Hibs reaction as Hampden semi-final secured with Highland win and club record signing Klidje hailed
Victory over Ross County puts Gray’s men in tomorrow’s last-four draw - potentially two games from becoming all-time greats
Hibs boss David Gray hailed his under-fire players for shrugging off the pressure of a potential Premier Sports Cup shock to book themselves a place at Hampden – and move to within two games of legendary status at Easter Road.
Speaking after a 3-0 win over League One title favourites Ross County in Dingwall, Gray hailed club record signing Thibault Klidje for bagging his first goal since December. On a day when Ante Suto and Adam Mayor also found the net, the Hibs boss was rewarded for making six changes to his starting XI.
Ante Suto on target
And Gray, who provided an update on a lengthening injury list that now includes Jamie McGrath and back-up goalie Jordan Smith, said his players understood that they now stand just two mighty leaps from becoming Cup-winning heroes to Hibs fans everywhere.
“I think they do,” he said. “It's something I've been very strong on. Day one of the pre-season, when we talk about goal setting and planning for the season and what can be achieved at the football club.
“It’s a semi-final and a genuine opportunity. I think the genuine opportunity comes because if we put it all together, as we've demonstrated at times this season already, we're a match for anybody.
“But it does take a complete performance. One thing we can't do is just expect to come up and win any game of football. That's absolutely not the case.
“We have an opportunity now, whoever we get in the semi-final, to go and enjoy that day. The fans have got another day out of that.
“But they're only memorable if you manage to get yourself into the final. When that game comes around, we can look forward to that.
“Today was all about making sure you're in the next round of the Cup. That's exactly why I'm not getting carried away. I'm not thinking that everything's great.
“But it’s a massive pat on the back for the players because of the pressure they were under this week to make sure we delivered and bounced back. And more importantly send the club back to Hampden to a semi-final, which is something that's eluded me as a manager in the last couple of seasons.
“I was desperate to put right. And I think the players fully deserve that. That's the most pleasing thing for me.”
Fast start a welcome change
Hibs, who will return to the national stadium for the first time since season 2023-24 when the semis come around, blew County away with two goals inside the opening quarter of an hour today, Gray noting: “I mentioned that a wee bit recently about the fact how we started the last couple of games – and today was much more like us, much more aggressive. I asked the players to really try and give the opposition a fright and show why we're a Premier League side, and a very good one at that if we put it all together.
“I thought it was a real professional performance, especially with all the pressure going into the game. It was always a difficult tie and off the back of two really disappointing results, making sure that there were no excuses today.
“We knew exactly what was at stake and I'm delighted for the players because they certainly delivered on that and it's very much job done.”
Aware that County boss Stuart Kettlewell had hailed Klidje for his “unbelievable header” to score the opening goal, Gray admitted: “I've not watched it back but we know he's got that. He jumps well above his size in terms of attacking the ball. It's something he's always done.
“A striker scoring goals gives them confidence. That's the most important thing.
“Ante as well, getting a goal. I think it's really important that everybody's contributing when you can and the players involved will all take confidence from that.”
The former club captain, who signed Nathan Lowe to bolster the front line during the summer transfer window and could still bring in free agent signing Danny Ings to add more firepower, stressed: “It's never just about new boys coming in or anything like that. Not at all. It's very much the squad. I say it all the time.
“Even today, you look at the two boys that started well, added to that Calum Wright, that front three that played in the first half. The team that starts never finishes the game. There's always players getting on.
“To be successful, you need your squad and everybody pulling together. I said it after the game on Sunday, which was when you really find out about people during adversity.
“If you’ve not been playing, you can feel sorry for yourself. If you start to get that within your group, you've got a bit of an issue.
“But what you saw today was everybody enjoying the win, but everybody contributing as well. That can only do the group the world of good moving forward. I think that's the real pleasing thing for me as a coach.”
Injury update on key men
McGrath has a calf problem and Smith has rolled his ankle, while central defenders Grant Hanley and Marko Ivezic are both battling to be fit and healthy for Tuesday’s visit of Kilmarnock, Gray saying: “It's day by day with Marko, really. Him and Grant are the two that we're needing at this moment in time.
“Even look at the end there. Jason Kerr was limping a bit at the end. Jack Iredale struggling a little bit, not putting a lot of minutes.
“We're a bit thin defensively. You recover the boys as quickly as you can. You put the squad together.
“Jordan Obita won't be back, Jordan Smith won't be back until after the international break. Jamie McGrath will be touch and go between now and international break.”