Hibernian vs Celtic: David Gray and Martin O’Neill look ahead to Easter Road clash – live on Sky Sports | Football News

Would you want your team to lose if it helped to stop your rivals winning the league?

That’s the question facing Hibernian fans this weekend as they prepare to take on Celtic – live on Sky Sports – who trail their city rivals Hearts by three points in the race for the Scottish Premiership title.

Think back to May 2024 in the Premier League when Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou launched a passionate rant directed at his own support amid fan pressure to avoid handing Arsenal an advantage by beating Manchester City.

This is very similar, just exponentially amplified by the fact neither Edinburgh club have tasted a top-flight title triumph since Hearts won the league in 1960.

These things are just not supposed to happen.

What does Gray do?

Having missed out on the chance to dent their rivals’ title hopes themselves in the Edinburgh Derby last weekend, Hibernian head coach David Gray finds himself in an impossible situation.

A win would boost their slim chances of a fourth-place finish – and guaranteed European football – but it would be doing Hearts a favour in the title race.

They are six points behind Motherwell with four games remaining and, as you would expect, that’s where Gray’s focus lies – even if that opinion is not shared by those in the stands.

“It’s really not awkward for me, it’s very self-explanatory, we’re professional, we do everything we can to win games,” he told Sky Sports News.

“I understand the noise, I grew up in the city, I know the noise that goes around it, but the first weekend of post-split fixtures shows that results can change very quickly.

“I still believe that we still have enough games to go that gives us a chance to try and finish fourth, so we need to make sure we do everything we can between now and then to try and do that.

“There will be twists and turns between now and the end of the season, that’s for sure…

“My full focus is on Hibernian Football Club, this group of players, and making sure we get as many points as we can.

“We will be approaching this game like we do every other one. We will try and do everything we possibly can to win this game and if other results go our way we could potentially get closer to Motherwell again and that’s all that matters.”

What do the fans think?

While players and staff may be able to separate duty and emotion, it might be difficult to convince supporters to do the same.

“I think through gritted teeth, I just about don’t want Hibs to win this weekend,” Hibs fan Euan Wilson from Down the Slope podcast told Sky Sports News.

“If Hibs won the game, I’m not going to be disappointed, but yeah, it’s probably at this point in time in the season, not the worst outcome in the world for a Hibs fan if we weren’t to win…

“The manager and the players will want to win the game, they’re professionals, we said as much on the podcast this week.

“I think that’s expected, but at the end of the day, I think rivalry is kind of what makes football tick and makes it so passionate.

“If we lost the game and it meant Hearts didn’t win the league, so be it.

“Six points is a lot in four games to catch a pretty good Motherwell team who have got a lot better goal difference as well.”

O’Neill: It wouldn’t enter their heads

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill understands the intricacies and bitterness of city rivalries in Scotland better than most.

But he also understands how professional football, and how professional footballers operate – with professionalism.

“I hadn’t even thought about it really,” he told Sky Sports News.

“I can understand Hibs fans maybe thinking about that but certainly not the team and the coaching staff.

“Absolutely not. It wouldn’t enter their heads.”

The champions could go level on points with the leaders if they win at Easter Road on Sunday before Hearts host Rangers the following day – live on Sky Sports.

Despite a tumultuous season in which they have had three different managers, a potential 14th title in 15 seasons is now, technically speaking, back in their own hands.

“I think it’s strange, strange around here at this minute for us to be chasing the whole time,” O’Neill added.

“Usually, the league’s over by this stage, but not this season. It’s a big game for us now against Hibs, a really big game.

“It was loud [against Falkirk last weekend], it felt like everyone was pulling in the same direction.

“I thought the atmosphere was really fantastic and the crowd stayed with us as well, too.

“There were moments there where we could have been a wee bit cranky, but at the end of it all, we’d come through the game.

“It reminded me of olden days some time ago, but it was really, really great. It was strong support and the players felt it.

“That was the most important thing. The players felt it, felt as if the crowd were behind them and that was very, very encouraging.”