Hibs David Gray wants side to follow 2016 blueprint to get Easter Road behind them against Hearts

Hibernian head coach David Gray wants Easter Road to be rocking when they welcome Hearts on Sunday.

It's a high-noon showdown in the capital as out-of-form Hibs welcome a resurgent Hearts to their patch and manager Gray wants his side to follow an example set way back in 2016. Eight years ago now his side recorded a Scottish Cup replay victory in the Edinburgh derby when they were a league below the Jambos in the Scottish Championship and won 1-0 courtesy of an early Jason Cummings goal.

Now sitting bottom of the Scottish Premiership, just one spot below their city rivals, Gray is calling on his side to follow that blueprint this time. Hearts have won both games under their new head coach Neil Critchley though, and will likely be the most confident of the two sides heading into Sunday's clash.

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"It’ll be a full house at Easter Road and we really need the fans to be right behind us, which I know they will be,” Gray said.

“They can really play a part in driving us at the start of the game.

“I’ll never forget coming back to Easter Road in the Scottish Cup run we had, the way we started the game with the fans right behind us really gave us an extra bit of motivation and drive. I really felt it on that day.

“We need it to be the same way again, right from the first whistle on Sunday.

“Whether it’s the first game of the season or the last game of the season, bottom of the league, where we find ourselves at the moment, the derby games are special to play in, regardless of who’s where in the league.”