David Gray NOT to blame for stumbling Hibs start as Kukharevych demands players front up

Myko Kukharevych insists the Hibs players have to take the heat from their shaky start to the season.

The Easter Road men have kicked off with three defeats on the bounce including consecutive Premiership and League Cup losses to Celtic. Boss David Gray has barely got his feet under the table at Easter Road and is already taking flak. Kukharevych – who gave Hibs some cause for cheer at Parkhead with a sensational header in the 3-1 defeat – is adamant the squad have to carry the can for the dodgy defending that’s plagued the opening weeks.

The Ukrainian said: “Yeah, 100 percent, it’s not the gaffer who is making these mistakes. We have to change it ourselves, stop making mistakes in the next games. I think we will take our lessons from this. And we will keep going.”

At least Hibs don’t need to face Celtic for a while. Back-to-back clashes with the champions have left the Leith men battered and bruised. But Kukharevych is convinced the campaign starts now. The striker said: “Obviously it was always going to be hard, playing the best team in the league two games in a row. No-one would find it easy against Celtic. But we have to look at ourselves. Or focus has to be on improving as a team, becoming better and more effective, and start building something.

“The next two games are so important, 100 percent. We know we need to get points on the board, we have to start getting points and improve our confidence – and give some good emotions to our fans, who deserve it.”

Kukharervych insisted no one at Easter Road is hitting the panic button yet as the new-look squad is still finding its feet. The 23-year-old arrived from Swansea in the summer as one of nine new signings for Gray and there have bene some teething problems.

Kukharev