Gray: We Beat Ourselves Today

Hibernian Head Coach David Gray admitted that individual errors cost us as we fell to a 2-1 defeat to Hearts in the Edinburgh Derby. 

We got off to the perfect start after Martin Boyle fired us ahead inside the opening seven minutes, but we were quickly reduced to ten-men when Raphael Sallinger was sent off for a handball outside the penalty area moments later.

Felix Passlack was shown a second yellow card early in the second half, which meant we were forced to play a large part of the game with nine men, and in the end, Hearts made the numerical advantage count with two goals in the last half hour to claim all three points. 

Speaking to Hibs TV after the match, Gray praised his players' efforts with nine men but admitted that individual errors ultimately cost us.

"It’s very tough to take. I think, unfortunately, we beat ourselves today. We found ourselves 1–0 up in the derby, and everything I expected the game to be - fast, frantic, a bit nervy - it certainly was. The atmosphere was electric, as you’d expect. But after going ahead, we put ourselves on the back foot by going down to 10 men after 14 minutes.

"I’ve got no complaints about the red card - it was a poor decision at a poor time. Then just after half-time, we went down to nine men. Again, it comes from trying to recover from an error, overstretching, and it’s a definite second yellow card.

"We said it last week - it’s hard enough to win games with 11 men, never mind 10, and today we had nine.

"One thing I will say is that the nine players who remained on the pitch, along with the subs who came on, gave absolutely everything. They defended the box incredibly well and, at times, we had to ride our luck, as you’d expect when you’re up against a team with two extra players.

"We had to rely on the goalkeeper - Smudge hasn’t played a lot of football, but he came in and made some big saves. Players like Kanayo, who haven’t had many minutes, also gave everything. The effort from those out there didn’t deserve that outcome. I’ll say it again - I believe we beat ourselves today.

"Going down to ten men, and then nine, naturally changes the dynamic of the game. The difference this time was that we had something to protect at 1–0. I felt we settled quite quickly after that, but the original game plan went out the window early on. At half-time, you regroup and try to adjust, but then going down to nine men forces you to rethink everything again. 

"With limited stoppages left, you’re also trying to manage changes carefully.

"Despite all that, the players kept going. You could see that in the reaction from the fans at the end - they recognised the effort and commitment from those who were still out there and stayed. That’s what makes it even tougher to take.

"It does hurt, and it should hurt. It’ll sting for a while. But we can’t think it’s done. Results elsewhere haven’t gone our way, and the gap’s increased, which makes things more difficult. Still, there are four games left, and we’ll give everything to try and close that gap.

"All we can do now is move on, focus on the next game, and try to put this right."