Gray rallies Hibs to push for 'still achievable' European football

Hibs head coach David Gray says the club must keep pushing for a European place despite the odds being stacked against them.

Fourth-place Motherwell's win at Ibrox last weekend moved them six points clear of Hibs, who lost to Hearts.

With just four games left Gray knows time is running out for his team to achieve their objective, but – with the two sides due to meet at Easter Road on the last day of the season – he still believes they have a chance.

"Before we went into the split, with the remaining five fixtures, we set a target internally of the amount of points we think we're going to require to try and finish fourth," he said prior to Sunday's visit from Celtic.

"That is still achievable. It's in a position now where, because of results [last weekend], we are relying on other results, but I think the first weekend of the split fixtures shows that there will be many twists and turns.

"Everyone's still got something to play for.

"Obviously, we play on Sunday, so we'll have an idea of what happens on Saturday [when Motherwell visit Falkirk]. But all we can do is keep our own house in order and make sure we get the maximum that we can."

Should Celtic win their Scottish Cup final later this month against Dunfermline, the additional European place will go to the fifth-placed Premiership team.

Hibs' cause on Sunday against Martin O'Neill's side is not helped by the fact they will be without three key players through suspension.

Defender Grant Hanley is still banned following his red card at Aberdeen three weeks ago, while goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger and wing-back Felix Passlack are out after being sent off in the 2-1 defeat by Hearts.

"There's been no finger-pointing," said Gray, reflecting on how Hibs' squad have reacted to their dramatic derby defeat.

"Again it's credit to the group, getting around players and keeping the group together and that closeness and the togetherness that's there every day.

"This week it was Felix and Rapha making a mistake, but it could be someone else next week, it could be someone else at other times.