Hibernian vs Malisheva Predictions

• Fewer than four goals have been scored in nine of Hibs’ last 10 competitive games at Easter Road
• Fewer than four goals have been scored in six of Malisheva’s last seven away games
• Nathan Lowe has scored 29 goals in 68 professional appearances in the last season and a half

Hibs have it all to do at home

Hibernian have enough quality to turn their Europa Conference League second qualifying round tie in their favour at Easter Road on Thursday evening. David Gray’s side were stunned 2-0 by Kosovan outfit Malisheva in Pristina last week and now have it all to do at home.

Hibs were punished for defensive lapses and were unable to claim a goal that would have redressed the balance of the tie when Malisheva’s captain Dreni Kryeziu headed an Owen Elding effort off his own goalline.

The pattern for the second leg is likely to be attack against defence with Hibs and the referee’s patience set to be tested by Malisheva’s time-wasting and use of the dark arts.

Malisheva are much better at home

Like Hibs, the Kosovan club are yet to commence their domestic league campaign and may not have the stamina levels required to hold out for 90 minutes if the Edinburgh club crank up the pressure.

They lost the away leg of their first-round tie 2-1 to Albanian outfit Vllazania before winning the second match 5-0, so there appears to be some difference between their home and away form there. That is one of six away defeats in their last 10 trips.

Back Hibs to win this 3-0, which would salvage their European campaign, but fewer than four goals in the match looks good value at around 4/6 given nine of the hosts’ last 10 games at Easter Road have fallen under that mark.