Hibs players get Christmas treat as Gray's men seek pre-derby boost against Celtic conquerors Dundee United
David Gray’s men looking to bounce back from toothless loss to Rangers at Ibrox
Hibs boss David Gray has already decided to give his players Christmas Day off, with the lighter-than-usual festive schedule allowing him to repeat a policy that paid off in spectacular fashion last season. But it goes without saying that everyone in the Easter Road camp will enjoy the family celebrations a little more if they can get a much-needed win over Dundee United this afternoon.
Heading to Tannadice to face a home side suddenly flying after their midweek win over Celtic, Hibs need to rediscover their cutting edge after failing to lay a glove on Rangers at Ibrox on Monday night. Gray, who travelled to Tayside to watch Jim Goodwin’s men beat the champions, is under no illusions over the challenge they’ll face today.
“They were very aggressive,” he said. “Impressive, very aggressive right from the start.
"The intensity of the play. If you remember the game at Easter Road, it was very much end-to-end. A lot of good athletes on their side that Jim's added this season.
Hibs must combat ‘physicality’ of Dundee United
"So straight away you're going to have to stand up to that. You need to stand up to the physicality. Set-pieces are a big threat as well.
"So we're under no illusions that it'll be a really tough game - added to the fact that they'll be feeling good about themselves having a real positive result against Celtic on Wednesday night. So we know the challenges.”
Having failed to generate a single clear-cut chance in Govan, Hibs have spent this week working on their attacking threat. Partly through patterns of play. But also by encouraging improvisation in the final third.
"It's definitely a bit of both,” said Gray. “I think certainly my job is to come up with a game plan and a way of playing that tries to exploit the opposition and get to the final third as many times as you can.
"The last bit you can't do is put the ball in the net for someone or that final cross. That comes down to individual quality and decision making.
"So it wasn't just quality. Sometimes it was the wrong run, the weight of pass. It just didn't quite click for us on that night.
"I thought the players showed the belief right from the start to really get after Rangers and be on the front foot. But when you are on top in games like that, you need to take your chances. When you are on top as much as that, you need to try and capitalise on that because every team's going to have spells within games. And I think that's something that, looking forward, we need to be more ruthless in those moments.”
Festive schedule allows Hibs leeway
Elie Youan made just his second start of 2025 at Ibrox, with Martin Boyle reduced to cameo role from the bench because of illness. Boyle is back to full health, while £1.5 million record signing Thibault Klidje has also completed a full week’s training for the first time in a month, Gray noting he has “a lot of options” up front.
Hibs will round off 2025 with the visit of Hearts to Easter Road next Saturday, before welcoming Aberdeen to Edinburgh on the 30th. Gray, who saw his players repay him with a Boxing Day win at Tynecastle after giving them Christmas Day off last season, is happy to stick with a winning formula.
“I do think that is important, because we've all got families and some of them have got young kids,” he said. "And I think that's important, that you spend your time with your family.
“They do the right things, they're all very professional. I think even last season, we played Hearts on Boxing Day and I gave them Christmas Day off as well.
"And I think that's because I trust my players. They understand exactly what's at stake, they know how to prepare, they do everything right to make sure that they're ready for the game. Because they'll certainly be ready for that one when it comes round, that's for sure."