A capital show from Hearts

RAY HEPBURN

3 Jan 1991

Hibernian 1, Hearts 4

HEARTS sent Hibernian stumbling into the new year with a numbing defeat and the Tynecastle club now occupy a place in the top half of the premier division for the first time this season.

Hibs' difficulties in front of goal this season have been extensively analysed, but last night there was bad luck to consider when they were missing chances.

However that is the rut from which they must escape, and Hearts did not assist them by underlining, and taking a stage further, their considerable recent improvement.

It took only eight minutes for Hearts to establish a crucial lead.

John Colquhoun's cross broke to Tosh McKinlay 30-yards from goal, and the former Dundee player drilled his first goal of the season low behind Andy Goram.

Four minutes later the first of many Hibs opportunities was scorned when Billy Findlay was allowed into the box by Jim Sandison's slack passback.

However, the youngster carried the ball too close to the byeline and the chance was lost.

That was to turn out to be vital two minutes later when a Scott Crabbe free kick broke kindly for McPherson six-yards from Goram's goal, and the Scotland keeper watched in anguish as the defender's shot on the turn took a cruel deflection on its way into the net.

Neil Berry rattled the Hibs crossbar after 26 minutes as the roof threatened to fall in on the bottom-of-the-table club, but Paul Wright raised some optimism for them with a shot 60 seconds later which smacked against a post.

Hearts were emphasising their recent improvement with some splendid passing, but there was a touch of calamity about their third goal three minutes from the interval.

Goram was tempted off his line by a McKinlay chip, and in going for the ball on the edge of the area with John Robertson, he could only knock it out to Gary Mackay.

One touch to control the ball and another to find the empty net was all the midfield player required.

Paul Kane pushed up front to try to aid Hibs frontline, and he lobbed the ball just too high in 50 minutes after Brian Hamilton had released him.

Hibs misery continued in 62 minutes when Pat McGinlay was sent off for a foul on Crabbe.

However, there was just consolation for the home team in 69 minutes when Mackay could only rifle the ball behind Smith, as Kane made position to make contact with Hamilton's return pass.

Hibs joy was short lived for a minute later, Berry headed a Colquhoun cross down to Levein, and the defender sent a left-foot shot into Goram's net.

HIBERNIAN -- Goram, Miller, Milne, Kane, Mitchell, MacLeod, Lennon, Wright, Findlay, Hamilton, McGinley.

Substitutes -- Tortolano, Houchen.

HEARTS -- Smith, Sandison, McKinlay, Levein, Mackay, McPherson, Colquhoun, Berry, Crabbe, Ferguson, Robertson.

Substitutes -- McLaren, Foster.

Referee -- J Duncan (Gorebridge).

Taken from the Herald