David Gray’s side have one foot in the Europa Conference League play-off round after a superb night in SerbiaMartin Boyle celebrates after scoring the opening goal

Hibs all but buried FK Partizan’s Conference League chances with a 2-0 first leg win on the road, writes Ross Pilcher in Belgrade.

And it was Martin Boyle that proved deadly to all but kill off the third round qualifying tie in front of the noisy Gravedigger fans in the Serbian capital.

Despite a hostile welcome, Hibs started brightly. Boyle crossed for Kieran Bowie who sent a looping header towards goal that was claimed, before Boyle saw a low shot deflected into Marko Milosevic’s arms.

Boyle was then alert when Milosevic raced out to clear but only sent the ball so far. The Aussie tried to catch him racing back to his line, but could only find the side netting.

There was a real let off for Hibs when Demba Seck took the ball down at the back post but blazed over as Jordan Smith watched on. And all this within the opening five minutes.

Nikola Simic then when close with a thumping header from a free-kick and Smith was relieved to see it fly wide.

Jamie McGrath thought he’d silenced the incessant Grobari behind the goal. Hibs were attacking with a free-kick that looked destined for the top corner, only for Milosevic to spring across and tip it wide.

It was Smith’s turn to get his gloves on the ball to keep out Nemanja Trifunovic’s stinging strike after dropping a shoulder to put Warren O’Hora on his backside.

A pivotal 30 seconds saw the game swing in the Hibees’ favour. It was Rocky Bushiri to the rescue as the big defender somehow stopped Milan Vukotic effort on the line before scrambling away the rebound.

From almost taking the lead, Partizan found themselves down to ten men as Vukasin Durdevic upended Kieron Bowie, having already clattered Boyle earlier on. That meant an early night as Maltese Philip Farrugia flashed the second yellow then the red.

Martin Boyle of Hibernian celebrates their goal to make it 0-1

The decibel level was then turned right down as Hibs made the extra man count and then some. Jordan Obita’s corner was flicked on by O’Hora and Boyle was free at the back post to smash home, before taking off to shush the seething home fans.

It should have been 2-0 when McGrath ghosted into the box and was left with a completely free header, but could only send it wide with Milosevic rooted.

The keeper was the only reason Hibs didn’t kill the game within minutes of the restart. Dylan Levitt got across the front to turn Obita’s cross goalwards and Milosevic had to acrobatically tip over.

The hosts weren’t without threat though and Jovan Milosevic should have done better than head straight at Smith after Vukotic stood up a cross from the byline.

The stuffing was then knocked right out of them as a delayed VAR check resulted in a Hibs penalty for Bowie being pulled to the ground at a corner, although no-one spotted it at the time.

It was another brave call by the ref, and Boyle stayed cool amid the cacophony of boos so slam home down the middle.

Red but no star

It’s not a colour you’d see anywhere near this stadium except on Eternal Derby day. The Grobari didn’t much like seeing it flashed at Durdevic. His first foul on Boyle sent the Hibs man two feet in the air, although the one that earned him a red from the Maltese ref could be seen as soft. You can’t question the ref’s cojones to make a call like that with tens of thousands of screaming Serbs all around you.

MarTon Boyle

It’s 100 not up for Boyle as he reached a century of Hibs goals. So often he’s been the Leith club’s talisman on the big stage and he produced yet again. He was pinpointed in the build by Partizan coach Srdjan Blagojevic as the biggest threat, but he assured everyone there was. secret plan to try and deal with him. Whatever it was, it did’t work and he was the coolest man in the stadium in slotting home the killer second.

Using the Gray matter

He might be new to this, but David Gray is proving a dab hand at managing in Europe. His players were a minute and penalties away from his game plan against Midtjylland paying off, only being undone buy three goals that were all better than the last with the most spectacular and heartbreaking. In Belgrade, he got it spot on as Hibs handled both the atmosphere and younger, less experienced team pretty much perfectly. Replacing Josh Mulligan on a yellow card at half-time was sensible.

Partizan by name, Partizan by nature

One thing Partizan’s young team don’t lack is backing. Two hours before kick-off, fans surrounded the stadium in numbers. Once in it, the noise they make is incredible and if anything, they only got louder after going down to ten men, then again after conceding.

Partizan fans cheer during the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round

The choreographed chanting between different stands is impressive to see as well as hear, and it only makes the positive result as well as Hibs’ performance all the more impressive.

Ekpiteta away?

The defender didn’t travel with Hibs to Belgrade as an Easter Road exit draws near. Scotland veteran Grant Hanley arrived on a two-year deal earlier this week and that have paved the way for Ekpiteta to seek first team football elsewhere. He has options in England with MK Dons understood to be the front runners for his signature.