David Gray takes responsibility as Hibernian's league slump deepens

Hibernian head coach David Gray accepted responsibility after his side's league difficulties continued with defeat at St Johnstone. BBC Sport Scotland reported that Hibs produced a flat performance at McDiarmid Park, extending their run without a victory in Premiership matches where they have conceded first to 18 games.

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The decisive damage came from two defensive mistakes. Summer signing Jason Kerr allowed Josh Fowler a close-range finish, while captain Martin Boyle conceded a penalty with a foul inside the area. Boyle was substituted at half-time as Gray attempted to change a display he later described as too passive.

Gray told BBC Sport Scotland that Hibs had not been aggressive enough when trying to stop deliveries into their penalty area. He said the nature of both goals invited criticism and acknowledged that responsibility for the performance rested with him. Nathan Lowe scored his first Scottish Premiership goal, but it was not enough to prevent defeat.

The result followed a difficult stretch that included an Edinburgh derby loss to Hearts and elimination from European competition before the league phase. Hibs had drawn the first leg of their European tie in Gent but fell short in the return, missing the chance to become the first team in the club's history to reach a European league or group stage.

Gray's options were also reduced when defender Grant Hanley left the St Johnstone match with a hip problem. Jordan Obita had already sustained a calf issue against Hearts, while deadline-day signing Marko Ivezic was not ready to play following Warren O'Hora's move to Leicester City. The departures and injuries have left Hibs short of established defensive choices.

Despite the pressure, Gray said he still retained the backing of the squad and believed he could show the players how results might improve quickly. Hibernian next travel to Ross County for a League Cup quarter-final on Saturday, followed by home league fixtures against Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, giving the team an immediate sequence of matches in which to respond.