David Gray cut a dejected figure at McDiarmid Park on Sunday as Hibernian slumped to another damaging defeat, this time against St Johnstone, extending a miserable run that has left supporters questioning the head coach's future.
It is a stark turnaround for Gray, who just ten days earlier had been on the verge of steering Hibs into uncharted territory in Europe. His side were six minutes from reaching the league phase of the Conference League against Gent before a late collapse saw them eliminated at the final hurdle for a second consecutive year.
Since then, results have gone from bad to worse. A win over Dundee offered brief respite, but Hibs then lost the first Edinburgh derby of the season to bitter rivals Hearts at Easter Road. A victory over St Johnstone would have lifted spirits after that setback, but instead Hibs produced what was widely described as a lifeless display in Perth, falling to defeat and leaving fans venting their frustration at Gray and his squad.
The defeat means Hibs have now failed to win any of their last 18 league matches when conceding first — a damning statistic that underlines the fragility gripping the squad.
Both St Johnstone goals stemmed from costly individual errors. Summer signing Jason Kerr, a boyhood Hibs fan who once captained St Johnstone to a cup double, allowed Josh Fowler a simple close-range finish, while captain Martin Boyle — substituted at half-time — conceded a clear penalty with a clumsy challenge in the box.
Speaking after the match, Gray did not shy away from accountability. "The manner in which we lost the two goals today summed up our first-half performance," he told BBC Sport Scotland. "We were nowhere near aggressive enough to stop the ball coming into the box. We were very passive, gambling and guessing in the box rather than staying goal side. Then, we give away a needless penalty which you just can't do. You can't give two goals away like that and not come under criticism for it and I know that's my responsibility."
The performance has fuelled wider concerns about Hibs' identity under Gray. Former Scotland defender Charlie Mulgrew, speaking on Premier Sports, said he struggled to identify any clear pattern of play. "When I watch Hibs, I don't know how they're trying to score goals, I don't know what they're trying to do," Mulgrew said. "That's the first time I've watched St Johnstone this season and I can clearly see what they're doing. Hibs are scratching for something. It's not like they're going, 'this is our style, this is what we're doing.' They completely changed the midfield on Thursday, they made two changes at half-time against St Johnstone, I don't see what they're trying to do."
On-loan Stoke City striker Nathan Lowe did register his first Scottish Premiership goal, but the 20-year-old has otherwise struggled to make an impact since arriving at Easter Road. Hibs' defensive issues were compounded when Grant Hanley limped off with a hip problem, adding to a growing injury list that already includes Jordan Obita, who came off with a calf issue against Hearts, and new arrival Marko Ivezic, who was not yet ready to feature after joining on deadline day.
The departure of commanding defender Warren O'Hora to Leicester has also been keenly felt, arriving just a year after the club lost forward Kieron Bowie.
Despite the mounting pressure, Gray insisted he retains the backing of his squad. "I still have the group and I believe I will be able to show the players why I think this can turn very quickly," he said.
Hibs face Ross County in the League Cup quarter-finals on Saturday before back-to-back home league fixtures against Kilmarnock and Aberdeen — matches that now look pivotal in determining whether Gray can arrest the slide.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.