Hibernian defender Jason Kerr has accepted personal responsibility for a costly derby defeat after the team's 3-1 loss to Hearts at Easter Road on Thursday night. The born-and-bred Hibs fan acknowledged the fans' right to leave early after a self-destructive performance saw a two-goal lead surrendered, as reported by the Daily Record Football.
The result leaves David Gray's side sitting seventh in the Scottish Premiership, with six points from their opening four games. Their form reads two wins and two losses, having scored six goals but conceded seven for a negative goal difference. They now face a significant gap, sitting six points behind early leaders Celtic.
What went wrong in the derby?
Hibs started the second half brightly and looked the better team, according to Kerr. However, the match turned after Jack Iredale received a second yellow card and was sent off after 62 minutes. Just four minutes later, Josh McPake scored Hearts' third goal to seal the win. Kerr admitted his own error was central to that decisive strike. "It’s not ideal but I think a lot of damage was done before we went down to 10 men," the defender said.
This defensive collapse was part of a worrying pattern. Just a week prior, Hibs threw away a 2-1 lead in the final ten minutes of their UEFA Europa Conference League play-off defeat to Gent. The derby defeat also marked a third consecutive loss to their city rivals, compounding the frustration for supporters who headed for the exits before full-time.
What did Jason Kerr say about the performance?
The centre-back, a boyhood Hibs supporter, did not shy away from criticism. He stated the team was simply not good enough on the night and understood the fan reaction. "Yes, 100 per cent. We’ve let them down really. They've got every right to leave," Kerr said. Manager David Gray had told the players at half-time that Hearts had been better in every department, a assessment Kerr did not dispute.
He acknowledged the team needs to cut out defensive mistakes that have become a recurring theme. While he felt the team dug in during the second half, he also pointed out they should have taken more of their chances when they were on top. The immediate focus shifts to halting this negative run of results.
What is next for Hibernian?
The squad must regroup quickly for a trip to face St Johnstone in Perth this Sunday. With Rocky Bushiri currently sidelined, defensive solidity will be a priority for Gray. The full squad list shows the options available as they look to bounce back.
Looking further ahead, the next Edinburgh derby is already on the calendar for December 27th, an away fixture against a Hearts side currently sitting third in the standings. Before that, a consistent run of results is needed to climb the table. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page. The next match is against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday.
