David Gray aims for Hampden as Hibs face Ross County

David Gray insists he is not losing sleep over the noise around him. The criticism is loud enough, the pressure obvious, but the Hibernian head coach has his eyes fixed on something more tangible this weekend – a first semi-final of his tenure.

Beat Ross County in Dingwall on Saturday and Hibs are into the last four of the Premier Sports Cup. Simple on paper. Nothing of the sort in reality.

Under scrutiny, again

Hibs arrive in the Highlands on a poor run. Back-to-back Premiership defeats to Heart of Midlothian and St Johnstone have darkened the mood, while a golden chance to reach the Conference League has already been tossed away. For a manager in the early stretch of his third season in charge, the questions have sharpened.

Gray does not pretend otherwise.

"That's the life of a football manager," he said. "You're judged on results and that doesn't change. If I'd won three or four games in a row, I'd still put pressure on myself to be better every day.

"If you think you've completed it and stand still, football has a way of changing very quickly, both in a positive way and a negative way."

He has lived that volatility before. When he first stepped into the job, the Easter Road hierarchy held their nerve as he won just one of his first 15 league games. That patience helped him find his feet, but he accepts that chapter cannot be used as a shield now.

Gray called that spell "a different situation", pointing to the wider rebuild behind the scenes.

"Malky [Mackay, sporting director] was also just in the door in terms of the structure and the transitional period that the club was in at that time," he said.

This time, the club is more settled. Expectations are higher. So is the volume when results dip.

"Would I have expected [criticism] to come on quicker now because we're a bit more settled and we've had time to do things? Naturally. I'm not averse to criticism, I'm not shying away from it.

"I'm certainly not put off by it in terms of feeling sorry for myself. If anything, it's the opposite."

Hampden at the top of the list

For all the talk around systems, signings and style, this weekend is about one thing: Hampden.

Hibs have not seen a semi-final since November 2023, when they lost to Aberdeen in the same competition with Gray part of Nick Montgomery’s coaching staff. That absence has left a mark.

"When we spoke about challenges and objectives at the start of the season, getting to Hampden was right at the very top of the list," Gray said.

The stakes are obvious. A win would ease the pressure, offer proof of progress and hand Hibs a national-stage platform. A defeat to lower-league opposition would do the opposite.

Gray knows the noise will only grow if they fall short, which is why he is intent on shutting it out.

"If I allow the noise to affect what we're doing or distract me in any way then you just go under in that situation.

"I've been through adversity before and the focus is simply that we need to make sure we win.

"The form and everything else doesn't matter this weekend. It's about making sure everyone knows the job in hand, which is a real chance to get to Hampden."

Facing a winning habit in Dingwall

The challenge is not straightforward. Ross County might now be a League 1 club after relegation from the Championship, but they have not carried any gloom into the new campaign.

They are unbeaten in the league. Veteran striker Brian Graham already has nine goals to his name, one of them in a home draw with Dundee during the Premier Sports Cup group stage. Confidence is not in short supply.

"They've stayed full-time and kept their core together," Gray said of the Highland side. "It wouldn't surprise me if they found themselves back in the Premiership again with the infrastructure, players and management team they've got.

"They've started the season really well, they're used to winning games and they'll be playing with confidence. That adds to the challenge we've got."

So the picture is clear. A Hibs side under pressure, a manager under the microscope, and a lower-league opponent used to winning. At stake: a route to Hampden and the kind of statement that can turn a season on its axis.