Goram is toast of the fans with a magnificent display

JIM REYNOLDS

25 Mar 1991

WHEN a Hearts crowd rises to acclaim a Hibernian player during an Edinburgh derby then perhaps you should start looking for a blue moon in the sky, a month of Tuesdays, or some other happening from the world of fantasy.

Yet it did happen on Saturday at Tynecastle, where Hearts continued their domination over their old city rivals with a convincing and stylish 3-1 win.

Long after other details of this derby are forgotten, however, the performance of Hibs' goalkeeper, Andy Goram, will remain vivid.

The man who will be Scotland's last line of defence against Bulgaria on Wednesday night was simply magnificent.

It was a display filled with acrobatics, uncanny instinct, courage, and determination.

It saved Hibs from what could probably have been their most humiliating defeat in almost 100 years of Edinburgh derbies.

It also showed that brilliance can overcome bigotry.

How could one ever forget the spontaneous reaction from the Hearts fans five minutes from the end.

Scott Crabbe lashed a glorious volley towards the right-hand corner of the goal but, amazingly, Goram got to it to perform what was his final act of defiance on a day when he almost single-handedly defied Hearts.

After a split second of silent wonder the maroon end of the ground erupted in a long burst of applause as they chanted the keeper's name.

It was a fitting tribute to a very special performance.

"Scotland don't have much of a problem as far as the goalkeeping position for Wednesday is concerned," said Hearts manager Joe Jordan.

"He was quite magnificent.

I just hope there is a wee bit of space in the papers to tell how well we played."

Hearts did perform well -- the best since he took over, admitted the manager.

They were more determined, much higher in confidence and so far ahead of anaemic Hibs in almost every department.

Only Goram stood between them and a goal avalanche.

As it was, all the goals were crammed into a nine-minute spell in the second half, beginning in 56 minutes when Davie McPherson got to an Eamonn Bannon free kick and knocked the ball across the six-yard area for Craig Levein to head home his third goal against Hibs this season.

Four minutes later, immediately after Hibs had made a double substitution, Hearts grabbed a second when young George Wright got the break of the ball off a defender and steered a low drive inside the right-hand post.

Joe Tortolano then raised Hibs hopes with a fine headed goal before Hearts put the issue beyond doubt.

Goram's only mistake of the game saw him lose a cross from John Colquhoun, leaving John Robertson with the simple task of heading the ball into the net.

Hibs just didn't seem to have the stomach to come back again.

Afterwards, Easter Road manager Alex Miller was in no mood to look for excuses.

He said: "We got what we deserved -- we just didn't deserve anything from that game.

Every cross ball had us in trouble and it's about time certain players had a good, hard look at themselves.

"In a derby match you have to want to play, want to compete, and that's why Hearts won.

We carried too many passengers.

"It was galling to see Andy Goram play the way he did and watch others struggle so badly to get into things.

Our goalkeeper was tremendous and so much so that even the Hearts fans showed their appreciation of his talent."

It really is difficult to see where Hibs go from here.

Paul Wright was left with too much to do on his own up front, the midfield was stodgy and unimaginative, and, Goram apart, there was a depressing flatness about their play.

With no money to spare, the difficult thing for Miller is that the solution must come from within.

Said the manager: "After watching that I must now look at our younger players, the ones who have taken the club into the BP Youth Cup final this season.

It's a big step from that level to premier-division football, but some of them may have to be given a chance."

Miller must have the most unenviable job in the league -- no-one is in the seat at St Mirren at the moment -- and there is no easy way to make it more comfortable.

If players do not shoulder their share of responsibility then the job becomes virtually impossible.

How different for Jordan.

He has not had the smoothest of runs since uprooting himself from Bristol City, but he is getting there.

Hearts could again be a force next season.

Taken from the Herald