Hibs reaction: 'Perfect' debut hailed, 'embarrassing' Dundee United

“Obviously strikers want to score goals and there’s no better feeling than doing that," said Gray after the dramatic 3-2 win over Dundee United. "It was the perfect debut in terms of coming on and impacting the game and scoring the winner. On a personal note for him I am really pleased for him.

“I am delighted for everyone,” he added. “All the new players that came in and were quickly thrown into that situation. What I am looking forward to this week is getting more time on the grass with the group and try and bed in more ideas. We found a way to win the game when we were not at our best. I know there’s more to come.”

After a busy last few days of the transfer window, Hibs gave full debuts to three players in the starting XI – Munashe Garananga, Felix Passlack and Dane Scarlett, who came on as a substitute in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Rangers. While they all impressed to a degree, it was Suto who stole the show with his headed winner three minutes into seven minutes of added time at the end.

Fellow substitute Nicky Cadden was the architect, as he was for Elie Youan’s equaliser with two minutes left. The wing-back set up both goals from free kicks to turn the game on its head. United had taken the lead with ten minutes left after scoring twice in seven minutes, both goals coming from Kristijan Trapanovski corners. The first was thrashed in by Ross Graham after Jack Iredale tried to clear, the second was a header from substitute Max Watters.

“It is a massive three points at the end of the day, very much a tale of set pieces at the end for both teams," reflected Gray. "Brilliant character, great to go right to the very end. Obviously there’s a lot of improvement to come. But there’s a lot to work with and be positive about. We are not getting carried away. We need to keep improving.”

As for Suto, signed as recently as Monday from Croatian side Slaven Belupo, the manager said it was the perfect way for the Croatian-Australian to introduce himself to his new teammates. “He’s in the dressing room and everyone is rightly congratulating him on his debut," Gray revealed. "Because that’s what you want to do. You want to impact the game. All the subs did that. Nicky came on and everyone knows about his fantastic delivery. The frustration is how we lost a couple of goals as well. A lot to work on. But the biggest thing is we won the game and we can look forward to the derby now.”

United manager Jim Goodwin described the manner of the late collapse as “embarrassing” as he struggled to contain his frustration when summing up his team’s display.

He said: “It’s very hard to analyse the game other than to talk about the embarrassment and the anger that I feel at this moment in time for the way that my team capitulated in the dying moments to give Hibs the three points.

“I don’t think anybody wants to hear me talking about the performance.

“Arguably it’s probably the best we’ve played for six or seven weeks but that’s irrelevant because we’ve dropped points yet again from a winning position. That’s what’s cost us in the league and that’s why we find ourselves in the position that we’re in.

“Defensively we’ve not been good enough. It’s impossible for the need to score two or three goals every week to win games of football. Sometimes you have to grind out results and win ugly and a 1-0 horrible win from time to time is a good result.

“It’s embarrassing, that’s what it is. It’s embarrassing. The backline that’s there, the defenders, the goalkeeper, somebody needs to take responsibility in those moments.

“That’s what good defenders do, they put their bodies on the line, they make sure that it’s them getting first contact on the header, someone willing to take responsibility in those situations.

“The first shot on target that Hibs have had ends up in the back of our net. I think they’ve had three shots on target over the course of the game and all three of them have ended up in the back of our net. Defensively pathetic at times.”