McGregor backs wee Hibees to overturn UEFA defeat in second leg

Hibs academy boss Darren McGregor has backed his UEFA Youth League adventurers to turn around a 1-0 deficit after battling to stay in the tie against a "physical" Dynamo Kyiv team in Poland yesterday afternoon.

- by John Greechan

And he's hoping fans turn out in numbers for his reigning champions as they return to Easter Road for the second leg on December 10.

The young Hibees, who won the Club Academy Scotland Elite League as under-18s last season, lost out to a Vladyslav Zakharchenko goal early in the second half. Competing in the champions path against fellow title winners, Hibs found themselves up against a team who benefited from having a number of over-aged players in their squad.

McGregor praised his players for withstanding a late flurry of pressure as Dynamo went chasing a potentially crucial second goal in a first leg played at a neutral venue, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine forcing clubs to play 'home' fixtures in a third country.

And the Scottish Cup-winning fan favourite believes his team have already shown they've got enough to turn the tie around back in Edinburgh.