David Gray hailed Hibernian’s fortitude after consolidating third place in the William Hill Premiership with a convincing 3-1 win over Dundee United at Easter Road.
The Leith side’s 1-0 defeat at Aberdeen last week was their first loss in 18 games but they bounced back against the Taysiders to go three points clear of the Dons in third place with three fixtures remaining and all but secure a European spot.
Goals from Martin Boyle and fellow striker Mykola Kuharevich had the home side comfortably ahead at the interval and although second-half substitute Kristijan Trapanovski quickly reduced the deficit soon after the break, Hibees substitute Dwight Gayle’s header with three minutes of normal time wrapped up an eighth straight home win.
Gray said: “I spoke a lot pre-match about looking for a reaction, coming in on Monday and seeing the reaction from the players and it being positive after a really difficult setback in terms of first defeat after 17 games last weekend.
“It’s one thing seeing that reaction in training and togetherness being there but to then take it into the game was exactly everything I asked the players to do.
“The way they started the game, I thought they were excellent, (our) first half performance especially and then obviously the way the game went.
“Dundee United made a few changes, scored the next goal, but the players showed massive character and to then make sure we got the three points, which was the only thing that really mattered today.
“At this stage of the season, it’s all about the result and as I said, the reaction from the players, subs coming on, a real complete performance on that front.
“So I’m delighted for everyone. “
Hibs fans unveiled a tifo of Gray before the game and the man who wrote himself into the history books by scoring the winner in the 2016 Scottish Cup final said: “I did see it, you’d rather see that than somebody shouting abuse at you, of course you would.
“But at the same time it’s clearly a reflection again on the success on the pitch and that’s the players that take all the praise and credit for that.
“It’s another example of the connection between the fans and the club and the players and everything is going in the right direction at the minute.”
United boss Jim Goodwin said: “I’m not going to sit here now as manager and start throwing my players under the bus because they have been fantastic for me. I said that to them in the dressing room.
“Results like today are hugely disappointing because we believed coming into the game that we could get a positive result.
“We knew it was going to be difficult. I just think today was a reality check in terms of where we need to get our levels to, in terms of that energy and that pace.
“It was an extremely tough result to take, but again, you go back to the goals.
“They are situations that we, as a group, have defended a lot better over the course of the campaign.”
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