David Gray insists there is now no looking back after Hibs soared up to eighth with a huge win over Ross County.
The Easter Road side began the afternoon bottom of the pile but are now on the coat-tails of the top six after this comeback victory. County went ahead after three minutes through Eli Campbell but Dwight Gayle’s header deep into first-half injury time sparked a revival. Elie Youan scored from the spot moments after Nicky Cadden had his penalty saved before Josh Campbell wrapped up the three points.
And gaffer Gray hopes Hibs can now start motoring up the Premiership table. He said: “I set the players a task before the game. Everything was about the result because of the magnitude of the game, our position in the league but also the opportunity that was at the end of it. It is an opportunity for us to really kick on now and that has to be the mindset and the message to the players moving forward. It’s the message I’ve said to the players for a while – how quickly the narrative can change.
“When you’re bottom of the league, it’s a difficult place to be – especially for this football club. It doesn’t change much. It’s not as if we’ve completed what we want to do at all. There’s lots to learn, especially our second-half decision making and how we started the game.”
The Staggies had a perfect start, storming ahead inside three minutes. Noah Chilvers had a great chance to score. He exposed a huge gap in the Hibs rearguard as he raced into the box but his shot was brilliantly saved by keeper Jordan Smith. From the resulting corner the visitors found the net.
Chilvers’ set-piece was headed against the post by Scott Allardice but Campbell was on hand to loop a header in from a tight angle. Hibs should have levelled in 14 minutes when Junior Hoilett glanced a header wide from just yards out.
County then came close to doubling their lead. Chilvers’ short-corner arrived at Josh Nisbet and his first time left-footed drive was beaten away by Smith.
But Hibs levelled in the sixth minute of first-half injury time. County captain Connor Randall was pick-pocketed deep in the home half and Hoilett’s cross was flicked into the net by the head of Gayle at the near post.
The home side had chances to go ahead just a minute into the second half. Nicky Cadden’s low drive was pushed away by Hamilton straight to Youan but he sliced his effort.
Hibs kept the ball alive and Joe Newell fired well over. The home side won two penalties within three minutes – but only managed to score one. George Harmon blatantly tugged Gayle to the ground but Cadden’s spot-kick was kept out Hamilton’s legs. Ref Lloyd Wilson pointed to the spot again after Ryan Leak pulled Josh Campbell’s jersey inside the area.
This time Youan made no mistake from the spot. It nearly got better for Hibs when a horrible bobble saw Hamilton miscue a clearance and the ball rolled just past his own post. Sub Campbell made sure of the points in the 94th minute when he tucked away a shot from close range after being teed up by Youan.
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