Hibs keeper Adam Bogdan is the hero as they battle through

Hibs boss Neil Lennon was immensely proud of his players' after their Europa League victory over Asteras Tripolis and hailed goalkeeper Adam Bogdan as 'world-class'.
Adam Bogdan was outstanding for Hibs in Tripoli. Picture: Ross Parker/SNSAdam Bogdan was outstanding for Hibs in Tripoli. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS
Adam Bogdan was outstanding for Hibs in Tripoli. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS

A fraught 1-1 second leg draw in Greece was enough to see the Leith side set up a third qualifying round clash with Norwegian side Molde with a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Hibs were in command after John McGinn notched a 43rd-minute goal before the home side had Michael Manias sent off in the 56th minute.

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A rousing second half performance from Asteras saw Kosmas Tsilianidis level on the evening and Savvas Pantelidis’ side were denied victory by inspired goalkeeper from on loan Liverpool keeper Bogdan

Lennon said: “I am very proud of the players, it’s a tremendous success to get through. It was everything I imagined it to be as I knew it would be a difficult night.

“We made it more difficult for ourselves, but we are good value for the result over both the ties.

“We are learning as we go and the journey now goes on. On the balance of play I believe we deserved it.

“It came down to game management and you need to give credit to our players, the game changed when we scored our goal and then when Asteras went down to ten men

“When they scored it was poor defending from our point of view. We didn’t handle the game management as well as I would have liked. We should have been more comfortable with a man extra.”

Bogdan was at fault for the opening goal in the enthralling 3-2 first leg win but

Lennon was more than

happy with the Hungarian’s performance.

He added: “Adam was world-class. The save from the header was Gordon Banks-esque, I don’t know how he got that out.

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“I’ve admired him for a long time. He’s had a bit of rust but tonight we saw his capabilities – and in Europe away from home you need your goalkeeper to play well. I know that from my own experiences as a player and manager at Celtic.”

Lennon, whose side begin the Premiership campaign with a visit of Motherwell on Sunday, also confirmed that talks aimed at re-signing striker Jamie Maclaren from German outfit SV Darmstadt 98 should

reach a successful

conclusion.

He added: “I think it’s getting closer and hopefully we’ll have something over the line by the weekend. It’s another body and a good player in the building.”

Asteras manager Pantelidis, meanwhile, said: “Congratulations to my team, the second half performance was outstanding because they gave all the effort and the way they managed the game was amazing.

“My players delivered their sole on the pitch and I believe we deserved the victory and to qualify for the next round.”