David Gray insists he’s only concerned with Hibs beating Celtic on Sunday – despite some fans of the Easter Road club willing their team to lose for once.
A loss at home to Hearts last weekend not only damaged the Leith side’s hopes of finishing fourth in the Premiership but shortened the odds on them seeing their city rivals becoming Scottish champions for the first time since 1960.
Three points off the pace, Martin O’Neill’s side face Hibs as the closest challengers to the league leaders.
With just four matches remaining, Gray is aware that the knife-edge scenario means elements of his fanbase would happily forgo three points come the weekend if it helped ensure that Celtic were more likely to pip the Jambos to the title.
Asked by Sky Sports what he thought the atmosphere is going to be like inside the stadium, though, Gray said: ‘I understand why you ask the question because of the title race that’s going on.
‘My full focus is on a Hibernian Football Club, this group of players and making sure we get as many points as we can.
David Gray insists he is only focusing on Hibs despite the prospect of Hearts challenging for the title
Newell battles with Sabah Kerjota during last weekend’s Edinburgh derby
‘My job is to try and win as many games as we can and try and develop players. So, we’ll be approaching this game like we do every other one, with a game plan to make sure we try and do everything we possibly can to win this game.
‘And if results go our way, we could potentially get closer to Motherwell again, and that’s all that matters.’
Adamant that his mindset was no different from any other match, Gray added: ‘It’s really not awkward for me. I think it’s very self-explanatory.
‘We’re professional, we do everything we possibly can to win games. I understand the noise.
‘I grew up in the city. I know the noise that goes around it. But the first weekend of fixtures post-split showed that results can change very, very quickly.
‘I still believe there’s enough games to go that gives us a chance to try and finish fourth.
‘So, we need to make sure that we do everything we can between now and then to try and do that. There will be twists and turns between now and the end of the season, that’s for sure.’
Gray is preparing for an extremely difficult match against O’Neill’s side with Celtic arriving in the capital on the back of four straight wins in all competitions and in a far better place than in February, when Hibs won at Parkhead.
But Joe Newell reiterated his manager’s conviction that the Easter Road side will give their all to get a result, regardless of the impact on the title race.
‘We’re a group of professional athletes. We fight with each other over five-a-sides in training, so if you think we’re going to lie down in front of thousands of people, in front of the Sky cameras, you’re wrong,’ said the midfielder.
‘We’ll be doing our utmost to win the game of football, it’s as simple as that.
‘Obviously, you see and hear things (from supporters), but the message throughout is obvious. Straight away, I can assure you there’s no thinking of that. You play for this club, you’re expected to do as well as you can. We’ve got our own targets that we haven’t achieved yet and we need to, so in that respect, it’s straightforward.’
Hibs haven’t given up hope of catching Jens Berthel Askou’s Motherwell
With Motherwell winning at Ibrox last Sunday, Hibs are now six points behind Jens Berthel Askou’s outfit as the respective sides jostle for fourth spot and guaranteed European football.
‘We are in a position that we’re relying on Motherwell dropping points. I know we play them again, but the points difference makes it difficult,’ added Gray.
‘It will be tough, but while there’s still a chance, all you can do is take care of yourself and that has been the message.’
Hibs’ cause against Hearts wasn’t helped by having keeper Raphael Sallinger and defender Felix Passlack ordered off.
Despite losing two goals, replacement goalie Jordan Smith acquitted himself well with Gray confident that he’ll do likewise on Sunday.
‘He was incredible when he came on, as were the nine players that remained on the pitch. But he does things properly every day. Obviously, he’ll play at the weekend and we’ve got no concerns over that at all.’
