Hibs’ deadly Finnish thrice breaks Hearts

The black curtains are drawn tight around Gorgie and will be for a while yet. The problem with the inevitable Tynecastle inquest into yesterday’s Hearts disaster is that local rivalry will mean they will be unable to admit the truth; that their team came up against an exhilarating Hibs side in sublime form.

Hibs gave Hearts a goal start, just for fun, and proceeded to dish out a lesson in incisive attacking football. Oh, and a few pointers in the art of finishing. Content with two goals in the first half, they accumulated another four in the second. Mixu Paatelainen completed a hat-trick and Hibs called it a day at six, although you suspect they could have had a few more if they fancied it.

With Rangers at the moment appearing incapable of sustaining the chase of Celtic, Hibs duly kept Martin O’Neill’s team within sight at the top of the SPL. Alex McLeish named the same side as had started against Rangers here last weekend, David Zitelli shaking off the hamstring twinge that had resulted in his substitution after scoring the winner. In theory Hearts also had a positive aspect about them, with a three-man attack of Gordon Durie, Andy Kirk and Juanjo.

In the event Hearts’ plan seemed to be to concentrate most of their attacking endeavours into the opening five minutes. Juanjo had already seen a quick shot saved by Nick Colgan and Gordon Durie had hurled a couple of dangerous long throws at the gargantuan Kevin James before Hearts grabbed a fifth minute goal.

Hibs were still choreographing their defence when Durie, thinking quickly, played a pass out to Steve Fulton on the left. His cross was treated with disdain by the Hibs defenders and flicked in with grateful alacrity by Andy Kirk.

The setback was a test of Hibs’ true class. They responded perfectly, indicative of a gulf between the teams that is about more than talent, but also encompasses morale and attitude.

Alumni from both clubs had distinguished themselves over the weekend. Gary Naysmith set up Everton’s winning goal at St James’s Park on Saturday, and Kenny Miller scored an excellent goal for Rangers in Perth. Hearts though still look a side grievously wounded by the gaps in the defence left by the illustrious departures. Hibs have shrugged off the loss of Miller and reshaped their attack competently.

Hibs quickly exerted their dominance in terms of possession but at first were slow to create chances.

After 22 minutes Paatelainen seized on the first opportunity, latching on to an angled pass from Russell Latapy and attempting a devious chip that Antti Niemi did well to tip over.

Hibs had the ball in the net from the resulting corner, but Hugh Dallas, back officiating at a proper football match after slumming it at the midweek Barcelona v AC Milan tie in the Champions League, spotted some pushing from Paatelainen and awarded the free-kick.

Hibs remained positive and confident, even when Stuart Lovell and Latapy dragged shots wide when in excellent scoring positions. Hearts’ opportunities were restricted to an opportunistic shot from Durie after a slip from Gary Smith.

Otherwise the traffic was one-way. Hibs were rewarded with an equaliser three minutes before half-time. Lovell managed a flick at Latapy’s cross, the ball bounced off Steven Pressley and fell invitingly for Paatelainen to drive it into the roof of the net from seven yards.

Within a couple of minutes Hibs had the lead, again profiting from Hearts’ inability to cope with a well-directed cross. Zitelli swung a corner from the right into the Hearts six yard box. Pressley’s attempted clearance was headed back down by Ulrik Laursen, and Paatelainen showed that age hasn’t affected his predatory instincts by poking the ball over the line from three feet. Paatelainen celebrated with an elephantine somersault that must have caused hefty subsidence in the west stand.

Jim Jefferies’ already less-than-placid demeanour took on a stormy aspect as his players hurried past him to the dressing-room. Whatever he said at the interval had little immediate effect. Within seven minutes of the restart, Hibs had a third.

The goal was initiated by some neat and incisive midfield play from John O’Neil, Laursen and Latapy, switching possession swiftly on the left. Latapy played a precise through ball behind Pressley, and Zitelli, timing his run, directed it beneath the onrushing Niemi.

Jefferies sent on Gary McSwegan and Darren Jackson, but by now Hibs were hitting a purple patch. John O’Neil demonstrated the confidence coursing through the side, with a series of deft flicks, back-heels and neat cross-passes, greeted with exultant "olés" from the Hibs supporters.

O’Neil set up the fourth with another sublime cross. Latapy and Hugh Dallas played a neat one-two in midfield before Latapy directed a sweet pass out to O’Neil on the right. Paatelainen defied his ample poundage to rush into the middle where he met the cross with graceless effectiveness to secure the hat-trick.

"We want seven," sang the Hibs fans of ‘73 vintage. Hearts were looking ragged enough to make it a likely prospect. Zitelli, breaking clear down the right, looked certain to score, only to see Niemi foil him with a brave save.

Mere postponement of the inevitable. O’Neil, looking more Argentinian every minute, smacked in the fifth, exploiting another Hearts failure to clear a corner, sidestepping a challenge and driving his shot into the roof of the net.

Hearts were dead and waiting to be buried. Latapy exchanged one-twos with Paatelainen and volleyed home number six. The game had taken on the nature of cruel, unusual punishment.

The fans’ demands for seven were not met. Instead, Hearts were allowed a late consolation, well-taken by Colin Cameron. 6-2 seems to be the fashionable derby scoreline this season, although for Hearts, it was a very small mercy indeed.

The Teams:

Hibernian: Colgan, Lauresen, G Smith, Fenwick, Lovell, Sauzee, Jack (Andrews), J O’Neil, Latapy, Zitelli, Paatelainen.

Hearts: Niemi, Flogel, Pressley, James, Fulton, Petric, Cameron, Tomascheck, Kirk, Durie, Juanjo.

Taken from the Scotsman