David Gray critical of Hibernian defence after Dundee fight back for draw

Posted Sunday, August 25, 2024 by PA

David Gray criticised Hibernian’s inability to keep the back door shut after they missed the opportunity to notch their first William Hill Premiership victory of the season by conceding a late equaliser at home to Dundee.

The Hibees – who had lost four of their previous five matches in all competitions – looked on course for a much-needed win when goals from Martin Boyle and substitute Kieron Bowie overturned Scott Tiffoney’s early opener for the visitors.

But Simon Murray ghosted clear of Warren O’Hora all too easily to make it 2-2 in the 88th minute and leave Gray lamenting his team’s ongoing tendency to shoot themselves in the foot.

“It’s our first point so it’s much better than it has been,” he said. “We were 1-0 down and went 2-1 up, so that was a great reaction.

“We earned that lead, we were much more positive in the second half and that was more like us.

“That’s why I have mixed emotions but it’s very clear where we have to improve and the hard work starts immediately.

“One thing we can’t keep doing is having to score three, four, five goals to win a game of football.

“I’m not shying from that at all. It’s a collective responsibility, it’s not an individual. It’s something we all need to be better at.”

Dundee boss Tony Docherty was pleased to see his side maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign, but disappointed that they were unable to turn the screw after claiming their early lead at Easter Road and frustrating the home support.

“It’s mixed emotions because the way we started, we were outstanding and we were in such control,” he said. “We went 1-0 up and then could have had the second, which I’ve not seen back, but I felt we were dominant and you could hear the way the stadium was, which is exactly what we’d worked towards.

“But then we just switched off a little bit and allowed them to get back into the game. I was disappointed going in 1-1 at the break because on balance of play we were way ahead and should have gone in a couple of goals to the good.

“Second half, credit to Hibs, they came out, made a few changes and asked a lot of questions of us. They got their second goal, which was cheap from us, but I cannot ignore the mentality and spirit of my players to go from 2-1 down at a difficult venue and get back to 2-2 and keep our unbeaten run going.”