled his sides performance as 'unacceptable'; Motherwell beat HB Torshavn 2-0 in their Conference League qualifier
Thursday 23 July 2026 22:46, UK
David Gray described Hibernian’s abject 2-0 Conference League defeat by Kosovar outfit Malisheva as “unacceptable”.
Kreshnik Uka stunned Hibs in the first leg of the second qualifying tie at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina when he opened the scoring in the 21st minute from close range.
Hibs stepped up the pressure after the break and new signing Nathan Lowe missed a couple of chances but home substitute Valjmir Nafiu added a second in the 90th minute to leave the Scots with a rescue mission in the second leg at Easter Road next week.
Gray told Hibs' official X account: "I think it's very, very simple to put that into words which is way below the requirement and the expectation of this football club. I know that. That's a reflection on myself, my team.
"We know we were way below we needed to be today, and I'm not going to stand here and make excuses at all. That was obviously nowhere good enough.
"The only positive if there is anything that can come out today is the fact it's happened in the first leg, and there is still an opportunity to turn this round, and I do believe we are good enough to do it from what I've seen today.
"As I said, I could talk about moments and situations in the game. They'd just be excuses.
"In terms of where we are just now, disappointment, the frustration, and the fans are certainly not going to want to hear this in terms of apologies, but for the players, myself, a reflection on what we've delivered today, for the supporters that have spent the money to come and support their team in Europe, we know that's unacceptable, and nowhere near the level required.
"I'm not going give anyone an out, certainly myself. I'm not going to try and justify, or try and make excuses, and talk about anything other than we know, to a man today, we were at anywhere near the level required."
Johansson gets off to winning start at Motherwell
Alfred Johansson's new Motherwell era began with an encouraging 2-0 Conference League qualifying win over HB Torshavn at Fir Park.
Debutant Martin Moormann lit up the first leg of the second qualifier in the 15th minute when he thundered in an unstoppable shot from 25 yards.
There was lots to like about some of the Steelmen's play and they doubled their lead in the 57th minute through another terrific strike, this time from midfielder Lukas Fadinger.
The two-goal lead, while not gold-plated, should be enough to see Well through the second leg in the Faroe Islands next week which will book a third-round clash - almost certainly against HJK Helsinki, 5-0 winners over Coleraine in Finland on Thursday.
