Gray appeared subdued and deeply disappointed after the match at McDiarmid Park.
The celebrations that followed the goalless first leg in Gent must now seem like a distant memory.
He could hardly be blamed for feeling puzzled by his side, given that many observers are equally unsure what to expect from them.
At Dens Park last weekend, they produced some excellent football. They controlled the opening stages of the derby’s second half and appeared likely to equalise before Jack Iredale received a baffling red card.
On Sunday, however, they often looked disconnected and waited in vain for somebody to take charge and make an impact.
Instead, two players expected to provide leadership ended up disappointing Gray.
Summer signing Jason Kerr, a lifelong Hibs supporter who captained St Johnstone to two cup triumphs in 2021, inexplicably presented Josh Fowler with an easy close-range finish. Captain Martin Boyle, who was substituted at the interval, then conceded an obvious penalty with an awkward challenge.
Hibs are now without a victory in their last 18 league matches after allowing the opposition to score first.
Gray said the way his team conceded both goals reflected the poor quality of their first-half display.
He felt they lacked the necessary aggression to prevent deliveries into the penalty area and defended too passively, relying on guesses instead of maintaining the correct position between their opponents and the goal.
He also described the penalty as an unnecessary mistake that the team could not afford to make.
Gray acknowledged that conceding two goals in such a manner would inevitably attract criticism and accepted responsibility for the outcome.
What do you feel about this post?
Like
Love
Happy
Haha
Sad
