Hibs boss addresses Hearts 'more to play for' claim with 'definitely not' slapdown ahead of Edinburgh derby
‘Calm and clinical’ Easter Road side looking to make it four wins in five against local rivals
David Gray has quashed suggestions that tomorrow night’s Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle matters more to league leaders Hearts because of the size of the prize they’re chasing. And the Hibs boss, who added Jordan Obita to his already-lengthy casualty list earlier today, says staying calm and clinical has been key to the Easter Road side winning three of the last four meetings with their nearest and dearest rivals.
Asked outright whether this was a bigger game for Hearts than Hibs, given their respective league positions, Gray – his team sitting in fifth but desperate to close the gap on Motherwell – said: "No, I don't think so. Definitely not. It doesn't matter where you are in the league. We were 11th and 12th at one stage last season, I think.
"And we've been in different divisions before as well. The derby is the derby.
Bragging rights for fans at stake
"It's bragging rights for the supporters. When you think about what it means for the supporters, you've got a responsibility to live up to that.
"They are brilliant games to be involved in. But we've got our own objective and targets to achieve and we're constantly trying to catch that team in front of us."
Hearts in ‘fantastic position’ - David Gray
Insisting he’d been impressed by Hearts under Derek McInnes, Gray said: "Absolutely, they've put themselves in a fantastic position and that doesn't happen by accident. It's not as if we're only five or six games into the league, or even just one round of fixtures, we're right through now.
“We've played a lot of games. There's a lot of football still to be played as well.
"The consistency of their home form is something to be aware of, but it's the derby. It's about making sure we go there with our game plan, our way of playing, and trying to win the game.”
Although Hibs lost to a single injury-time goal at Tynecastle back in October, they were comfortable winners at Easter Road in December, despite the final 3-2 score on the day. That defeat on their last trip to Gorgie was the first time Hibs had lost an Edinburgh derby since October 2023 – and they’ve won three out of the last four.
Gray, asked what the secret to this team’s relative success might be, said: “You need to be the team that settles, is composed, is calm in the chaos, and is clinical. That's what you need to be.
"If you think back to the last time we went to Tynecastle, there wasn't very much in the game. It was probably quite scrappy, and they can often be that way.
"It was big moments at either end. We hit the bar and if it goes in, it's a different game. And then we lost a goal in the last second at the other end with one chance.
"They were very fine margins on that occasion. I expect it to be similar again tomorrow in terms of that fast, ferocious start because of what's at stake for both clubs."
Gray said he didn’t need to show any of his January signings evidence of what the party scenes at Tynecastle can be like, should the away side triumph, joking: "I don't think I need to – I think Jack Iredale walks about with his phone showing all the new players: 'Have you seen this before?'
"I think it's important that you do touch on it. The biggest thing you need to do is prepare players for what they're going to face. It's a brilliant atmosphere, it's very fast, very ferocious.
"I don't know exactly what it holds but it's 20,000 people and every single person in the stadium is shouting at the same time. It's difficult even at the side of the pitch to get information on, and that's what the players will be prepared for. But it's something they should relish because it is a brilliant atmosphere."
Hibs injury news - wingback out as doubts return to training
Providing an update on a squad not short of injury problems, Gray said: “Jordan Obita came off with a bit of a hamstring issue so he's out. Grant Hanley's still out, Chris Cadden is still out as well.
"Jamie McGrath trained today and Warren O'Hora, for the first time. Those two joined the group, which is good – it gives us a little bit of strength there. And Josh Campbell is back in the squad as well.
"The biggest and most pleasing thing is that I've had a lot more time on the grass with the new players. When you've got the carrot of the derby to look forward to, off the back of a last-minute winner in the previous game, people are feeling good about themselves, trying to build that momentum - and training's been very lively."