Hibs in 'responsibility' reminder as gaffer Gray relishes full working week amid 'no excuses' Cup demand
Ross County lie in wait with Hampden semi up for grabs
Hibs must start “taking responsibility” for their failings, according to David Gray, who is eager to make use of a rare full week to prepare for his team’s Premier Sports Cup clash with Ross County in Dingwall. And the Easter Road gaffer insists he won’t be pouncing on his team’s hectic schedule over the early part of the season as an excuse for inconsistency.
Six European ties, ultimately resulting in UEFA Conference League play-off heartbreak, plus a midweek Edinburgh derby have kept Hibs on a fixture carousel over the opening weeks of the new campaign. But they’ve got a full training week ahead of them before heading to the Highlands in pursuit of a first semi-final appearance since season 2023-24.
Highland trip up next
Gray, looking to steer his team back into calmer waters after back-to-back defeats to Hearts and St Johnstone, admits he welcomes the chance to work with his players at East Mains without a midweek game gumming up the works, saying: “Yeah, I think it's important to get it. I think you want as much time on the grass as possible.
“I think, at the same time, we knew this was coming. I'm certainly not going to sit here and say it's because I've not had much time on the grass.
“Not at all. There have been a lot of games. But those are games you want to be involved in.
“There have been a lot of really strong performances along that way as well, so there is a case for reminding the players of that. But where we've let ourselves down in the last couple of weeks, rectifying that as quick as we can.
“We need to be taking responsibility for it, owning it, and doing everything you can to make sure it doesn't happen again.”