Hibs grabbed a share of the points in dramatic fashion after a six goal thriller against Aberdeen at Easter Road tonight.
Gray made four charges to his starting XI from the side that lost to Dundee on Saturday.
Jordan Smith made his first league start of the 2024/25 campaign replacing Joe Bursik in goal.
Jack Iredale also made his first start for the club having made three appearances from the bench this season and Lewis Miller started in place of Chris Cadden.
Canadian international Junior Hoilett returned to the team.
Former Hibs striker Kevin Nisbet started for the Dons.
High-flying Aberdeen brought 2,000 fans to Leith and filled the bottom section of the South Stand.
The Hibs end however was less than full with a number of season ticket holders deciding to give the game a miss.
In the Famous Five Stand, the Block 7 Ultras displayed a sign reading ‘Sack the Board’.
Nisbet had a couple of half chances before Rocky Bushiri did well to block a Jamie McGrath shot then at the other end Ellie Youan tested the Aberdeen keeper Dimitar Mitov with a powerful effort from 20-yards.
In the 25th minute McGrath had another shot blocked by Bushiri after a good move down the left wing and VAR had a look at a penalty claim by the Dons.
Moments later Miller required for a shoulder injury picked up conceding a corner.
Hibs took the lead in the 39th minute when a headed clearance fell to an unmarked Joe Newell 30-yards from goal and his effort deflected off two Dons players, leaving Mitov flat-footed.
Hibs had a penalty appeal turned down when the ball clearly struck Nicky Devlin’s arm.
Instead a corner was given and Myko Kuharevich’s header went just wide.
Miller was booked when his boot accidentally clipped Jack MacKeznie on the head. and head coach Gray was also shown a yellow card for protesting.
Just before the break Smith did well to save a Nisbet header.
Nisbet was replaced by Leighton Clarkson at half time.
Shortly after the restart Newell almost doubled Hibs advantage but his effort from the edge of the area struck the post.
Nicky Cadden was next to try his luck after good work from Hoilett but his strike went wide of the far post.
Aberdeen equalised in the 54th minute when McGrath found space in the box and fired the ball into the net from eight yards to the delight of the large travelling support.
Hibs though fought back and Devlin blocked a Hoilett effort before the ball fell to Youan but his strike hit the post.
As play raged from end to end Smith did well to save from Graeme Shinnie.
In the 64th minute Dwight Gayle replaced Kuharevich.
Smith then did well to save a Bushiri block.
Devin was shown a yellow card for confronting Iredale who went down holding his face. Then from the resultant free-kick Smith produced a fine save to deny Clarkson.
In the 74th minute Kwon and Josh Campbell replaced Hoilett and Nectar Triantes.
A minute later Aberdeen took the lead when Smith dropped a Shinnie corner and the ball fell to Devlin who calmly lobbed the defenders to make it 2-1.
At the other end Cadden struck the bar following a Miller cross. VAR checked for a Hibs penalty but it was not given to the frustration of the home fans.
Youan then headed over a Cadden corner.
With seven minutes remaining Martin Boyle replaced Iredale.
And just when it looked like another defeat was on the cards, Cadden grabbed a deserved equaliser with a sensational 30-yard free kick which flew into the top corner of the net.
But there was plenty of drama left and in the 95th minute Ester Sokler gave the Dons the lead with a spectacular overhead scissor kick.
But Hibs went straight up the park and Bushiri got on the end of a Gayle header and bundled the ball into the net from close range sparking mayhem from the Hibs fans.
Hibs remain bottom on goal difference, one goal behind Hearts
Hibs: Smith, Miller, Bushiri, O’Hora, Iredale, N Cadden, Triantes, Newell, Hoilett, Youan, Kuharevich
Subs: Molotnikov, Boyle, Bursik, C Cadden, Campbell, Doyle-Hayes, Gayle, Kwon, Levitt.
Aberdeen: Mitov, Mackenzie, Molloy, Rubezic, Devlin, Heltne Nilsen, Shinnie, Duk, McGrath, Keskinlen, Nisbet
Subs: Ambrose, Besuijen, Doohan, McGarry, Milne, Morris, Clarkson, Palaversa, Sokler
Attendance 15,845
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.
