Exclusive:How two big decisions helped Hibs beat Hearts - Gray on putting family first at Christmas and selection call
Kanayo Megwa getting nod over Chris Cadden paid off - and so did trusting professionalism of players
Hibs boss David Gray has addressed two of the most important decisions he made to give his team the best chance of a second straight home win over Hearts, as one major selection gamble – and a leap of faith in the professionalism of his players – paid off in dramatic fashion at Easter Road. Gray saw his men streak into a 3-0 lead in Saturday’s post-Christmas showdown, then survive a late fightback by the league leaders to emerge victorious from a festive five-goal thriller.
For the second season running, in only his second campaign as a manager, Gray decided to give his players Christmas Day off. That paid dividends last year, as Hibs ran out winners at Tynecastle on Boxing Day – and it produced a similarly positive effect this time around.
The former club captain stressed the trust he had in his squad to prepare properly despite the temptations of the season, laughing when he was reminded of last year’s similar approach as he asked: “So you want me to start giving them more days off, is that what you're saying? No, listen, it probably fell nicely for us this year because I didn't change the schedule at all.
“A match day minus two is always our day off anyway with how our working week is, so I didn't have to change that. Last season was different because it was the day before the game.
“But I say it to the players all the time, you know, there's a level of professionalism and trust that you need to put into the players. If you trust the players to go and do the right things, it's important that they go and do that and I fully expect them to deliver on that.
Hibs boss always worrying about getting plan right
“It's a special time of year that you need to spend it with your families and your loved ones, just to appreciate probably that's why you do what you do. It's certainly why I do what I do. That's all the motivation I need.
“The biggest thing is you never know whether it's right or wrong until after the game. You always look back and say: ‘Did I get the build up right? Did we get the plan right?’ I think we did.”
Gray, who leads his team back into Scottish Premiership action at home to Aberdeen tomorrow night, also praised Kanayo Megwa for his performance at right wingback after the young defender – who has played most of his senior football on loan with Airdrie and then Partick Thistle over the past two seasons – was selected ahead of Chris Cadden. London-born Megwa, who arrived at Hibs as a youngster, won the CAS Youth Elite League and signed his first professional contract with the Edinburgh club, was very effective in helping to nullify in-form Hearts wide threat Claudio Braga.
Defender can be ‘proud’ of job he did on Braga
Hailing the 21-year-old for rising to the task, Gray issued Megwa with a new challenge as he said: “He can certainly be proud of what he delivered. And as I said to him before, he's got competition for places.
“It was a big decision not to play Chris Cadden, someone who's very experienced in these derbies. I gave Kanayo the nod and told him that he needed to believe in himself. He needed to trust the fact he can do it. And he certainly didn't let anybody down.
“Now it's his jersey, he needs to make sure he tries to keep it. In terms of belief, collectively, what does this do? Because it's only one game.
“I thought he grew into the game. Kanayo is someone that I've been very fond of for a very long time.
“He's been at the club a long time. He played a very similar position to me, obviously. I just think he's a very good defender.
“Probably needs to believe in himself a bit more. I'm not being critical of Kanayo. He knows this.
“It's something we spoke a lot about. Having that belief to really go and stamp his authority on the first team. I've certainly seen it in training more often, which is great.
“And as the game grew, I thought he got more and more confidence within it. I think he nullified one of the most dangerous wingers in the league to very few chances.
“Stuck at it. Tired towards the end. Obviously a bit of cramp. But that will just be because he’s young and full of energy and anxiety going into the game.”