There is a rather peculiar situation in Edinburgh right now with the capital clubs finding themselves in the Premiership’s bottom two.
Hearts have had their worst start to a season but moved off the bottom last weekend with a comfortable win over St Mirren, with rivals Hibs taking their place after chucking away a lead late on at Dundee United.
Dropping to last place has brought recriminations this week with fans and former players desperate for the club to get to the bottom of what is going wrong and turn things round.
Manager David Gray responded to accusations his team has a soft centre as he looked ahead to this weekend’s derby against the Jambos.
It is a game which could make or break the season but the Hibees have been urged to stick by Gray.
Hibs lack the leadership required in Hearts clashes
As we’ve seen over the years, derby games can lack quality and be all about blood and thunder, coming down to who battles the hardest.
That is a worrying thing for former Easter Road striker Tam McManus ahead of Sunday. He was part of the Hibs team who won 6-2 in the fixture 24 years ago and his team was packed full of leaders like Mixu Paatelainen, Frank Sauzee and others.
But McManus doesn’t see anybody like that in the current side. And he fears defeat could be the beginning of the end for the manager, even thought he would like to see him given more of an opportunity.
Speaking in the Daily Record, he said: “We had leaders all over the pitch. We finished third and Alex McLeish had built a team of warriors – no more so than Mixu. We also had Mathias Jack, Stuart Lovell, Gary Smith and Franck Sauzee.
“That’s what you need on these derby occasions. And I’m deeply worried it’s what this current Hibs side is completely devoid of heading into Sunday’s latest instalment at Easter Road.
“Make no mistake, this is massive. Huge for a side that has incredibly replaced Hearts – who have made their own worst start to a season – at the bottom after another capitulation at Dundee United. And absolutely crucial for boss David Gray who now finds himself under serious pressure just 20 weeks into his tenure.
“I’ve been consistent that he needs to be given a chance. But if they lose to Hearts at home and go three points behind at the bottom then I fear the boardroom conversations will start.”
Players letting Hibs boss David Gray down
McManus is on record as saying the Hibs players are currently letting Gray down.
He has gone further on that this time, with Joe Newell’s red card in the United loss exasperating him, coming a week after a similar story with Nectar Triantis led to defeat against Motherwell.
But he also believes the rest of the team should have dealt with it better and seen the game out in the closing stages.
He added: “Individual errors are killing Hibs. Two weeks ago while 1-1 at home to Motherwell, Nectar Triantis flies into a crazy tackle while already on a booking. Red card and minutes later Well launch a ball into the box, Hibs can’t defend it and the points head back to Lanarkshire.
“Lesson learned? You’d like to think so. But no. On Saturday Hibs fight back from losing the first goal to lead Dundee United 2-1 when Joe Newell does the exact same as Triantis while already on a booking in the 85th minute. He’s the captain for goodness sake!
“Still you’d think they will defend for their lives and see the game out. But two more balls into the box in the 93rd and 99th minutes are hopelessly defended and they lose all three points.
“It is absolutely criminal. Individual errors are killing Hibs every week. And they’re killing the manager. Dwight Gayle said afterwards they’re too nice. He is bang on the money. Hibs look too cosy. A team with nice training facilities, well looked after, a nice stadium to play in.”