Exclusive:Hibs missing 'connection' as new faces bed in - but Gray won't reach for 'big stick' after hurt of Hearts loss
Coaching staff seek to ‘educate’ players on failings behind second successive Tynecastle heartbreak
David Gray believes there is no need for him to use the “big stick treatment” against his hurting Hibs players in the wake of their agonising Edinburgh derby defeat at Tynecastle. But the Easter Road boss insists he will work hard to “educate” his team on the failings that saw them throw away a point, at least, in Tuesday night’s monsoon match.
Tomas Magnusson’s goal with 88 minutes gone gave the league leaders a precious three points in their quest for a shock Scottish Premiership title triumph. And the manner of the Hearts win mirrored their 1-0 home victory back in August, when Craig Halkett scored in injury time.
For Gray, who admitted that lack of training time with his January signings had left Hibs failing to “connect” in certain situations, there is a need to underline the basic failings that saw players switch off at a quick free-kick for the Magnusson sickener. But no need to strip paint from the first-team dressing room walls at East Mains.
Manager stresses need for ‘accountability’ after derby defeat
The former club captain said: “I think it's about trying to educate them. I think there's no point in me, you know … the days of coming in and throwing your voice about are long gone.
“And the old big stick treatment. That's not going to have an effect at this stage.
“The players are really, really hurting after that performance. The result, the manner of it at the end.
“So I think it's more a case of, you know, you have to pick the players up as quick as you can. That's a big job for my staff and myself to make sure you pick the players up.
“But you also have that accountability so you show why it happened. How can we be better?
“And make sure you don't waste a day between now and the end of the season. You don't waste a single day in terms of that opportunity to try and improve.
“We need to take the opportunity to try and get the players in that frame of mind to make sure we go and bounce back as quick as we can. We've got an opportunity to do that at home against St Mirren on Saturday.
“And our home form has been positive. But we're certainly going to need that reaction because it'll be a tough game.”
Hibs competed for long spells against Derek McInnes’ team, and Gray is confident that his half-dozen new signings will make an impact on the first team. Four January recruits started the game, while Ante Suto came on as a substitute just before the hour mark.
Insisting that all his new boys need is time, he said: “Yeah, I think it will improve. I think that was just, you know, that's where we are at the moment in terms of new players coming in.
“They’ve not been involved for overly long. But I think they've acquitted themselves well when you think of the players that have played in there. And I think they'll definitely benefit from that experience.
New recruits need ‘more time’ on grass
“There is still, as I say, more to come from the group because they're still learning all the time. I think we have benefited from the extra three or four days this week on the grass. Getting familiar with the players around about us.
“There are still moments where we will need to improve. We've seen it against Hearts.
“We're not quite … that connection's not quite there in certain situations. And that only comes through more time on the grass, more video, more individual, more unit work.
“Because we have got a competitive squad now with players coming back. There'll be more players coming back as well, which we're going to need.
“We're going to need everybody to make sure we're all pulling in the same direction to finish the season as strong as we can. And the most important thing is we need to bounce back as quick as we can.
“We need to quickly dust ourselves down. Because this one will hurt, naturally, because it's your local rival in the manner of the game.
“But you're playing against a team that's at the top of the league at the moment. And there was nothing in the game.
“If we could have seen the game out, it would have been at least what we deserved. That would then be another positive point moving forward and you can build on that going into the weekend.
“Now the challenge is, can you then get a reaction after the disappointment, the magnitude of the game tonight? You have to make sure you go and react and win the next game.”