The upcoming Edinburgh derby has an added layer of intensity due to the high stakes for both teams. Hibernian's head coach, David Gray, acknowledges that winning against Hearts on Sunday could hinder their title aspirations, but emphasizes that his team's primary focus is on achieving their own objectives. As the two city rivals face off at Easter Road in the final match of a remarkable season, Hibs are seeking to secure a second consecutive top-four finish. Gray expressed to Sky Sports News, "Derby matches are always significant, regardless of the league position or what's at stake.
The bragging rights are crucial, and the games are massive." Gray also noted, "If we can secure three points this weekend, it would not only be beneficial for us but also potentially damage Hearts' chances of winning the title. However, our primary concern is our own performance and what we aim to achieve this weekend." Hearts are currently one point ahead of Rangers at the top of the table, while Hibs are in fifth place.
When asked if preventing Hearts from winning their first top-flight title since 1960 was an added motivation, Gray replied, "My job is to win football matches, and that's the most important thing. If we win this weekend, we achieve both our goals, and everyone at Hibs will be happy." Hibs won the previous derby at home with a score of 3-2 but have lost twice at Tynecastle Park this season. Gray reflected on the previous matches, saying, "The two away games were very tight, and the results were disappointing from our perspective.
However, we do draw confidence from our home performance." He added, "In the home game, we dominated and fully deserved to win. This weekend, it's all about the result, and we're aware of that."