David Gray admits Hibs and Hearts 'fear' as Easter Road boss reveals message to players that will never change

David Gray insists Hibs can’t afford to be spooked by their position after claiming his players and Hearts were both gripped by fear in Sunday’s derby stalemate.

The Easter Road boss reckons the capital clash was ridden with heebie-jeebies as the two sides locked at the bottom of the table scrapped their way to a point apiece. But Gray hopes a pre-Halloween trip to Ross County can be the platform for Hibs to loosen the shackles and end the horror run that’s seen them plunge to the Premiership’s basement.

They’re still rooted to 12th spot after James Wilson’s 87th minute equaliser deprived them of a much needed victory. But Gray is convinced the point made against the Jambos can still be a positive after they dug in to avoid the nightmare that had seen them ship all three points in injury time at Dundee United a week earlier.

He said: “I thought both teams probably played the game with a fear not to lose on Sunday because it was a bit scrappy. There was a lack of quality at times within the game from both sides and that's probably just to do with the magnitude of the game at times and situations.

“It looked a bit edgier rather than the blood and thunder you'd normally get in a derby. That can't kick in. We need to understand where we need to be better.

“I firmly believe in the group, I believe in what we're doing and it is fine margins at the moment that's costing us, but we know that has to quickly change and it's about sticking together to do that. Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom to start building again and we did that against Dundee United, hit bottom of the league.

“Yes, we still found ourselves there but we got a point in the derby. Now it's not a disaster at all. Would we have wanted three? Yes. But we need to