GRAY DELIGHTED AS HIBS AVOID EURO HANGOVER IN DENS WIN

DAVID GRAY praised Hibernian for making light of their European exertions to kick off their Premiership campaign with a sure-footed 2-1 victory away to Dundee yesterday afternoon.

- Michael Robertson

The Easter Road boss admitted it was a "difficult" decision to make just one change to the side that started last Thursday's extra-time defeat by Midtjylland in the Europa League.

However, Gray was rewarded with a strong display as Kieron Bowie's first-half double proved enough to overcome a Dee side who pulled one back through Fin Robertson.

"I'm delighted because, after everything the players put in Thursday night, everybody would be looking at today's game wondering would there be a hangover, how will the players react the first time they went Thursday-Sunday," the Hibees manager said.

"The players reacted in the best possible way with a real professional performance. I thought we controlled the game from start to finish." Gray was heartened to see recently-capped Scotland forward Bowie get off the mark so early in the campaign after he endured an injury-disrupted first season at Hibs.