Hibernian hope to build on 'perfect night' - Dean Gibson
Head coach Dean Gibson hopes for more special nights after Hibernian beat Hearts in front of record crowd
Hibernian had a “perfect night” said head coach Dean Gibson as his side ran out 3-0 winners over Edinburgh rivals Hearts in front of a record 5,512 crowd at Easter Road.
The two clubs smashed the previous attendance record for a domestic Scottish women’s football match, and more than doubled Hibs’ own biggest home crowd.
A first half goal from summer recruit Alexa Coyle was followed up by Rachael Boyle and Eilidh Adams to return Gibson’s side to winning ways after Sunday’s late defeat to Celtic.
“Winning the game was probably just the icing on the cake tonight,” said Gibson, whose side are just one point off the top of SWPL 1 after three wins from four.
“To play a derby game here at Easter Road and break a record was a night that I'm sure the players and myself will remember for a long time.
“I grew up a Hibs fan, not quite good enough to ever play on the pitch in a competitive game, but to stand there and manage a competitive game in a derby is memorable for me and the squad.”
‘I’m just really grateful’
Hibernian face their third big game in a week when they host Rangers live on BBC Alba on Sunday, this time at the Tony Macaroni Arena in Livingston, their familiar ‘home’ for the season.
“I need to say thank you to the fans,” said Gibson. “It made a massive difference to Alexa for example, she's come here from America and she now knows how big of a club Hibs is. It paints a picture.
“If we can take even 10% of the crowd that was here tonight to the game on Sunday that would be 550 people which is more than normal. If we can do that game by game and increase the attendances, it would make a massive difference to us.
“If we want to go full time we need to get people through the gate as relatively the bigger clubs are the ones with the bigger fan bases which helps attract new quality players.”
Coyle, who signed from the University of Montana in pre-season, hailed it a “special” night.
“I know for some of the players who have been here a long time, how special of an occasion this is so to be a part of that, I’m just really grateful,” said the 22-year-old. “Winning the game on this beautiful pitch and in the beautiful stadium was special.
“I am really enjoying my time here so far. I can’t say it enough how talented the group of players around me are. It’s so good to be incorporated into a team of such talented players and coaching staff. I’ve not played in front of a crowd that big before so as I say, that was special.”
We’re free this year
Anyone’s Game will be free this season with no paywall, but you can still subscribe for free to ensure you never miss any of our content during the campaign.