hibs

Norwegian defender Niklas Gunnarsson who joined Hibs  in the January transfer window on loan from Valerenga scored his first goal for the club last night in the 3-2 victory over champions Rangers at Easter Road.

With Hibs leading 2-1, the 24-year-old pounced on a Paul Hanlon header from John McGinn’s corner and showed superb technique by firing the ball into the rook of the net from 6 yards.

Gunnarsson also admitted that his team mates had been laughing at his shooting practice in training however he now has the last laugh.

The victory leaves Hibs three points behind Falkirk with a game in hand and they could draw level by beating Morton on Saturday before Falkirk travel to Starks Park for the evening game which is live on BBC Alba.

Speaking after the game to Cliff Pike from Hibs TV, Gunnarsson said: “It was a great win in a game we had to win and we did our job and are very happy.

“For me it doesn’t matter if I score or not the main thing is to win the game and for the team to perform then I am happy. I am very humble that I got my opportunity and took it.

“I had a couple of chances against Hearts and also against Morton so it was nice to put it in the goal.

“My main priority was to hit the ball clean and if I did that I knew the keeper would have difficulties and I hit the ball very good.

“I have done some finishing in training but after three or four times I received some bad comments from the lads but it’s not my job to score the goals but I always have a good strike on the ball.

“Now I can smile and tell them I did a good goal.

“We made some pressure on Falkirk because they have to win the game and Raith is not an easy game but we have to think about ourselves. We have to win our last three games then we will see if we are second place or third place.

“By reaching two finals in the same season we have done something special and I am very satisfied about the game on Saturday. We were tired but we had a great recovery.

“The final is a long time away so now we focus on our main goal which is to get promotion.”

 

+ posts

John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.