Gray switches focus to Celtic after setback at Motherwell

There's a price to be paid for admission to the upper echelons of the Scottish Premiership.

- by John Greechan

And it's not a one-off fee. As Hibs are discovering.Oh sure, you can trade a gutsy performance for a day ticket. Invest a little more to have a mini-break in among the elite. But actually maintaining a position inside, for example, the top three? That requires something more substantial.

To be blunt, anyone wanting to hang around the fringes of the SPFL title race must prove that they belong. Every single day. They can enjoy the seat in first class. But they must present their ticket for inspection with maddening regularity.

As David Gray prepares his team to take on reigning champions Celtic at Easter Road this weekend, he'll certainly be seeking an upgrade on the performance at Fir Park on Tuesday night. The way Hibs crumbled in the opening 20 minutes or so is a major concern for a manager who consistently credits his players with mental fortitude and solid organisational skills.