Hibs boss on 'clear and obvious' red card and 'complete performance' as Celtic history challenge revealed

David Gray revealed that he’d challenged his players to make history before they became the first Hibs team to secure an away win over Celtic in SIXTEEN years. And the Easter Road gaffer insisted Hoops defender Auston Trusty should have no complaints over a red card for violent conduct – because he almost dislocated Jamie McGrath’s shoulder with a thumping punch.

Gray, who also insisted he had no interest in how Hibs winning impacted on the title race on a day when Rangers also dropped points to improve the chances of Hearts winning the league, said he’d specifically tasked his players to do something none of their predecessors had achieved since 2010.

“It's been a big part of the last 18 months for me to be honest, every time I've come here,” he said after today’s dramatic 2-1 win in Glasgow, the former club captain adding: “I've challenged the group for 18 months to recreate history in a positive way. And you have to truly believe you can do it.

“It took a complete performance, that's what you need when you come here. You need to defend, you need to soak up pressure at times.

“Celtic are a very good side, they put you under real pressure. I'm really disappointed with the goal we conceded, I think that's avoidable. But apart from that, I thought Rafa Sallinger didn't have many big saves.

“I'm delighted for the players because it's a difficult place to come. That's back-to-back wins now, which is good. Especially coming here, off the back of the St Mirren win was always the challenge.

“Can you then go to Celtic Park and win? It’s not been done for a very long time.

“Against a team that, yes, had a poor result in Europe, but playing against a top team in Europe. And domestically, under Martin O’Neill, they’ve had nine wins, one draw, domestically. So it shows you their domestic form is very good.

“They're right bang in a title race for a reason, which shows you how difficult it is. So massive, massive credit to the boys. I think they deserved it.”

Trusty swung punch at Jamie McGrath

Addressing both the Trusty dismissal and Celtic being denied a penalty by VAR just moments later, Gray said: “I think the red card, you just can't do that. You can't lift your hands.

“I know he doesn't hit anyone in the face, but you can't lift your hands with that aggression. That's violent conduct. It's a clear and obvious red card for me.

“I actually think Jamie's got a bit of an issue with his shoulder now. He's almost put his shoulder out, which shows you how hard he's hit him. So from my point of view, I wouldn't expect any complaints in terms of how I see that one.

“And then the penalty incident, I've only seen it from one angle, from behind. I think there definitely was coming together and he goes down.

“It was probably one of them that if it's given on the field, I don't think it gets overturned. I think it's probably one of them. So maybe it went for us on that day.

“As I say, I've not really seen the replays to show a reason as to why it would be or wouldn't be. But certainly they probably went against us previously.”

On a day of firsts, Hibs took the lead through Felix Passlack opening his scoring for the club. After Benjamin Nygren’s equaliser, substitute Kai Andrews came off the bench to beg a stunning winner, the Coventry loanee making an obvious impact.

“All you can do is ask for your subs to come on and effect the game,” said Gray. “I know I spoke about it before the game today, in my pre-match, about selecting a team, a game plan.

“I don't think you can ever win the game in the first half, really, against Celtic. I think it's very much a case of your subs coming on and impacting the game.

“And thankfully it's worked out for us today on that occasion. Subs came on and got an assist and a goal with the two guys that came on. But I think to a man, as I say, to come here and get a result, it requires a massive performance from every player. And I certainly got that from everyone.

“That puts us five points behind Motherwell. I know they've got a game in hand, but five points behind Motherwell. Still to play them twice and play all the teams round about us towards the end of the season.

“And we've just shown there, again, that if you go toe-to-toe and you get a complete performance from us, we're a very good side and we're capable of beating anyone, I think. It does take that, though. We have to be 100 per cent at it all the time.

“There's improvement to come for the group. We've got a lot of younger players that are coming through and experiencing it. Owen Elding, first time being at Celtic Park, only 19 years old.

“Kai coming on, another 19-year-old, scoring the goal. So I think we will get better as the season ends. And you want to finish the season as strongly as you can.”

Hearts title hopes no concern of Easter Road boss

Asked if he felt Hibs could have a big say in the title race, Gray insisted: “I'll be honest, I'm purely thinking about ourselves. We just need to try and accumulate as many points as we can and try and chase down that team in front of us.

“European football is what this club craves. We had that earlier this season. It was very enjoyable.

“If you want nights like we experienced away from home and at home at Easter Road under the lights in Europe, you need to be good.

“We've got a chase on to try and catch Motherwell. They're in very good form just now. But like I said, we are certainly going in the right direction.”