David Gray wants Hibs to build on derby point in Dingwall

What are your reflections on the derby?

"I think very similar to what I said after the game. It's still a wee bit raw because of the fact that it happened so recently, but I think the attention quickly changes towards Ross County because we know what lies ahead of us. It does feel like two points dropped straight after the game because of the chances we create in the game, just how clear cut the chances are and I think that's probably the biggest frustration and then when you then look at, as I've said, there are two points dropped and then you need to start looking at positives as well.

"So on reflection now when I look back, did we play well in the game? We've played a lot better this season and lost, so that's something that we need to take positives from in that sense. I thought both teams probably played the game with a fear not to lose because it was a bit scrappy, there was a bit of a lack of quality at times within the game from both sides and that's probably just to do with the magnitude of the game at times and the situation. But every time we did show a bit of quality I thought we created chances, so that's a real positive.

"To lose the goal and drop the two points towards the end is a huge frustration but if I go back to the Dundee United game, we went on and lost that game and there was still plenty of time having got pegged back to 1-1 against Hearts that there were questions asked after that and the boys stood up to that. So that's a positive to take from there as well and actually, Craig Gordon was the next goalkeeper to make a save after it went to 1-1.

"We need to remain positive. Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom to start building again and we've done that against Dundee United, hit bottom of the league. Yes, we still find ourselves there but we've got a point in the derby. Now it's not a disaster at all. Would I have liked all three Yes. But we need to then quickly change that narrative and think, 'It's a point, it's something to build on' and quickly attention changes to Ross County which will be a really difficult game; it always is when you go up there."

Three games before the international break... how confident are you of getting points on the board and moving up the table?

"My full focus is just on Ross County. I know that's an old cliché, just taking one game at a time but that has to be the focus. We need to quickly get points on the board, but we need to build on the fact that we've got a point after three defeats. The situation we find ourselves in, we've got an opportunity to try to change that straight away and my full focus at the moment is on Ross County."

One of the positives of Sunday was getting Jake Doyle-Hayes back on the pitch - how big was that for him?

"Excellent for him. He deserves it for how hard he's trained. It's been a difficult time for him, frustration with injuries and challenges that we've had but at the same time, it's just credit to how hard he's worked to get back in there and it's good to see him back on the pitch.

"The magnitude of the game just shows you that I had no concerns about him coming on just because of the type of player he is, his temperament and the quality he's got which he's been showing in training recently which is good."

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David Gray speaks on Jake Doyle-Hayes Hibs return as he confirms 'no concerns'

Where is he at in terms of fitness?

"He's obviously not fully match fit because he's not had the game time in his legs but he's been back training for a while now and building on that fitness and he just falls in line with the rest of the group now which is part of a group that's trying to stick together and work as hard as they can to be successful.

In terms of his injury, has that all cleared up?

"Yes, he's fully recovered and he's in a good place at the moment. He's working hard, doing all the things he needs to do and he's available for selection, which is good.

I suppose it says a lot about the trust you've got in him that you can pitch him straight into a game like that at such a delicate stage yesterday?

"Yes - he's played in these games before, he's that type of character that doesn't get phased by occasions, he's got quality on the ball and as I say, he's been training well so I've got no concerns over Jake at all."

For the supporters, he's probably become a bit of a forgotten man but can he become a key player again going forward?

"With the quality he's got, how well he's trained and just his attitude every single day, I think he's someone that - like the rest of the players I've already got in the middle of the pitch - has real quality and adds strength in depth and competition for places.

"So, it's like everyone else, he's going to work as hard as he can to try and get in the team because there is a lot of competition in there as well.

Any changes in terms of team news?

"Well, we're waiting to see how everybody comes through. There were a few bumps and bruises from the game. Joe Newell is available again and Nicky Cadden had another session on Monday morning so he probably comes more into my thinking as well. 

"Chris Cadden didn't trained on Monday but he's getting closer as well, which is good."

How much of a positive was Élie's performance, and the reception he got from the fans when he went off?

"Well, I think the one thing he's not had is a lot of games recently. I'd have liked a bit more from everybody in terms of that attacking sense; we had opportunities when we could have been better.

"I thought everybody showed appetite and good energy levels. I think the game was a little bit scrappy and there were moments in the game where we lacked a bit of quality where we could have been better in certain situations, but Élie is someone who when he's on it, he's got all the attributes to be really, really effective and we need to see that more often."

How have you managed him since the summer, when it looked like he might be moving and then he got the injury?

"I've just tried to be very consistent and honest with him right through the whole process because until he wasn't a Hibs player, I was treating him as if he was and I've never changed that stance with him.

