David Gray NOT to blame for stumbling Hibs start as Kukharevych demands players front up
It's been a tough opening few weeks for the Easter Road men but the new frontman is convinced happier times are on the way
Myko Kukharevych insists the Hibs players have to take the heat from their shaky start to the season.
The Easter Road men have kicked off with three defeats on the bounce including consecutive Premiership and League Cup losses to Celtic. Boss David Gray has barely got his feet under the table at Easter Road and is already taking flak. Kukharevych – who gave Hibs some cause for cheer at Parkhead with a sensational header in the 3-1 defeat – is adamant the squad have to carry the can for the dodgy defending that’s plagued the opening weeks.
The Ukrainian said: “Yeah, 100 percent, it’s not the gaffer who is making these mistakes. We have to change it ourselves, stop making mistakes in the next games. I think we will take our lessons from this. And we will keep going.”
At least Hibs don’t need to face Celtic for a while. Back-to-back clashes with the champions have left the Leith men battered and bruised. But Kukharevych is convinced the campaign starts now. The striker said: “Obviously it was always going to be hard, playing the best team in the league two games in a row. No-one would find it easy against Celtic. But we have to look at ourselves. Or focus has to be on improving as a team, becoming better and more effective, and start building something.
“The next two games are so important, 100 percent. We know we need to get points on the board, we have to start getting points and improve our confidence – and give some good emotions to our fans, who deserve it.”
Kukharervych insisted no one at Easter Road is hitting the panic button yet as the new-look squad is still finding its feet. The 23-year-old arrived from Swansea in the summer as one of nine new signings for Gray and there have bene some teething problems.
Kukharevych is convinced the side will kick on and he’s delighted to open his Hibs goal account. He said: “I think it’s not too big a worry at the moment. Because we’re still building our game. We’re still improving as a team, bringing in new players.
“Even me, I’ve only been here a couple of weeks. It will take time for us to get settled into the team and understand what is needed. Then we had a difficult start, especially running into Celtic. But now we have to start getting points. No doubt. I still believe there are better times ahead for Hibs. I just want to play, keep scoring goals, do everything I can to help this team – and have a good time here.”
Hibs will need to cut out the early chaos in the coming weeks, with clashes against Dundee, Killie and St Johnstone on the horizon. Gray’s men were two down inside 20 minutes in both Celtic clashes and then conceded a slapstick third at Parkhead after failing to deal with the Hoops press.
They also conceded three to St Mirren on the opening day and while Kukharevych reckons the side are getting up to speed but they do need to cut out the kamikaze defending. He said: “It’s always hard when you lose goals at the very start of the game. But I thought we might have equalised after my goal, because we were playing better.
“I’m still improving. I still have to take a little bit of time to be 100 percent. But give me a few weeks and I think I will be fine. Better.
“It’s disappointing when we were back in the game, to lose a goal. We’re losing poor goals, especially the third goal. Again. But we have to take our lessons from losing those goals. And not do the same thing again.”