David Gray now confronts fresh scrutiny after Hibernian produced a listless performance in a defeat at St Johnstone, leaving questions over tactics and leadership as a busy schedule approaches.
The result compounded a bruising 10-day period for Hibs. The side had been six minutes from reaching the Conference League group stage, which would have been a first for the club, but then capitulated against Gent at the final hurdle, lost the Edinburgh derby to Hearts, and on Sunday failed to lift themselves for the trip to Perth.
McDiarmid Park offered few positives. Two defensive errors directly led to goals, with Jason Kerr allowing Josh Fowler a simple close-range finish, and captain Martin Boyle conceding a penalty after being substituted at half-time. The defeat also extended a worrying run: Hibernian have not won a league game in any of their past 18 league matches when they have conceded first.
Gray was blunt about the first half, saying, "The manner in which we lost the two goals today summed up our first-half performance. We were nowhere near aggressive enough to stop the ball coming into the box. We were very passive, gambling and guessing in the box rather than staying goal side." He called the penalty "needless" and accepted responsibility for the outcome.
Former Scotland defender Charlie Mulgrew amplified those doubts on Premier Sports, questioning Hibs' identity and consistency. "When I watch Hibs, I don't know how they're trying to score goals, I don't know what they're trying to do. That's the first time I've watched St Johnstone this season and I can clearly see what they are doing. Hibs are scratching for something. It's not like they're going, 'this is our style, this is what we're doing and we're just going to hammer home with that - even if we don't do it right'. They completely changed the midfield on Thursday, they made two changes at half-time against St Johnstone, I don't see what they're trying to do."
Nathan Lowe scored his first Scottish Premiership goal, the loanee from Stoke City providing a rare positive, but his returns have been sporadic and Gray continues to lean on direct play targeted at the 20-year-old.
Defensive options are limited. Grant Hanley left Sunday’s game with a hip problem, Jordan Obita carried a calf issue from the derby, and new signing Marko Ivezic was not yet available. The exit of Warren O'Hora to Leicester, one year after Kieron Bowie departed, has been cited as an additional loss to the backline.
Gray insisted he still has the squad's backing, telling reporters he "still has the group" and that he can "show the players why I think this can turn very quickly." Hibernian travel to Ross County in the League Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, then host Kilmarnock and Aberdeen in consecutive league fixtures, a sequence that will demand an immediate response and a clearer plan as criticism grows.
