DAY AT THE FRINGE

Gray gets a welcome selection headache ahead of Euro crunch

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TINKERMAN David Gray took a gamble on his Hibs fringe - and they delivered a show worthy of the famous festival.

With the capital buzzing with sold-out gigs and standing ovations, the Leith side took their own supporting cast on the road for a spotlight display at Almondvale.

Gaffer Gray made six changes for Hibs' seventh game in a gruelling 25-day run - but his understudies stepped up with a headlining act ahead of Thursday's crucial Europa Conference League playoff against Legia Warsaw.

Club-record signing and £1million man Thibault Klidje marked his first start with a goal just before the break.

Josh Mulligan then sealed the win late on with a thunderous 25-yarder as keeper Rafa Sallinger and Miguel Chaiwa were handed debuts. Grant Hanley, Alasana Manneh and Kanayo Megwa also got much-needed minutes after the draining extra-time clash with Partizan.

Hibs now turn focus to the first leg against the Poles at Easter Road, with a spot in the lucrative group stage up for grabs, after sealing a Premier Sports Cup quarterfinal with Rangers next month.

Delighted Gray said: "It was a very professional performance, we had good control of the game and deserved to go through.

"We were able to make changes and the level of performance didn't drop so it was a really good day's work from everyone.