Falkirk address Hibs red card woe as David Gray backed to end issue with key message amid European chase

John McGlynn reckons David Gray will put an end to Hibs’ red card issues with a key message - as the Bairns target going above the Easter Road club.

Hibs can still mathematically reach fourth and the final European qualifier spot, six points behind Motherwell, with three games to go that includes a final day showdown with the Steelmen. Where they reside in fifth could become a European spot if Celtic win the Scottish Cup, however, Falkirk are just two points behind Gray’s team ahead of the pair’s meeting this Saturday. Hibs have lost three games in a row with sending offs for Grant Hanley, Raphael Sallinger, Felix Passlack and Jamie McGrath across those matches.

McGlynn is well aware of that growing issue but isn’t making a big deal about it. His focus is getting Falkirk into a possible European position but reckons Gray will be urging Hibs to think more carefully before committing to risky challenges. He said: "The big games just keep on coming, it's great to be part of this. We've now got a real chance to jump above Hibs, and we're delighted to get ourselves into that position. It's game on now, Hibs recognise that, so I would expect them to be well up for it.

John McGlynn on Falkirk vs Hibs

"David Gray will hope that they are not too well up for it, though, because they keep getting players sent off. But we're ready to go, bring it on. It's a great opportunity. If we can get above Hibs and see it out to the end of the season, then fine. But we understand they are a massive football club and they have got great resources.

“It's not a gimme, but then we've come off the back of a really good performance and a very good result against Motherwell last week. We did well against Celtic the game before that. So we're in a really good place. Hibs may not have had the best period, but that can make the opposition more dangerous. There might be a little bit of a lack of confidence there, because as David said, they have almost kind of beaten themselves recently.

“With four players getting sent off in the last three games Hibs have not really been helping their cause. So they want to keep 11 players on the park, that's for sure. If we put their defenders in positions where there's one-on-ones, sometimes that can lead to challenges and tackles and yellow cards.

What will David Gray tell Hibs about red cards?

But it's not something we'll make a big deal of in preparation, it's just coincidental. None of these Hibs players are meaning to go out and get sent off. But it will be something that David wants to stop, he'll want them to play a little bit more with their heads rather than, although it might be the wrong word, their hearts.

"We're very much looking forward to the game, though. We're in a good place. We would hope to try to get the match to go exactly how it went the last time.

"But it will not be as easy as that, I don't think. I expect Hibs to be well up for it. We're playing well. There's no pressure on us at all now. We're just delighted to be where we are, and we've got an opportunity to get a place higher, which would be incredible."