Draw means Tynecastle has been saved from a fire of fury

Brian Meek
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27 Dec 2000

This was the antidote to all that gooey season of goodwill; a Derby as raw as the weather, a no-tackles barred battle which was always crisp and ultimately even.

The Maroons and Greens slogged it out while the respective managers danced in the dug-outs, roaring instructions that rarely appeared heeded.

Hibs needed at least a point to keep their second place in the Premier.

They are still there, hanging not so much by a thread as by the power of prayer.

Hearts needed to wipe out the memory of that dire night at Easter Road the last time the teams met.

The faithful could not have stomached another 6-2, they might have razed Tynecastle to the ground.

Mind you, that appears to be the ultimate hope of chief executive Chris Robinson, who would like to take the Jambos to a green-field site far away from Gorgie.

With large sections of the Hearts support he would give King Herod a race in a contest for most unpopular ruler of all time.

His dreams for a purpose-built stadium have been cruelly dubbed the thoughts of ''Pie Man in the sky.'' In the build-up to any home game at Tynecastle, the stirring song ''Hearts, Hearts, Glorious Hearts'' blares out, and heaven help any director caught miming.

Chairman Douglas Smith was giving it laldy, along from him in the front row, Leslie Deans, a former board member who would happily eliminate his successors joined.

Franck Sauzee, the Hibernian captain and Leith's answer to Charles Aznavour, trotted up for the toss-up sporting a pair of bright green gloves.

You couldn't quite imagine Eddie Turnbull thus attired.

Hearts, of course, are under new management, Jim Jefferies having been replaced by former playing favourite Craig Levein.

With his rimless glasses and smart attire, he looks as though he might have come from a firm of accountants rather than Cowdenbeath.

Craig told us, modestly, that he had a good record in derby matches.

In 14 years as a player, Hibs were only triumphant twice.

His players were desperate to improve on the recent record against their city rivals.

That much was apparent from the opening minute when Scott Severin clattered into Ulrik Laursen.

The same Hibs player was promptly felled by Steven Pressley.

When Pressley next downed Lyndon Andrews referee Willie Young played his first yellow card.

An inane charge by Gary Locke on Russell Latapy produced another.

Andrews and Latapy are Hibs' West Indian section and are possessors of much skill; this, presumably, is why they are booed every time they touch the ball.

The first-half thundered on with the 17,691 spectators making enough noise for double that number.

Hearts' Gary McSwegan had a fierce shot that bounced over off Sauzee's head, though the Frenchman knew little about it.

Steve Fulton, who always gives his all, wormed his way into Hibs' box, but the danger was scrambled away.

Unfortunately for him, Fulton was caught out at the other end.

A truly majestic pass from Laursen sliced open the home defence and Stuart Lovell crept up on Fulton's blindside to whack it in.

So Hearts turned a goal down, though they were 11-3 ahead in the foul count.

Three Hibernian Santa Clauses spent the interval consuming pies though this observer was not close enough to spot the variety.

For the first quarter of the second half Hibs had chances to sew it up.

Mathias Jack was clean through, Zitelli wasted an opportunity, Latapy drew a fine save from Antti Niemi.

Then Hearts sent on Juanjo, Hibs had to take off the injured Laursen, and the game changed completely, the tide was flowing the other way.

The little Spaniard had obviously been itching to get off the bench and began to torment Hibs down the right, where Ian Murray struggled.

Pressley was increasing in stature as the match progressed and visiting attacks were being easily repulsed.

Now the discipline began to falter in the Hibs' ranks.

Andrew was booked for a foul on Juanjo, while Mixu Paatelainen foolishly took on the referee in an argument from which there could only be one winner.

Alex McLeish knew he would have to settle for a point, and so it proved.

Both sets of supporters could at least take some comfort.

However, in truth, the result would be most welcome at Ibrox, and even more so at Parkhead.

In Scottish football, some things never change.

Taken from the Herald