Darren McGregor craves goal to kick-start Hibs' season

Darren McGregor fires the ball home to open the scoring for Hibs at Stark's Park last season

There's a photograph hanging in the home of Darren McGregor's mum which, the Hibs defender admits, he'll cherish forever.

It captures the moment at Stark’s Park when he scored his first goal for the Easter Road side, one which proved of huge significance not only for the Leith-born player but the Edinburgh outfit itself.

The plaque underneath reads “Hibs’ 1000th goal in the Scottish Cup”. However, what it doesn’t say is that it was the one which sent Hibs on their way to Hampden glory, ending their 114-year search for their own “Holy Grail”.

The 2-0 victory over Raith Rovers – Dominique Malonga added the second only minutes later – was followed by wins over Hearts, Inverness Caley, Dundee United and, ultimately, Rangers, sparking mass “Hibsteria” on the east side of the Capital.

However, McGregor insisted that if he was to repeat that feat in Kirkcaldy today he’d enjoy the moment every bit as much as that strike last January, particularly if it leads to Hibs ending a run of four games without a win, one which has seen the title favourites toppled from the top of the Championship table.

He said: “I’d take that goal again – a mis-hit past the goalkeeper. I’m reminded about it every time I go into my mum’s house. It’s one I can 
look back on and I’ll cherish it for the rest of my days. 
I’d savour one today just as much because it’s a difficult place to go and we are on a poor run at the minute. This is a new season and different circumstances, but we need to bounce back because, of all the games we have dropped points in or lost, the one against St Mirren last week was the most disappointing.

“We need to show a response and it needs to be character-building for the team. I honestly believe we can kick-start our season.”