David Gray clearly set up his Hibs side not to lose, never mind win the game against Celtic at Parkhead.
Celtic’s draw with Hibs was a tough and frustrating afternoon for Brendan Rodgers and the fans as the Bhoys spurned a number of chances to take all three points.
Kelechi Iheanacho missed two golden opportunities to win the game as well as having one goal chalked off for offside at Celtic Park.
However, Hibs boss David Gray made a strange claim about Hibs attacking Celtic that not many fans who watched the game will agree with.
David Gray admits his Hibs side faced a ‘really tough’ Celtic side
Hibs are currently third in the Scottish Premiership table seven points behind Celtic.
The Easter Road boss was delighted to keep his own unbeaten start to the season intact with a draw at Celtic but Gray admits he knew that coming to Parkhead was a ‘challenge’.
Gray told Sky Sports, “It’s 15 years since a Hibs team have won here. So that’s something that when you’re coming along you know the challenge is really tough, so we have to contend with that.
“The belief we take from today is what we managed to put into the game, and the result we got from it, which is brilliant.
“The attacking side to it is where we needed to be probably better. But the strikers were asked to do the job, which at times becomes difficult for them, because as soon as it comes up, the importance of them holding the ball up, and when they’re doing a lot of running without it, can be difficult for them.”
David Gray believes Hibs had the ‘clearest chance’ to score vs Celtic
Whilst Celtic huffed and puffed to break Hibs down and missed a hatful of chances to win the game, the Hibs boss strangely believed his own side had the best opportunity to take all three points.
Gray continued, “But when we did manage to hold it up, or Kieran [Bowie] managed to hold it, we did have a few chances on the break.
“And I think actually over the whole piece, we maybe had the clearest chance of the game from a set piece. Warren has one just under the bar, but I’m certainly not going to say were unlucky not to win the game.
“So I think in the balance of the game, I’m just delighted the players have got at least a point.”
The chance Gray is referring to is barely memorable. In fact, so obscure was the chance it was never even mentioned in the BBC live reporting feed directly from Celtic Park.
The only thing memorable that Hibs did was the amount of timewasting they did during the 90 minutes but Gray was oddly quiet about that.
But the long and short of the draw is that Celtic were just not clinical enough in front of goal and that is something Brendan Rodgers will need to address ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League tie against SC Braga.
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