Victory in the Edinburgh Derby can kick-start Hibs season believes head coach David Gray.
The first Edinburgh Derby of the season takes place this Sunday (27 October) with both teams joint bottom of the league, but Gray insists victory in this fixture can go a long way in turning the season around.
“What lies ahead for us is a fantastic opportunity,” Gray told Hibs TV.
“There is a real sense of frustration and anger surrounding recent results, but there is a togetherness and belief that we can turn it around.
“We have to stick together during this time, making sure we work harder than we have ever worked before and seeing the opportunity this weekend; and how quickly our season can turn around if we get three points on Sunday.”
This will be Gray’s first Edinburgh Derby as Head Coach, but he is no stranger to the fixture, having featured 10 times during his playing days.
“The players have got an opportunity to try and get in the team for what I believe is the greatest fixture as a Hibs player.
“What better way to kickstart your season than with a home game in front of a sold-out crowd against your local rivals. It is a challenge that they should all look forward to and embrace.
“I was very fortunate to play in this fixture a few times. These are the games that you look forward to as a player, and the ones you miss being a part of when you aren’t on the pitch. Derby week is the week that I always miss playing.
“The players need to understand the magnitude of this fixture and realise how good these games can be. Right from the first minute, the crowd will be right behind us and they can really drive us forward.
“When the game starts, one thing you can’t do is get caught up in the emotion of it all. You need to be calm amongst the chaos, and the minimum requirement is 100% effort from absolutely everybody involved.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
