'More spice' - Hibs reaction to facing Hearts in Edinburgh derby Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden
Easter Road side return to Scottish Premiership action with two games before break
Hibs boss David Gray admits drawing Hearts in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final adds extra “spice” to the final four. And he insists he’s fully focused on being just two games from glory.
The Easter Road side stormed into the semis courtesy of a quarter-final thumping of Ross County on Saturday. Former club captain Paul Hanlon drew his old team against their city rivals live on TV after yesterday’s Old Firm clash at Ibrox.
First reaction from Easter Road gaffer
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Gray, speaking for the first time since the draw, said: “I think when that game comes around it will be a brilliant game. Stadium will be packed out, no better game.
“The fact you've got an Edinburgh derby definitely adds a little bit more spice to it probably. But whoever you're playing against, the carrot's still there, the opportunity, you're two games away from lifting a trophy potentially.
“I watched the draw because I watched the game. I think it's great to play on that stage, packed out, full house against your local rivals, brilliant opportunity.
“But at the same time, as I always say, whoever you get, you just need to be in the hat, and you need to have that opportunity to get to the semi-finals. It is something that's eluded us for a while, so the fact we've got there again, the fans will enjoy it going along there, full of expectation.
“And it’s a real possibility and a real chance to get into the final, which is what's all that matters. When that game comes, that takes care of itself.”
Strikers hitting target ahead of Killie clash
Gray’s men return to Scottish Premiership action at home to Kilmarnock tomorrow night, the Edinburgh side boosted by their 3-0 win in the Highlands. The fact that Thibault Klidje and Ante Suto both made the most of rare starts, each finding the net in a blistering start for the visitors, has created a new air of competition at the top end of the field.
Gray said: “I think it's a balance, it's very much a squad across the piece. In football you don't just get a turn because you're there; you can go out to train every day and because you play the same position as someone else, you feel that I'll just get a turn eventually.
“That doesn't happen. You need to earn the right every day, get the opportunity every day.
“I've been very complimentary of the group on the fact that they’re very tight and sticking together, making sure that when you get your opportunity, if you're training properly, it gives you a better chance of taking it. The two boys at the weekend showed an example of that.
“If you ask them individual,y they'll say they've not played as much as they would like. But that's the nature of having a squad and competition for places.
“The flip side to that, three games in a week this week, we're going to need everybody. And team that starts the game is never the team that finishes it, so we're going to need everybody.
“We are a bit thin in certain areas. But in that attacking area just now, there's a lot of players that will be feeling good about themselves at the minute, which is a big positive moving forward.”