Hibs head coach David Gray said his players ‘lacked quality in the final third’ during last night’s defeat to Rangers.
Hibs started the game well but a lack of decision-making or composure in key moments nullified their attacking threat.
When speaking to Hibs TV after the game, Gray analysed the performance.
“Again, I’m very frustrated. We set the team up the way we wanted them to play and approach the game. We wanted them to be brave, aggressive and get after Rangers, and I thought we started the game very well.
“We were on top until they scored the goal. We had the most control in the game without really creating any chances.
“What summed us up probably was the final third, and that was the theme for the whole night to be honest. We were the better side in the first half until they scored, but it wasn’t like Butland was making save after save, and that’s the bit that’s really frustrating as a coach, and the boys are frustrated as well; we know we’re better than that.
“We got into good areas and then it would be the final pass, the choice of pass, trying to force it at times, our cross wasn’t good enough, or decision-making in the box; this is the bit that’s tough to take. We were aggressive and won the ball back well, we quietened the crowd, but quality in the final third alluded us all night.
“You can’t accept conceding a really poor goal from a set piece. When you are on top in places like this, you have to take your chances, and you can’t give away cheap goals from set pieces.
“Second half, Rangers were more aggressive with the way they pressed us, and we didn’t have the solutions for that because our end product let us down. I tried to put attackers on to get us back in the game, and on reflection, that probably made us too open and gave up chances on the break rather than creating more chances.
“Apart from a few blocked shots, Butland hasn’t had too much to do tonight. The bit that counts is putting the ball in the net, and I’ve not had to say this much this season, but we really lacked that cutting edge in the final third.”
The only goal of the game came from the second-phase of a set piece as Emmanuel Fernadez found himself free in the area, powering a header past Raphael Sallinger in the Hibs net. A goal that disappointed Gray.
“It was self-inflicted, which is tough to take. You can take a bad touch and giveaway a corner, these things happen, but we need to be strong in those moments and make sure we don’t concede. On the second phase of that free-kick we weren’t good enough defending the box. Ultimately that was the difference in the game tonight.”
