David Gray singles out Hibs pair including surprise leader

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Hibs looked down and out against Rangers yesterday before battling back to claim a point.

David Gray’s side showed all the character they have in other games recently having had that side of their game questioned earlier in the season.

After going 2-0 down early, they battled back to level terms and were then forced to do so again with Rocky Bushiri’s late header earning a point.

It was very similar to the draw with Aberdeen at Easter Road in November, the exact same scoreline and the Hibees required to show fight to stay in the game.

They stood up to the test once again and are now six games without a defeat.

The second half performance from Hibs has already drawn praise from manager Gray, and he has also has singled out two of his players.

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Up and down for Hibs star Rocky Bushiri

It was a very up-and-down afternoon for Rocky Bushiri.

The big defender was at fault for Hamza Igamane’s opening goal and there were other errors from him within the game.

But he stepped up at the other end of the pitch with an assist for Martin Boyle’s opener and then popped up with the late equaliser.

Gray previously hailed Bushiri’s attitude after doing the same in that Dons draw. And he was full of praise once again.

He said: “Firstly, you need to credit Rocky for his performance. Yes, there were errors within it, of course – he wasn’t the only one. There were a lot within the game, as I’ve already touched on. Even myself, tactically, jumping at the wrong times or maybe not quite getting the message on.

“We need to look at that, because when you lose three goals, there are definitely areas to improve. But when you then show the character to bounce back from making a mistake, there’s no better way to do it than to go and score a goal. But not just that, it was how he performed in other moments within the game.

“Rocky scored the goal and did well in the game but collectively, in the second half, the effort and desire were there from everybody. But again, as I’ve said for many weeks now, there’s still a lot to work on. We know that. We’re not getting carried away at all. But at least the positivity is still there and we can keep this run going.”

Boyle pleases manager too

Martin Boyle was another who struggled for for and game time earlier this season but is now back to his best.

On him, Gray added: “Confidence with Boyle as well. At the same time, he played a lot at the start of the season with an injury. Then he was out when he had his operation on his injury.

“Martin’s been so successful at his football club in terms of his level of performance and how effective he is at this level.

“When he slightly dropped that level of performance, he came out of the team. But he’s also dealing with his injuries and setbacks and where he was.

“He responded in the right way. He found himself out of the starting XI, which has probably not happened to him whilst he’s been at Hibs, for a while now. So, to show that character, to keep working hard, to wait for his opportunity.

“He’s got back into the team and he’s playing with that belief and confidence in himself again, where he terrorises his defenders and puts heat into them with his running power and pace. I think you’ve seen that today.”

Boyle wore the captain’s armband in the absence of Joe Newell and his manager joked: “It’s something that I joke with Boyley about quite a lot because when he joined the club, if you’d said to me that he would go on to be a Hibs captain one day I’d have laughed at you – just because of the type of character he is.

“He won’t take offence to that, that’s just how he is. But he’s someone who, in his performances over the years for this club and his efforts, has matured into that role.

“It was something I spoke to him about a lot at the start of the season; the next thing for him, which is to really show and lead by example, because of his level of performance, but also the character he has in and around the dressing room every single day.

“I think you could clearly see those leadership skills today, which is great.”