Hibs betrayed David Gray mantra in St Mirren thumping as Joe Newell urges flops to wake up

Joe Newell admits Hibs betrayed their manager’s mantra by falling apart in Paisley. But he insists there’s no cause for panic in the camp ahead of back-to-back clashes with Celtic.

Hibees had a harrowing second half on Sunday, conceding three goals to St Mirren as David Gray was met with defeat in his first Premiership game as permanent boss. Newell said Hibs were guilty of ignoring core principles drilled into them in the build-up to losing their league opener 3-0. The Easter Road captain has pledged an immediate response to put that right.

Newell said: “The gaffer’s fundamentals - and the messages he’s been sending throughout pre-season - is that we have to be stronger and we have to be harder to beat. And through no fault of his or the work we’ve been doing, it just wasn’t evident. We’ve worked extremely hard over pre-season and that’s why it’s probably the most frustrating thing. Because the result doesn’t reflect what we’ve been working on and where we want to get to.

“We came in with so much confidence and enthusiasm. But we were miles off it in the second half and not good enough. We need to get away from the way we just went under, basically. It has to be better - and it will be better.”

It’s champs Celtic at home in the league on Sunday then Parkhead in the Premier Sports Cup a week later. A shocking start to last season cost Lee Johnson his job. Hibs lost 3-2 at home to both St Mirren and Livingston then away at Motherwell in their first three top flight games.

Newell doesn’t sense deja vu and reckons it’s his responsibility to keep the mood calm to ensure recovery from Sunday’s rocky start. “There’s no panic,” stressed the midfielder. “We’ve got a game next Sunday, it’s our first home game, and there’s a long