NO NEED TO PRESS PANIC BUTTON, SAYS GRAY

DAVID GRAY insists a second successive defeat does not mean Hibs’ bubble has burst — and says promotion is still very much achievable. Alan Stubbs’ men at least performed significantly better than when capitulating to Rangers the previous weekend and, in terms of possession and chances created, this loss could be seen as a miscarriage of justice. But three of the opportunities fell to right-back Gray, only for him to hit the post, head wide from point-blank range and, with the score at 1-1, fire straight at goalkeeper David McGurn. ‘I should have done better but the good thing is we’re creating chances,’ he said. ‘The Rangers defeat was more of a blip, we didn’t play particularly well and they got a lift. The Raith result was disappointing but we started well and played some really good stuff. Any neutral watching will tell you we should have won. ‘The message at half-time was that, while we had been outstanding in the first half, it’s goals that win you games. If you don’t take your chances it can come back and bite you in the bum. Too many times we’ve dominated games and got nothing.’ Which is precisely why the alarm bells will be ringing unless Hibs get back to winning ways against Queen of the South on Saturday. With Rangers now level on points and with a game in hand, second place (and two fewer play-off ties) is up for grabs. ‘We’ll all pull together,’ said Gray. ‘We’ve lost two in a row but I think we responded really well from the Rangers defeat. If we keep playing as we did on Saturday we won’t be far away. Ideally, you want to finish second but our objective at the start of the season was to get promoted and we’re still on course, so we just need to build momentum again. ‘I’m not interested in who are favourites for second place. People are going on about the new manager going in at Rangers but we just have to concentrate on ourselves.’ Mark Stewart volleyed Rovers in front in the 53rd minute in their first attack of note and, although Fraser Fyvie equalised, Christian Nade came off the bench to set up Lewis Vaughan for the winner six minutes from time. It was a bittersweet moment for the 19-year-old who has scored in five of his last seven games. ‘I had a Hibs season ticket when I was younger and was at Easter Road every other week,’ revealed Vaughan. ‘So I’m a fan but I need to do my job which is scoring goals for Raith. I still hope Hibs get second spot but any time I come up against them I’ll be looking to get on the scoresheet. ‘My mates in the away section wouldn’t have been happy but, hopefully, I can do Hibs a favour when we play at Ibrox next month.’