The Preview: Hibernian and Aberdeen in the spotlight on cup quarter-final weekend as fed-up fans pile pressure on the men in charge

In a strange sort of way, David Gray and Stephen Robinson have actually done pretty well to make it to the middle of September before having to face up to uncomfortable questions about their future.

After all, supporters from both clubs have been asking them amongst themselves since before the first Premiership ball was booted in anger a little over a month ago.

Managers can survive dressing room revolts and boardroom sceptics. But when the fans turn, it’s nigh-on impossible to get them back on side.

Yet in the case of the men currently in charge of Hibernian and Aberdeen respectively, that’s the challenge staring them right in the face ahead of the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final weekend.

In all likelihood, defeat for either today won’t be enough to see anyone lose their job. And nor should it.

Both have more than enough credit in the bank to be given the time to get things right. Whether the fed-up punters are willing to give it to them is another matter entirely.

GRAY SEARCHING FOR CONSISTENCY 

On paper, a trip to a third-tier side with a spot at Hampden on the line should present a perfect opportunity for Hibs to get back on track.

You suspect Gray won’t quite see it that way, however, given the way Ross County have started.

Stuart Kettlewell’s men appear to have shrugged off the shambles that was last season, losing just once in all competitions going into this weekend.

Gray would give his right arm for anything like that sort of consistency. And therein lies the problem. You just never know quite what you are going to get from his team. It must drive the manager up the wall.

Hibs were outstanding in the Europa Conference League against Gent before things fell apart late on. The way in which they recovered from that heartbreaking loss up with a 2-0 win up at Dens Park a few days later was arguably even more impressive.

But old habits seem hard to shake. Ill-discipline at the business end of last season cost them dearly in their bid to hunt down Motherwell, and Jack Iredale’s needless red card in the Edinburgh derby handed Hearts the initiative their hosts had worked so hard to wrestle back off them after a slow start.

The reaction — or rather, the lack of it — in last weekend’s loss to St Johnstone was inexcusable, by the manager’s own admission.

Gray has been under scrutiny before. Let’s not forget, he won just one of his first 14 league games in charge before guiding the team on a remarkable 17-match unbeaten run on their way to finishing third.

‘I was in a different situation then,’ he said yesterday. ‘I’m two years down the line going into my third season so it’s a very different way of looking at it than me just being in the door as a first-time manager.

‘Would I have expected (the criticism) to come on quicker now because we’re a bit more settled and we’ve had time to do things? Naturally.

‘I’m not averse to criticism, I’m not shying away from it, I’m certainly not put off by it in terms of feeling sorry for myself. If anything, it’s the opposite.’

You can’t accuse him of having the blinkers on, at least.

DONS ‘DETERMINED’ TO CHANGE OUTLOOK 

The boos which followed Aberdeen’s players and staff off the pitch after last weekend’s 0-0 draw against Kilmarnock last weekend rather succinctly summed up the feeling at Pittodrie these days.

Robinson threw around words like ‘tired’ and ‘lethargic’ when describing his players’ performance. He was being quite kind. They were rank rotten. Just as they have been for most of this season.

Yes, there are 14 new players in the door. And yes, the fixture list hasn’t been kind to them. But the bottom line is that performances haven’t been anywhere near good enough.

‘You get criticism when you don’t win football matches,’ said Robinson. ‘You have to be big enough to take that, strong enough to take that and try to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

‘The boys are extremely determined to progress in the cup and change the outlook.’

To do that, Aberdeen will need to beat a top-flight side on the road for the first time since last December.

Their away woes can’t be laid squarely at the door of Robinson. But, worryingly, things haven’t improved since his arrival in March.

Today’s visit to Rugby Park is the first of three testing away fixtures on the trot, with Motherwell and Hibernian to come in the next seven days.

Even at this stage, it feels like a huge week for Robinson.