Hibernian 1-1 Rijeka: Croats 'hold no fears' for Leith side in second leg - Jack Ross

Travelling to Croatia level with Rijeka in their Europa Conference League qualifier "holds no fears" for Hibernian, says head coach Jack Ross.

Prince Ampem headed the visitors ahead midway through the second half of a thriller, with Martin Boyle lashing in the equaliser five minutes later.

Ross suggested "ruthlessness in front of goal" was all that Hibs missed.

"We've got a brilliant away record over the last year and we'll travel with a positive mindset," he said.

"Going away holds no fears for us and, having seen our opponent at first hand, I don't think my players will hold any fears."

Rijeka will certainly be happier with the draw in a tie that is very much in the balance as Hibs head to Croatia in seven days' time.

Ross had suggested that counterpart Goran Tomic's assertion that the Edinburgh side use long-ball tactics was an "uneducated" stereotype of Scottish football.

Yet, within five minutes, visiting left-back Andrija Vukcevic, goalkeeper Nediljko Labrovic and Hibs centre-half Paul Hanlon were down receiving treatment after challenging for a free-kick launched into the Rijeka penalty box, with the latter two continuing with heavily bandaged heads.

With summer signing Jake Doyle-Hayes - handed a start ahead of Alex Gogic - impressing with his distribution in central midfield, Hibs showed they could play a bit too.

Even with captain Nino Galovic back in their central defence in place of North Macedonia international Darko Velkovski, Rijeka looked like a side who had conceded three goals in Saturday's draw with Dinamo Zagreb.

They were thankful that Labrovic had cleared his head in time to thwart efforts from Boyle, Kevin Nisbet and Jamie Murphy - and to the face of a post for denying Lewis Stevenson from long range.

Matt Macey saved Hibs at the other end, blocking from Andrija Vukcevic at the near post after a fine through ball from Ampem, the Ghanaian winger proving a constant threat in midfield.

Vukcevic turned provider as Ampem rose above the equally diminutive Stevenson to head Rijeka ahead at the back post.

A couple of penalty shouts denied, it looked like Hibs' frustrations would intensify until Boyle pounced after Labrovic's fingertips had diverted Nisbet's header into the winger's path.

Substitute Daniel MacKay also had a great opportunity to win it at the end, but he was denied by Labrovic.

Hibs will be disappointed not to have established a lead but satisfied they were able to find an equaliser against tricky opponents who eased aside Aberdeen 4-0 on aggregate two years ago.

In Doyle-Hayes, they have found a midfielder with style and creativity who can grace this level of European football and, if they can be more clinical in front of goal in a week's time, can progress to the next stage.

With Irish side Bohemians having surprised Greek visitors PAOK 2-1 on Tuesday, we are no closer to knowing who will be squaring up in the play-off round.

Hibernian head coach Jack Ross: "I think most people would have predicted that this would be a difficult game for us, and they are a good side, but I thought we were excellent against a good team.

"We carried it on from Sunday, we carried an attacking threat. Really frustrated to go behind because of the way we played, but the response from the players was excellent. I definitely think in the second half it is a penalty."

Hibs host Ross County on Sunday (15:00 BST) while Rijeka have been handed a rest with their domestic league game against Lokomotiva Zagreb being postponed with an eye on next Thursday's second leg.