Gray questions key decisions after Hibs cup final disappointment

Hibernian caretaker manager David Gray was unhappy with the performance of the match officials as his side lost 2-1 to Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup final.

Paul Hanlon headed his side into the lead just after half-time but Celtic equalised through Kyogo Furuhashi almost instantly and the Japanese forward then went on to score a second as Celtic won 2-1 and lifted the trophy.

Gray thought Beaton got it wrong when awarding Celtic the free-kick from which Tom Rogic picked out Furuhashi for the winner, and also thinks that a spot kick should have been awarded for a Carl Starfelt on Ryan Porteous as Hibs were chasing an equaliser in the final minutes.

“I thought we were good in the game and the boys gave me absolutely everything,” Gray said. “The disappointing thing for us is you go in front and then to lose a goal so quickly is a massive blow.

“The second goal from our point of view defensively is not good enough but I don’t believe they should have been defending a free-kick in the first place.

“If that’s a foul then I have no idea how it’s not a penalty late on. I don’t see how one can be a foul and the other is not. I don’t get it at all.”

Gray was taking charge of the team for the third time since Jack Ross was sacked, and it is likely to be his last game in the dugout with the appointment of Shaun Maloney believed to be imminent.

“Now the game is done we will dust ourselves down and I am sure the powers that be will let us know what direction we are moving in,” the former club captain said.