David Gray and Wouter Vrancken's reaction to Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian being drawn together in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final could hardly be more contrasting. For Gray, a veteran of Edinburgh derbies as a player and head coach, not forgetting his winning goal for Hibs in the 2016 Scottish Cup final against Rangers, it is "a brilliant opportunity" and one that has "a bit more spice to it" because of the opposition. For Vrancken, who joined Hearts from his hometown club of Sint-Truiden this summer, it will simply be "nice for the fans" to be facing their bitter rivals.
It will be interesting to hear the Belgian's thoughts once he has experienced his first trip to Hampden Park - and a first-ever League Cup semi-final between the sides. Hibs boss Gray sees chance to 'put right' poor home form Vrancken on Scotland squad, cup derby & facing Falkirk Gray on Edinburgh derby semi-final, Hanley return & Kilmarnock Not that Vrancken is without trophy winning experience, having lifted the Belgian Cup in charge of Mechelen in 2019. The 47-year-old also already has an Edinburgh derby victory behind him, his Hearts side having won 3-1 in the Scottish Premiership at Easter Road earlier this month.
However, he was not letting himself get caught up with cup fever so soon after Sunday's draw, stressing that Tuesday's next league match is his priority at present. "Looking forward to it for sure," he did admit. "But the only thing we are thinking of now is Falkirk." Vrancken did not think facing Hibs in a semi-final was an extra "carrot" as his players had already shown their determination in turning a four-game losing streak at the start of his tenure into a nine-game unbeaten run, winning the latest four.
"It is nice for the fans that it's an Edinburgh derby," he said. "Either way, we want to win a semi-final, but when you look too far ahead, you don't see the things that are in front of you." Neither was Vrancken willing to accept that Scottish champions Celtic's exit at the hands of their city rivals, Rangers, who face Aberdeen in the other semi-final, made the destination of the trophy in December's final any more open. "In any cup, in a Scottish cup, a Belgian cup, wherever it is, every team can win depending on the performance on the day," he stressed.
While Hearts eased aside Championship leaders Stenhousemuir 3-0 on Friday, Hibs also avoided a possible cup shock of their own the following day when beating League 1 favourites Ross County by the same scoreline. It was a welcome boost for Gray given pressure was beginning to mount following a run of one win in five outings, including a Conference League exit and that derby loss. "It will be a brilliant game to look forward to," the 38-year-old Scot said.
"The stadium will be packed out. I think, no matter who you get in the semi-final, if you look at the four teams that were left, it was always going to be a brilliant atmosphere in any of the games. "The fact that you've got an Edinburgh derby definitely adds a little bit more spice to it.
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