Scott Allan heard the anger pouring down on the Hibs players at New Central Park and surely will have felt a tinge of empathy.

After helping Kelty Hearts to a surprise win over his old side in the Premier Sports Cup, the midfielder confessed he knows what it's like to be on the other end of that shock, and that it's anything but pretty. David Gray's current crop were told, in no uncertain terms, that days like Saturday won't be accepted by the 1300-strong away support that travelled to New Central Park.

Allan instigated the short corner that led to Calum Flatman's winning goal, with Hibs lacking that knack for ingenuity on a desperately wasteful afternoon. But the 32-year-old saw enough of Gray's blueprint at the weekend to feel that Hibs will make progress under his leadership.

“Listen, I’ve had the shoe on the other foot coming to these grounds and it’s difficult," said Allan. "You see results [in this competition] over the last few years and teams can get them. It’s hard to play against.

“Hibs did still threaten, they got in behind and we had great last ditch blocks, doubling up and the goalkeeper pulling off saves. It wasn’t as if Hibs were playing and not creating chances, but I can see the fans’ frustration.

That’s the pressure that comes with playing for Hibs, you’re expected to win these types of games. But, listen, I’ve been in a Hibs team and it isn’t easy."

Allan caught up with Gray before and after Saturday's fixture, and from seeing his team first-hand, left the pitch with a sense that Gray - despite the poor result - has already made sensible changes to the approach which saw Hibs struggle badly last season.

"I’ve got a really good relationship with Dave," said Allan. "You can really see what they’re trying to do compared to last year. We managed to defend but there was a way of playing there. It was really hard for us to play out, they had a high line about halfway and it meant they were able to quickly regain the ball.

“They’re getting Martin Boyle in positions where he can hurt teams higher up the pitch. I’ve been there myself playing with him, if you get him high you can just turn and put the ball into space.

“He got into those positions on Saturday and on another day might’ve scored two or three. I think what Dave’s done will stand them in good stead going into the start of the season.

"He’s obviously been around there for three or four years with different managers. Learning different styles give you a good vantage point to take into your coaching career.

“He knows all those players inside out and he’ll have looked at it to see how he can get the best out of the likes of Boyle, Joe Newell and Dylan Vente, who scores if you give him chances.

“It’s good to see young Rudi Molotnikov coming through the youth system, he looks a real livewire and is strong as well. They look really athletic, it’s an athletic a Hibs team as I’ve seen in a long time. Hibs will be a real threat moving forward.”

Allan signed on at Kelty in a player-coach role earlier this summer, with one eye on laying foundations for when he finally hangs up his boots. But in joining a young squad led by player-manager Michael Tidser, he sees an opportunity to help guide a talented crop who are 'hungry' to progress in the game.

“Everybody associates my football with playing through balls and that type of thing, and sometimes you don’t get credit for doing things off the ball," said Allan. But coming here, and being part of the staff as well, you have to lead by example. We’ve got a lot of young players who are hungry to go and down well but it’s maybe not worked out at other clubs. I want to help them and get them to the next level, and I’m able to help them through the game.

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“When I was young, you get the older ones who wanted to help you, and ones who felt you were competition! For me, I’ve always taken the side of wanting to help young players, especially young Scottish players – I want to see a lot more of them in the top-flight.

“It’s something that isn’t spoken about, I think there’s a lot of quality in this country that hasn’t been given the chance, for one reason or another. They’re coming elsewhere to play their football in the lower leagues but there is a lot of quality.

“We showed on Saturday that we do have quality, maybe not showing it so much on the ball, but the work rate off the ball and all the things you associate with good Scottish players. For these kids, learning off guys like myself and the manager Michael Tidser, who’s been around Scotland, will help them."