David Gray has revealed there has been an extra edge to Hibs training this week as players strive for a start against Hearts on Sunday.
The first Edinburgh derby of the campaign sees the bottom two clubs in the Premiership battle it out for capital supremacy – not many would have predicted that in the summer.
Hearts are just ahead on goal difference after their 4-0 thrashing of St Mirren last weekend as they levelled with their arch-rivals Hibs following their calamitous defeat to Dundee United.
Gray said after the Tannadice collapse that there were no excuses for the loss, the Leith club’s fifth in the league already this season.
And with the dust having settled, Gray told the press on Thursday that he feels the same way – but the players are doing their all during the week to make things right and that has contributed to a ‘healthy’ atmosphere at training despite the circumstances.
Gray on ‘healthy’ Hibs training atmosphere
He said: “I think sometimes you don’t even need to say too much. There was disappointment straight after the game then you see in training what faces you ahead when the players come back in.
“There’s been that anger and disappointment at the start of the week but also the opportunity that sits in front of us. I’ve really felt it in training, there’s a little bit of bite in training and people are chomping at the bit to try and get into the team because we’re not winning games.
“So everybody is putting their hands up to try and get into the team and it’s been really healthy from that point of view.”
Asked by BBC reporter Brian McLaughlin if the club are nearing or crisis, or indeed are already in one, Gray responded: “No, it’s not a crisis.
“Listen, it needs to be better and I think we all know that. As I’ve said to the players, we’re not looking for excuses at all.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 11 |  Heart Of MidlothianHeart Of Midlothian | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 15 | -5 | 5 |
| 12 |  HibernianHibernian | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 14 | -6 | 5 |
“We’re not using the fact that we’ve went down to 10 men in the last two games as an excuse for not getting results in the last two.
“Does it play a factor? Of course it does. Momentum in games go against you at times but we also know what’s in the group and how good we can be when we do get it right.
“And I still have that firm belief that everyone involved will turn it around.”
Gray asks for Hibs ‘calm in the chaos’
The Edinburgh derby is an incredible spectacle and can showcase the best of what Scottish football can offer at times.
Atmospheres at both Easter Road and Tynecastle on derby day are a sight and sound to behold but Gray is keen for his players to remain level-headed yet with a view to using the home crowd to the players’ advantage.
“You need to be calm in the chaos”, expressed Gray. “You can’t allow for your emotions to get the better of you or be reckless within the game.
“I think when the game starts though, it’s using the momentum and the motivation over what we can get from the game and feeding off the crowd.
“I think that’s what I loved as a player, the extra noise to drive you forward can be a real bonus and we need to make sure we have that in the game.”