Gray has no issue with flak as Hibs eye semi-final

WHAT HAPPENED
Hibernian travel to Dingwall to face Ross County in a Premier Sports Cup tie that will send them into the semi-finals if they win. Head coach David Gray acknowledged the scrutiny that has followed a difficult start to the season but insisted he is focused on preparing his team for the cup match.

Gray has seen his side lose consecutive Premiership games to Hearts and St Johnstone and also miss a route into the Europa Conference League, which has increased attention on his position. He said he does not intend to be distracted by criticism and that the immediate priority is getting to Hampden.

KEY CONTEXT
- Gray has been Hibernian head coach for two years; he was previously on the coaching staff under Nick Montgomery when Hibs last reached the semi-finals of this competition (a November 2023 defeat to Aberdeen).
- The club’s board supported Gray early in his managerial tenure when results were poor (one win from his first 15 league matches) during a transitional period that included the arrival of sporting director Malky Mackay.
- Ross County, relegated from the Championship, remain a full-time League One side, are unbeaten in League One so far and have retained a core squad; veteran striker Brian Graham has scored nine goals this season, including in the competition’s group-stage draw with Dundee.

WHY IT MATTERS
Progressing to the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals would deliver a tangible early-season objective that the coaching staff placed high on their list of targets. For Gray, who is judged on results, a cup run would ease some immediate pressure and offer a clearer measure of short-term progress than league form alone. For Ross County, a win would underline their positive start after relegation and sustain momentum within the squad and structure the club has kept intact.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Confirmed: Hibernian will reach the last four of the Premier Sports Cup only if they beat Ross County in Dingwall on Saturday.
Uncertain: whether the current criticism around Gray will intensify or ease depending on the result, and how Hibs’ recent league defeats will affect squad confidence going into the cup tie. Also to monitor is whether Ross County’s early-season form continues to produce results against higher-level opposition.

KEY FACTS
- David Gray has been Hibernian head coach for two years.
- A win at Ross County would put Hibs into the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals.
- Hibs lost back-to-back Premiership matches to Heart of Midlothian and St Johnstone and missed a chance to reach the Conference League.
- Ross County are unbeaten in League One, remained full-time after relegation and have kept much of their playing core.
- Veteran striker Brian Graham has nine goals this season, one of which came in the group-stage draw with Dundee.