Hearts 0 Hibernian 3

By Simon Buckland, PA Sport

Hibernian made short work of their Edinburgh rivals at Tynecastle with two sharp first-half finishes from Dirk Lehmann and Franck Sauzee leaving Hearts labouring.

The visitors, recording their first win across the capital for five years, moved ahead through Lehmann after 18 minutes and nine minutes later doubled their early advantage.

French midfielder Sauzee let fly from 25 yards to put Hibernian firmly in the driving seat and after that there was never any prospect of them being steered off course.

In injury-time the victory margin was made more emphatic when substitute Kenny Miller raced clear to slot in a third to leave home manager Jim Jefferies with much to ponder.

With more resources at his disposal than anyone else outside the Old Firm, Jefferies knows third place and a UEFA spot has to be achievable - but right now his players are failing to respond.

Antti Niemi lined-up for his Hearts debut after his £400,000 switch from Rangers was completed on Sunday and the Finnish international was joined by fellow debutant Fitzroy Simpson.

Hibernian recalled Lehmann to the fold with Kenny Miller dropping to the bench as both teams sought to improve on the inconsistent form which has left them mid-table.

The visitors were the first to threaten, Tom Smith making ground on the left before crossing for another Finn Mixu Paatelainen to head wide of goal.

After 16 minutes, Simpson's first positive contribution saw a fine deep cross to the far post which Stephane Adam took on the volley forcing Nick Colgan into an alert low save.

But two minutes later it was Hibernian who moved ahead after Russell Latapy played the ball into the feet of Lehmann whose fierce low drive surprised Niemi.

Moments later, Lehmann, who has struggled to settle since his summer arrival from Fulham, soured his night by crashing into Steven Pressley to earn an instant booking.

Hearts came close to levelling on 23 minutes when Gary Naysmith's cross from the left picked out Darren Jackson but he sent his header over the bar.

Again however it was Hibernian who struck, a Grant Brebner dragback only half-cleared and Sauzee rifling the ball in from distance with a stunning strike to make it 2-0.

A Stuart Lovell burst forward might have resulted in a Hibs' third as his pass released Lehmann again, but his angled shot was well-held by new recruit Niemi.

It was Scotland international Colin Cameron who made Hearts' next opening out of nothing, creating time and space for himself and testing Colgan from 25 yards.

Hearts continued to press forward ahead of the break, Simpson blasting a free kick which Colgan needed two attempts to gather - but Hibs held firm without further scares.

The home team made a double switch at the break, Kevin James replacing the injured Pressley and Simpson surprisingly withdrawn for an extra forward in Gary Wales.

Hearts made a scrappy start to the second-half, but one Stevie Fulton surge did set up Fabien Leclercq for a drilled shot narrowly wide of the mark.

Spanish winger Juanjo joined the action just after the hour mark, yet Hibs produced a special moment when Sauzee's skill released Latapy who nutmegged Gordan Petric but dragged his effort wide.

At the other end, Petric then managed a header wide from a Fulton corner, though it was the visitors who were now looking the more assured side.

Cameron flicked a header wide from a precise Juanjo cross on 70 minutes, while Jackson also came close with a diving lunge at a Fulton cross which drifted just off-target.

Colgan was proving on form in the Hibernian goal and was at his best to deny Cameron again in the 80th minute _ the visitors' response a deft Latapy chip inches over the bar.

Clearly Hibernian had the confidence to seek a third with substitute Miller, on for Lehmann, curling an effort past the post with the outside of his foot.

In injury-time a break of the ball favoured Miller and the youngster raced through to finish matters with some composure for a resounding final scoreline.

Colgan produced a wonder save in the closing moments to preserve Hibernian's clean sheet, denying Cameron from close range, to ensure nothing spoiled the visiting fans' mood.

Teams:

Hearts: Niemi, Naysmith, Pressley (James 45), Petric, Leclercq (Juanjo 61), Severin, Cameron, Simpson (Wales 45), Jackson, Fulton, Adam.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Murray.

Booked: Petric.

Hibernian: Colgan, Collins, Hughes, Dennis, Smith, Brebner, Sauzee, Latapy (Bannerman 84), Paatelainen, Lovell (McGinlay 81), Lehmann (Miller 78).

Subs Not Used: Gottskalksson, Jack.

Booked: Lehmann, Paatelainen.

Goals: Lehmann 18, Sauzee 27, Miller 90.

Att: 17,954

Ref: Willie Young (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com