"My job, even though we've not had the results, is always about trying to make every single player better. So whilst he was still in the building, that was my full focus - how can I improve him, because if he doesn't move, I need him as an asset and how can he positively affect the group? That hasn't changed regardless of speculation about his future because at this moment in time, he's a Hibs player and until that changes, it's my job to try and do that.

Was it difficult with Élie as well given the racism, and back-and-forths with the fans in terms of having to make sure he's in the right place right through the week?

"Yeah, I see Élie every day in training, I see all the boys in training and how we train and I think it's credit to everyone involved that during tough times, which there have been, that we stick together. I'm very supportive of Élie and the situations he's found himself in recently, which is at times unacceptable, but Élie has always trained with a smile on his face and as long as he's in a position where he's doing that and he's willing to put his hand up to try to get on the pitch and try to benefit the team, then he's available for selection, which he's doing."

Have you found that you've had to be, in this difficult time, a tactician and also a psychologist in all of the players in terms of keeping spirits up and keeping concentration up?

"I would never say I'm a psychologist at all, definitely not - it's hard enough trying to be a football coach! But I think that's a big part of the game, of course it is. It's not just the tactics on the pitch, it's probably more about the constant communication between myself and the players in different scenarios. Whether they're feeling good or bad, especially after poor performances or individual mistakes, it's about how you pick people up.

"The key message I've been quite consistent with is about us staying together, because there have been situations where we've been punished heavily for individual errors and mistakes, but I've not lost faith in anybody. I see it every day in training, it's not through a lack of effort, it's not as if there's anyone not trying or doing these mistakes on purpose, nobody does that.

"We're human beings who make mistakes and it's about making sure that we understand there's accountability, 100%, but at the same time we need to understand that we stick together through these difficult times and I believe the good times will come."

You mentioned about playing yesterday with a bit of a fear not to lose - how important is it that that doesn't creep in?

"I just think that was the way the game went yesterday, in terms of both teams it looked a bit edgier rather than the blood and thunder you'd normally get in a derby, so I think the way the game kind of went was a little bit of lack of quality, a little bit scrappy.

"But that fear can't kick in. What we need to understand is where we need to be better. As I've said many times, and I said it after the game, if we weren't creating the chances and we weren't getting into these positions, I'd have a lot more concerns. I firmly believe in the group, I believe in what we're doing and it is fine margins at the moment that's costing us, but we know that has to quickly change and it's about sticking together to do it."

Is the Ross County game a chance to express yourselves?

"Yes, 100%. I think you've got that opportunity - that would always be the message even in the derby before the game, the message was to go and win the game. I think both teams were so desperate to do that that the thought of losing it was probably, you could have felt that way on reflection. I'm not saying anybody goes into the game with that appetite or that mindset, but as I've already said, we need to build on the point we got in the derby.

"Now, I feel it's two points dropped, but at the same time, it's something that we didn't get in the previous games and the games come really quickly. Ross County are off the back of a good result at the weekend, so they'll be full of confidence. We know exactly what to expect going up there; it will be tough, but we've got a good enough side to go up there and get three points and that'll be the task at hand."

How big a shift is it from the sort of emotional weight of the derby to midweek game and a long-journey up north to play against a team that don't lose many games at home?

"Well, that's the challenge, but when you look at the league, that's the challenge every single week.

"You can see how tight it is; everybody beats everyone, and that doesn't change regardless of the opponents. I know a lot was made about the derby and it being the biggest derby in years because of the situation we found ourselves in in the league - both teams - but we find ourselves where we are in the league because we've not had enough wins on the board and that can quickly change with what lies ahead of us. But we're taking it one game at a time and I do believe we've got an opportunity to do that."

How's Josh Campbell, is he injured?

"No, Josh is fine. He trained this morning and comes back into contention for Wednesday night. He's just part of a group of boys who are trying their best to get into the matchday squad because we've got a lot of competition for places. 

It looked at the start of the season as if he was one of the first names on the team sheet. What's changed?

"Nothing. If you ask Josh, I think there are performance levels that are sometimes not quite where he'd like them to be, but it's not through a lack of effort or a lack of commitment or how I see him every single day.

"He's feeling it, probably more than most, because he's desperate to do well, he loves the club, he's come through the academy. I've seen it over the years as well; when you carry that burden and how much it means to you, sometimes you try too hard and it ends up not quite coming off for you.

"I think he's in a place at the moment where he's desperate to try to do everything he can to make sure we turn our fortunes around because he's part of a group that's desperate to be successful."