Damaging week for Gray after Hibs 'disgrace' at Falkirk

After a humbling, embarrassing cup exit to Championship side Dunfermline, last week, Hibs fans had every right to expect the team to head to Falkirk determined to right some wrongs.

However, they instead ended up increasing the pressure on head coach David Gray with one of the worst performances they've served up in years.

Falkirk were streets ahead of Hibs in every department from first whistle to last. Hibs looked like they would rather be anywhere else, while their counterparts looked like they didn't want the game to end.

Sporting director Malky Mackay has to be putting pressure on the recruitment team to get reinforcements in as soon as possible.

Hibs entered the January window still being considered by some as a dark horse for the title race. Since then, we've dropped out of the cup and out of the running, with even a fourth-placed finish now at risk thanks to the gap Motherwell have established over us in the league.

There's understandable anger among the support that Gray still hasn't been given a striker and right-sided player to bolster his squad, positions he was on record as wanting to improve last summer.

Hibs' sluggishness in getting deals over the line has cost the team, but irrespective of the transfer activity, Saturday's line-up should have had more than enough about it to at least compete with Falkirk.

That the side flopped so badly is not only a stain on Gray's record, but the players must take accountability for it as well.

Gray suggested he'd read the riot act after the game, and so he should. The performance was a disgrace and it's on the players to now go and make amends in a tough game against Rangers on Sunday.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast