Hibernian's David Gray Eyes Semi-Final Against Ross County

David Gray is refusing to flinch.

The Hibernian head coach walks into a pivotal weekend under no illusions about the noise swirling around him, but with his eyes fixed on something more tangible – a first semi-final of his reign.

Beat Ross County in Dingwall on Saturday and Hibs will be in the last four of the Premier Sports Cup. Lose, and the early-season grumbles around Easter Road will only grow louder.

Under pressure, but unmoved

Hibs arrive in the Highlands on the back of a bruising spell. Consecutive Premiership defeats to Heart of Midlothian and St Johnstone, coupled with a squandered chance to progress in the Conference League, have dragged Gray’s decisions and direction under the spotlight.

He knows exactly where he stands.

"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."

This is the third season of his tenure and the context has shifted. At the start of his managerial career, Hibs stuck by him when he won just one of his first 15 league matches. That patience, he accepts, belonged to a different moment for the club.

"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," Gray said. Back then, the whole operation was in flux.

Now? The foundations are firmer, the expectations sharper.

"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

Hibs have not seen a semi-final since November 2023, when they lost to Aberdeen in this same competition. Gray was part of Nick Montgomery’s backroom staff that day, watching from the technical area rather than leading it.

Now the responsibility is his, and the target has been clear since day one of pre-season.

"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," he said.

The recent form, the criticism, the tension – he insists none of that can be allowed to seep into Saturday.

"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."

Dangerous County stand in the way

Standing between Hibs and that trip to the national stadium is a Ross County side operating in League 1 but playing with the confidence of a club used to winning.

Relegated from the Championship, County have stayed full-time, kept their core together and started the season unbeaten. Veteran striker Brian Graham has already hit nine goals in all competitions, including one in a home draw with Dundee during the group stage of this tournament.

Gray has seen enough to treat this as anything but a routine assignment.

"They've stayed full-time and kept their core together," he said of the Highland club. "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 it comes to this: a long trip north, a cup tie with a lower-league side brimming with belief, and a manager under scrutiny who knows exactly what is at stake.

For Gray, this isn’t just about silencing critics. It’s about proving that his Hibs can still turn pressure into progress – and that the road to Hampden still runs through Easter Road.