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Hibs captain David Gray admits he is proud to be part of a rearguard that has the second best defensive record in British football.
But the wing-back insists the Leith outfit need to continue to be ruthless in attack if they are to finish number one in the Championship.
Neil Lennon’s side have conceded just six league goals from their opening 11 matches, and only English top-flight club Tottenham can boast a meaner defence having shipped one less.
That solid base at the back has helped the Easter Road outfit set the pace in the second tier and Gray is thrilled with the role he has played.
He said “It’s a great stat to have as a defender, it’s great we have that record.
“As a defender we pride ourselves on clean sheets so it has been good.
“We have lost a few goals from set pieces which we want to tighten up on but overall we have been solid.
“I think we have always been quite resolute at the back, last season our defensive record was good good as well.
“We have been playing 3-5-2 in recent weeks, it’s something I have enjoyed and I think the manager has been happy with how solid we’ve been.”
Hibs lead Dundee United by three points at the summit but Gray knows that gap should be bigger.
A combination of poor finishing and having three players sent off in three separate games contributed to a recent four game winless run in the league but the skipper is hoping the attackers are back on form following successive victories over Dunfermline and St Mirren.
Gray, who was back at his old primary school in Roslin yesterday as part of the club’s Persevered Scottish Cup trophy tour, added: “If we can provide a solid base then we’ll give ourselves a chance because we have creative players going forward.
“I think our main thing was creating a lot of chances but not taking them. We’ve managed to do that in the past few weeks.”
After hitting eight goals in a blistering start to the campaign, striker Jason Cummings has only started three out of Hibs’ last four matches but Gray has backed the marksman to force his way back into Lennon’s plans.
He added: “Jason brings goals but it’s great for the manager to have a decision to make, and Martin Boyle was outstanding at the weekend.
“He’s got tough decisions to make every week all over the pitch, and that’s something he wanted.
“It can only be a good thing for everyone because it means you have to perform to keep your place.
“Jason is all right about it to be fair, you know what he’s like.
“I’m sure if you ask him he’ll say he’s disappointed not to be playing but he knows he’s got to keep working hard.
“It’s about being ready when you get back in, which I’m sure he will, and taking that chance.”
