Four wins in five & top six in sight - what's changed at Hibs?

"The hard work has never stopped. The belief has always been there."

David Gray was typically measured in his assessment as Hibs were celebrating a first win at Tynecastle in five years, one which takes them five points clear of Hearts and within striking distance of the Scottish Premiership top six.

A month ago, his side were at the foot of the table after a miserable 4-1 defeat with 10 men at Dundee left them with just one win in 13 league games.

Gray was calm and considered in the wake of that but must have been feeling the heat.

After all, the previous game, a home loss to St Mirren, had prompted the Easter Road board to release the dreaded message of support for their rookie manager.

A run of four wins from five has altered the mood music dramatically. So what has changed?

Three days after the debacle at Dens Park, Hibs twice levelled in stoppage-time to earn a dramatic 3-3 draw at home to Aberdeen.

"It's something to build on and, if we can tidy up in areas, I know we can turn this round," said Gray that evening.

Well, there has been some significant tidying up following a tactical tweak.

Having set up the opener at Dundee, Jordan Obita was sent off after just 12 minutes. With the club's player of the year for last term suspended, Jack Iredale earned his first start and Gray moved to a back three.

The change of formation has given Hibs a more solid platform, along with other positive knock-ons.

Nicky Cadden has thrived at left wing-back, where he spent most of his time at previous club Barnsley.

Elie Youan has been better in a free attacking role and Hibs get the ball forward quicker with two central midfielders since Kwon Hyeok-kyu, who has dropped out, is perhaps too similar to Joe Newell and Nectar Triantis.

There was also a change of goalkeepers, with Josef Bursik losing his place to Jordan Smith after a series of blunders.

Obita's ban may have been the catalyst for the tactical tweak and a solid performer now finds himself among the subs.

Junior Hoilett, a stand-out in the bleak weeks before that draw with Aberdeen, may also be frustrated not to be on the left wing, but the switch has undoubtedly been of benefit to the team as a unit.

Gray makes most of 'time and patience'

It's not all been plain sailing, with Hibs having to recover from an execrable first half to see off Ross County, but the following victories away to Aberdeen and Hearts were thoroughly merited and featured some excellent spells.

The Easter Road side had not won three in a row in over a year.

"We played really well and limited them to very few chances," said Gray after the 2-1 success at Tynecastle.

"Maybe we could have been a wee bit more clinical. I thought, first half, we were excellent.

"To go in 1-1, having been as good as we were, especially away from home, the players could have reacted in a real negative way after that."

And that might just be the biggest difference.

Hibs players looked rather sorry for themselves in those back-to-back November defeats by St Mirren and Dundee but demonstrated a much-improved attitude to not accept defeat at home to Aberdeen.

Togetherness and determination go a long way in football and it looks like Gray has his team pulling in the same direction after a sticky start riddled with individual errors and a collective nervousness.

"I'm delighted for him," former Hibs manager John Collins said on Sportsound of the current boss.

"He was getting so much stick left, right and centre. He was maybe one game away from the sack. All managers need a bit of time and patience."

Have your say

What do you make of Hibs recent resurgence?

Let us know here