What's the next step for Gray's Hibs?

Premier Sports Cup quarter-final: Rangers v Hibernian

Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow Date: Saturday, 20 September Time: 17:45 BST

Coverage: Listen to match commentary on Sportsound and follow live text updates on BBC Sport website & app

November last year, a Hibernian side in freefall are a goal up at Dundee as they desperately search for their second Scottish Premiership win of the season.

But, having just gone down to 10 men, the team are in need of tactical instructions from the dugout as they try to haul themselves off the foot of the table.

During a break in play after Jordan Obita's red card, Elie Youan proceeds to show off his keepie-uppie skills at the opposite end of the pitch.

A moment that would be lambasted by John McGinn, Michael Stewart and Marvin Bartley, the former Hibs trio suggested it typified a care-free attitude in David Gray's side, who went on to capitulate in a 4-1 defeat at Dens Park.

In the 10 months since, Gray's men have lost just three league games - but European heartbreak and a stuttering start to the campaign has followed a remarkable recovery to finish third last term.

So, with the chance to book a Premier Sports Cup semi-final place this Saturday at unravelling Rangers, what is the next step for this Hibs team?

Here, BBC Scotland analyses a whirlwind year and looks at how the Leith club can progress.

There is perhaps more Edinburgh optimism bubbling away at city rivals Hearts, who are currently locked level on points with Celtic at the top of the Premiership.

But, despite drawing three of their first four league fixtures, Hibs are still unbeaten in third and have a played a game fewer than the top two.

At the same stage last term, they were looking for their first win on two points.

And by the end of that sobering night in Dundee, they were bottom with just one victory from 13 fixtures.

Gray's men have won 15, drawn 11 and lost just three of their following 29 league matches, including a record-equalling 17-game unbeaten run.

Out of the 10 clubs to have played in the Premiership this term and last, no team has lost fewer fixtures in that period.

Celtic (71) are the only side to have bettered Hibs' points tally of 56 across that spell.

That mirrors the form of Hearts, who played their final five league fixtures last term in the bottom six, and Rangers, who have played two games more over the same time.

Only Celtic boast a better shot conversion rate, while the Premiership champions and Hearts are the only teams to have conceded fewer goals.

And both Old Firm clubs are the only sides with a higher expected goals (xG) tally.

Hibs have also generated the most xG in the league this term despite being one of four teams to have played four games. They have conceded the second lowest xG.

Individual errors were killing Hibs this time last year, with on-loan goalkeeper Josef Bursik responsible for some howlers.

The defence in front of him did not cover themselves in glory either, but a change of shape from a 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2 helped galvanise the side.

Jordan Smith offered a safer pair of hands in goal and Rocky Bushiri resurrected his Hibs career in the middle of the back three.

With Jack Iredale and Warren O'Hora playing either side of Bushiri and twin brothers Chris and Nicky Cadden occupying the wing-back roles, the team were a far more solid unit.

At the top end, a rotating pack including evergreen Martin Boyle, Dwight Gayle, Junior Hoilett and Youan provided threat in attack.

Gray was fortunate enough to keep a hold of the majority of his first-team options, but where there has been change is in midfield.

Failing to bring back Nectarios Triantis was a blow, but Josh Mulligan, Jamie McGrath and Miguel Chaiwa look shrewd additions.

Experienced Scotland defender Grant Hanley has also arrived to boost the defence, while Thibault Klidje was signed for a record fee in a bid to improve the attack.

"They have cover in certain positions now," former Hibs midfielder Scott Allan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Hanley was outstanding for Scotland recently, but he hasn't even been in the starting team because of how good Bushiri's been.

"And Chaiwa, I've seen him now a few times and I think he could be a standout player for Hibs this season.

"So they have cover now and that was the biggest thing this window - could they get guys in who can add to the team? They most certainly have done that."

Instead it has been a more prominent role for Kieron Bowie that has juiced up Hibs' frontline.

The 22-year-old is emerging as one of the stories of the season with four goals already this term, including an absolute wonder strike at home to Partizan Belgrade in Conference League qualifying.

The forward was sensational for Gray's men that evening after leading the line superbly in the away leg.

He did likewise at Legia Warsaw before suffering heartache along with the rest of his team-mates in a gut-wrenching extra-time aggregate defeat, ending their Conference League dream.

Those impressive European efforts demonstrated what Hibs and their young striker are capable of against high-calibre opposition, but they have also played a part in the team's stuttering Premiership start.

Allan says Bowie is now the "focal point of the team" with what his all-round game offers.

He managed to score six goals in just five league starts in an injury-hit campaign last term and already looks integral to Hibs' hopes this term.

A fragile Rangers defence will not be looking forward to facing the centre-forward at what could be a toxic Ibrox on Saturday.

It was Gray's late header against the Govan side that sealed a sensational Scottish Cup triumph in 2016.

With the Easter Road icon now in the dugout, edging closer to the club's first silverware since that famous day with a last-eight win in Glasgow would be a notable next step for this exciting team.