David Gray provides Hibs injury update on two stars as he names moment that 'spooked' team vs Celtic
The Hibs head coach has reacted to a tough day for his side at Easter Road.
David Gray says Hibs struggled with a double blow after they suffered a 2-1 loss against Celtic in the Premiership - as he sent a fitness update on two players.
The head coach and his team were made to pay for conceding twice in one first half minute when Daizen Maeda pounced on a poor pass by goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger to put the champions ahead. Arne Engels then headed home a second, and while Martin Boyle reduced the deficit from the penalty spot after half-time, it wasn’t enough to take a share of spoils.
Chris Cadden was then denied by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel late in the game. Speaking after the game, Gray admits the two goals left his team dazed, but the performance beforehand and reaction afterwards gives him some optimism.
David Gray on Hibs 1-2 Celtic
He said: “We gift a gift to Celtic a goal, because that's what it was, it was a gift. But it's not through them doing something that they're not being asked to do. I take responsibility for that as well because of how we play. The frustration probably comes from you then give Celtic a two goal start, which was in a quick succession after a real positive start in my opinion. I thought we started the game really well for what I asked the players to do pre-match by being aggressive, being on the front foot, I've certainly seen that.
"Create the best chance of the game (Boyle’s early effort). The lesson there is you probably need to take those chances, they don't come as often, especially against teams like Celtic. You need to make sure you take them and then obviously find yourself 2-0 down. From that point, I think we needed half-time, Celtic were in the ascendancy, we got spooked a little bit by that. Then in the second half I thought it was a good reaction again.
"When I strip it back, I obviously hate losing games of football, I'll never accept that, but I've certainly seen the reaction from Tuesday night at the start of the game, and then I've seen the reaction in the second half. Once we got the goal, there was only one team going to go and score the next one I felt. We definitely deserved to get something out of the game, apart from a two-minute period within the game. In the first-half, it was probably our chance in the game. I think we stripped Celtic to very little, we had big chances in the game and didn't take them, so the frustration is certainly there because I think we deserved to get something out of the game"
One major positive from the game was the return of club captain Joe Newell after an 11-month lay-off with injury. Gray said: "It's positive for Joe. He's been working ever so hard to try and get back into squads and get back in.
Hibs injury update
“He's been on the bench the last couple of games and I've not put him on. I thought when he came on he was good, he showed what he was, that leader, driving the game. I thought all the subs came on and made a positive impact, that's what they're asked to do. “
One concerning moment in the game for Hibs was left-wing-back Nicky Cadden going down, needing replaced middway through the first half. Jordan Obita made way in the second half with some tightness, and now seeing Falkirk up next in six days time at Easter Road, Gray added: “I think it's Nicky’s calf a little bit, he felt something. The fact that he didn't play on it, hopefully is a positive. He just said he felt a bit of a twinge at that time and he didn't want to push it any further, which is hopefully a sensible thing to do, but it's far too early to decide or know exactly what the outcome of that one is yet.
“Jordan obviously got booked as well, so when you're in that stage of the game with 15 minutes to go, or half an hour to go, trying to be on the front foot and being aggressive...if you're on a yellow, the way we like to try and press and jump, probably restricted him a wee bit on that front and then an opportunity to change it. He says he felt a bit tight, but nothing significant I don't think. It was more a tactical one more than anything else. It's probably made my decision a wee bit easier maybe, let's just say, but certainly not, well hopefully not, anything significant."