GOAL MODEL
the Edinburgh derby with the crowd and everything else.
“It was great and something I will always remember. I can’t remember hearing anything after the goal – I just went into a daze.
“It was like, ‘What has just happened?’ and I just started running. I think I did a knee slide of some sort. It was great.”
While England international Vardy helped with his technique, Murray had dad Gary – who played for Hibs in the 1980s – on hand to help with the occasion.
He said: “The Edinburgh derby lived up to my expectations – it was phenomenal.
“It was a great experience and one I will always remember. My dad told me a few things about it and I have watched it on TV but never been to one before.
“My dad just said, ‘Go and work hard and grab yourself a goal’. He didn’t say too much – he just lets me go and do whatever.”
The former Dundee United hitman had gone off the boil after scoring 10 goals in his first seven Hibs games and was left on the bench at Hampden last weekend.
Murray looked on as 19-yearold Oli Shaw came on to score in their 4-2 Betfred Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic.
It was just the sort of motivation he needed to net an 11th goal of the campaign barely 90 minutes after learning he was in for an injured Anthony Stokes.
Murray said: “I started the season well with a good few goals but you know you are always going to go through that wee dip in form.
“But I have been working hard in training and hoping to get back in the team.
“I couldn’t have hoped for a better time for that to happen. You don’t aim to have a dip but sometimes you are just not getting the bounce of the ball or the bit of luck you need.
“The ball is maybe going behind you or a couple of yards in front of you and it just doesn’t click. But if you keep working hard then it does come back.
“You want to play in every game so I was disappointed to be left out at Hampden against Celtic – it wouldn’t be good if I wasn’t – but Oli did brilliant when he went on.
“I’m just glad I got back in. I only found out I was starting in the derby an hour and a half before kick-off which is when the gaffer does the team.
“We knew Stokesy was out injured so I was hoping for the nod and thankfully the gaffer put me in. Hopefully I rewarded him.”
The result moved Hibs up to fifth as Neil Lennon’s men tasted victory for the first time in four matches. Now Murray hopes Hibs can keep it up against high-flying Betfred Cup finalists Motherwell at Fir Park in two days’ time.
Murray said: “My confidence will be higher than it was after that goal. The main thing is the team won.
“Our home form has not been the best but hopefully this spurs the boys on. The defence has been solid.
“Everyone has seen the team has been playing well for a good few weeks but we’ve just not been getting the results.
“That happens in football and I am just glad we did in the derby. Hopefully we can now kick on.
“Motherwell are flying as well so it will be a tough game but we will look forward to it.
“It is important now we go on to pick up some wins.”