As Hibernian manager David Gray prepares his side for a daunting Scottish Cup trip to Celtic Park on Sunday, the former Hibee captain is under increasing pressure to decide his future in Leith. Despite his side’s impressive unbeaten run, which has seen Hibs go 15 matches without defeat across all competitions since December, Gray knows the task at hand is a monumental one.
Celtic, are in impressive form under Brendan Rodgers, and will be looking to assert their dominance and advance in the cup, with the Irishman aiming to lay down a marker as they continue their pursuit of a domestic treble.
Unbeaten Run Faces its Toughest Test
Hibernian’s unbeaten streak has been the talk of Scottish football, but Gray’s side will face a huge test at Celtic Park this weekend. While Hibs can take heart from their 2-1 win over Celtic at Easter Road just two weeks ago, they must now prove it wasn’t a fluke in one of the most intimidating stadiums in the country. The challenge of facing a team of Celtic’s quality, who have dominated Scottish football for years, is a huge step up for Gray and his players, and the Hibees will need to be at their absolute best to stand any chance of pulling off an upset.
Celtic’s Strength and Determination
Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic are relentless in their pursuit of trophies, and with the backing of 60,000 supporters at Celtic Park, they are a formidable force. Rodgers will be keen to ensure that his side continues their winning ways, with the team looking to bounce back after their surprise loss at Easter Road. Celtic have the strength, quality, and depth to overpower most teams in Scotland, and Gray’s side will need to show incredible resilience if they are to halt Celtic’s progress in the competition.
Gray’s Focus Under Scrutiny
Although speculation surrounds David Gray’s potential move to Swansea City, the Hibs boss has remained adamant that his focus is firmly on the job at hand. “I’m 100 per cent focused on what I’m doing because I’ve got the hardest thing in the world to try and do at the weekend, which is to try and get a game plan to go to Celtic Park and win,” Gray said: (RecordSport), downplaying any distractions. However, despite his determination, the pressure is mounting on the 36-year-old, who knows the whole of Scottish football will be watching to see how his team fares when it matters most.
A Huge Challenge Ahead for Hibs
With approximately 7,000 travelling Hibs fans set to make the journey to Celtic Park, the atmosphere promises to be electric. While Gray’s side have shown resilience in recent weeks, the task of coming up against Celtic’s firepower on their home turf is a whole different proposition. The Celtic support will expect nothing less than a dominant performance, and Gray’s men will have to be at their best to stop the Hoops from marching on in the Scottish Cup.
David Gray’s focus remains on the match, but as the pressure intensifies, Celtic will surely be looking to prove that no one can stand in their way in the Scottish Cup, continuing their quest for yet another piece of domestic silverware.
