Hibernian's season has taken a sharp downward turn following a 2-1 loss at St Johnstone on Sunday 6 September 2026, extending their recent struggles and intensifying scrutiny on manager David Gray. The defeat came just days after a 3-1 home loss to Hearts in the Edinburgh derby, leaving supporters increasingly frustrated with the team's direction and performance.
The result at McDiarmid Park represented another missed opportunity for the Leith club, whose campaign has been marked by high expectations followed by repeated disappointment. Ten days earlier, Hibernian had come within six minutes of reaching the UEFA Conference League proper—a milestone no Hibs side had previously achieved in European competition. Instead, they collapsed against Gent in the play-off, falling at the final hurdle for the second consecutive year and forfeiting the substantial financial rewards that group-stage football would have brought.
According to Sky Sports, Gray acknowledged the criticism levelled at him and his players following the back-to-back defeats. The manager cut a visibly dejected figure at full-time, his demeanour reflecting the weight of mounting pressure.
How did Hibernian lose control at Perth?
Hibernian's performance at McDiarmid Park was characterised by passivity and a lack of tactical clarity. Josh Fowler's first-half double secured victory for St Johnstone, with the forward capitalising on defensive lapses that Gray himself identified as symptomatic of deeper problems. Nathan Lowe pulled one back for Hibernian, but it proved insufficient to salvage anything from the contest.
The manner in which the goals were conceded particularly troubled Gray.
"The manner in which we lost the two goals today summed up our first-half performance. We were nowhere near aggressive enough to stop the ball coming into the box. We were very passive, gambling and guessing in the box rather than staying goal side. Then, we give away a needless penalty which you just can't do. You can't give two goals away like that and not come under criticism for it and I know that's my responsibility."
The first goal came when Jason Kerr, the boyhood Hibernian supporter signed in the summer who previously captained St Johnstone to their 2021 cup double, inexplicably allowed Fowler a simple tap-in from close range. The second arrived when captain Martin Boyle, withdrawn at half-time, committed a clumsy foul in the box to concede a clear penalty. Hibs have now failed to win any of their past 18 league games when conceding first, a statistic that underscores their fragility when falling behind.
What is Hibernian's tactical identity?
Beyond the individual errors, observers questioned whether Hibernian possessed any coherent tactical framework. Former Scotland defender Charlie Mulgrew, analysing the match for Premier Sports, articulated the frustration felt by many supporters.
"When I watch Hibs, I don't know how they're trying to score goals, I don't know what they're trying to do. That's the first time I've watched St Johnstone this season and I can clearly see what they're doing. Hibs are scratching for something. It's not like they're going, 'this is our style, this is what we're doing and we're just going to hammer home with that - even if we don't do it right'. They completely changed the midfield on Thursday, they made two changes at half-time today, I don't see what they're trying to do."
The constant tactical adjustments—two midfield changes before the match and further alterations at half-time—suggested a team searching for answers rather than executing a defined plan. Midfielder Jamie McGrath was among the few to emerge with credit, but his individual performance could not compensate for the collective malaise afflicting the side.
Gray's reliance on Nathan Lowe, the 20-year-old striker on loan from Stoke City, has also drawn scrutiny. Although Lowe netted his first Scottish Premiership goal on Sunday, he has largely failed to justify the faith placed in him since his arrival. The strategy of launching the ball to the forward, while rarely effective, continues to feature prominently in Hibernian's attacking approach.
What defensive problems does Gray face?
Compounding Gray's difficulties is a mounting injury crisis at the back. Grant Hanley departed the field at McDiarmid Park with a hip issue, further depleting an already stretched defensive resource. Prior to the match, Gray had highlighted his lack of options in this area. Jordan Obita limped off during the Hearts defeat with a calf injury, while Marko Ivezic, signed on deadline day as a replacement for Warren O'Hora, was not yet ready to feature.
The loss of O'Hora, a commanding 27-year-old figure in the Hibernian backline who regularly captained the side in Joe Newell's absence, represented a significant blow. His summer departure to Leicester came just one year after the club lost striker Kieron Bowie, compounding the sense of a squad being progressively weakened rather than strengthened.
Gray has a contract extension through the summer of 2028, having signed a new three-year deal in April 2025, but the recent run of results has tested the patience of the support base. The manager insists he
"still has the group"and believes he will be able
"to show the players why I think this can turn very quickly."
What do supporters think?
Fan sentiment has shifted markedly. While Gray earned considerable goodwill during his playing days at Hibernian, particularly for his Scottish Cup heroics, that reservoir of patience appears to be draining. One supporter, Grant, suggested
"the time is sadly up for Gray,"noting that the performance
"lacked any identity of what the team wanted to do from start to finish."
Ralph expressed similar frustration:
"We're such a hard watch at the moment, dreadful on Thursday and dreadful today - there was no reaction from the players whatsoever. Our style of football is as flat as a pancake - dire, not enjoyable and not entertaining."Another supporter, Niall, questioned the entire direction of the club, suggesting that
"it's the same season after season at this stage and won't be changing anytime soon, because the club are happy enough for it to be this way."
Nick observed that Gray appeared to have
"lost the dressing room,"while John called for a more attacking approach, stating
"Take the shackles off and start playing attacking football."The collective tone of supporter commentary reflects deep unease about both the immediate prospects and the longer-term trajectory of the club.
What lies ahead for Hibernian?
According to , the pressure on Gray has intensified following the back-to-back Scottish Premiership defeats. Hibernian's fixture list offers little respite. The club faces a League Cup quarter-final at Ross County on Saturday before consecutive home matches against Kilmarnock and Aberdeen. Nothing short of three successive victories appears likely to satisfy supporters and ease the mounting pressure on the manager.
The contrast with the optimism of ten days ago—when European group-stage football seemed within reach—could hardly be starker. What was meant to be a season of historic achievement has instead become a struggle for basic consistency and identity. Gray's ability to arrest the decline and restore belief will be tested severely in the coming weeks.
