Gray: We Need To Bounce Back

Hibernian Head Coach David Gray was a frustrated figure at full time as we fell to a 2-1 defeat to Celtic at Easter Road. 

Ill discipline costs us again, as we had to play the majority of the match with 10-men after Jamie McGrath was sent off for a challenge on Alastair Johnston after 20 minutes. 

Daizen Maeda put the hosts in front before Joe Newell equalised on the stroke of half-time. The Hibees fought valiantly in the second half, but in the end we came up short with Kelechi Iheanacho finding the winner in the second half.

Speaking to Hibs TV after the match, Gray admitted that we made it difficult for ourselves once again.

"It’s quite repetitive in terms of what we’ve faced in the last three games, and going down to 10 men again at that period of the game - or at any time - gives you a mountain to climb, and today was exactly that again. 

"I thought Celtic actually started quite fast, which we’d expect because of their intensity, but to give yourself the best chance to win the game, I spoke about that all week - you need to keep 11 players on the pitch. 

"I can’t defend the tackle, I can’t defend the decision, it’s a definite red card. It’s definitely out of character, we know that with Jamie, but it certainly cost us on the day again. Playing the vast majority of the game with 10 men is extremely difficult, as we’ve already seen in the last three games.

"I can praise the players that were on the pitch again, the same as they did last week, because of their efforts and what they’ve done. A lot of that is non-negotiable anyway - you expect the players to give absolutely everything, which they did. They put their bodies on the line to block a lot of shots, especially going down to 10 against Celtic because of how they play.

"We did change shape at half-time to make sure we stayed in the game, because when you stay in the game longer, you then earn the right to throw caution to the wind. 

"You’re chasing the game, make a few subs, be a lot more aggressive, knowing that the next goal is crucial. If it goes 3-1, at least you know you have thrown everything at it, but you’ve still got that chance and you’re hoping for one moment. That chance came - unfortunately, we weren’t able to put it away - but it was a massive moment in the game."

With three games left to play, it is now extremely tight in the race for European football. We trail Motherwell by six points, and we have a two-point lead over Falkirk.

"We’re now back in that position again, where you’re relying on results elsewhere, but we’re not looking past next week," Gray continued. 

"Next week is obviously the biggest game of the season - it’s massive for various reasons. We didn’t put in a good account of ourselves the last time we went there, so we need to go and atone for that.

"It’ll be a difficult game on the surface, we know that, but there are no excuses from our point of view. We know we need to bounce back, and we’re relying on Motherwell dropping points for us to try and catch them.

"It’s probably going to take three straight wins, but at the same time, we’re not looking past Falkirk. It’s all about making sure we go there and win the game."