Mark's Dutch master-class

IF Mark de Vries had been harbouring any concerns about winning over the Hearts support, then the striker can rest easy following his sensational four-goal haul in the first Edinburgh derby of the season.

It may have taken the former Dordrecht front man a while to earn the tag of fans favourite at his old club but the Dutchman has become an instant hero with the Gorgie faithful following yesterday’s scoring exploits at Tynecastle.

The 6ft. 4in. hit-man terrorised the Hibs defence from the first whistle and wrote himself into the history books as the Jambos roared to their biggest win over their fierce rivals in living memory. Finding the target once in a derby can endear a player to the fans. But four goals in a 5-1 rout and De Vries can now expect the freedom of Gorgie after his dazzling home debut.

The striker was making his first start for Hearts after coming off the bench in the SPL opener at Dundee last weekend. He had seen his pre-season hit by injury, a hamstring problem keeping him on the sidelines throughout the tour of Finland.

Boss Craig Levein was delighted when he successfully completed the transfer of the powerful target man in the summer, particularly with Ricardo Fuller leaving when his contract expired.

The news that the Jamaican had found the target for his new club Preston against Crystal Palace on the opening day of the Nationwide League season would not have helped.

But now those same fans will be saying: "Ricardo who?"

De Vries may have been an unknown when he arrived but his derby-day demolition of the Hibees will ensure his name is remembered for a long time to come around Gorgie Road.

The Dutch ace had his first glimpse of Hearts when he saw the home game against Motherwell last year on television and was left suitably impressed by a stunning solo effort from Fuller.

If the Jamaican has seen footage from yesterday’s clash which was screened live by the BBC, he will no doubt have been equally impressed by his successor.

De Vries was simply awesome in attack and when you consider he is still well short of proper match fitness, there appear to be many more goals left in those giant boots.

Levein was confident his new signing would make a big impression in the game in this country but he could not have foreseen the dramatic events which unfolded in front of 15,245 fans and millions of TV viewers.

There have been many players who have worn the famous No. 9 jersey with distinction over the years at Tynecastle, none more so than striking legend John Robertson.

The penalty box king, now forging a successful coaching career for himself at Livingston, rattled in 26 goals against Hibs in his career. He never managed a hat-trick, though, which underlines De Vries’ achievement yesterday, the Dutch star the first Hearts player to score three goals or more in derby encounters.

The towering front man benefited from excellent service from the flanks, with the likes of Steven Boyack, Alan Maybury and the impressive Jean-Louis Valois supplying plenty of ammunition for him.

"I think Mark would be the first to thank his team-mates for the service they gave him," said Levein. "This was a dream for him - nobody could seriously think that could be possible. But he has made people aware of what type of player he is, how effective he can be and from now on its going to be harder for him.

"But I was delighted for him."

The goal which set the hosts on their way to a famous triumph, though, arrived via the old route one method. Antti Niemi’s long clearance was missed by both De Vries and Gary Smith and Andy Kirk was on to the ball in a flash before keeping his cool to lob Tony Caig with 18 minutes on the clock.

As well as unearthing in De Vries the kind of striker which brings a new dimension to Hearts, Levein appears to have also snapped up a real talent on the left-hand side of the park in Valois.

The Frenchman was in irresistable form as he provided the catalyst for much of the Jambos’ forward play and the pair combined superbly for Hearts’ second, not long after Scott Severin had seen a header hit the bar.

Valois gathered possession on the left before cutting inside. He looked up and flicked a great ball over the Hibees defence and there was De Vries to chest the ball down and smash home his first goal for the club.

The Easter Road keeper, in fact, kept his side in the match two minutes later when he saved at full stretch from the Dutchman.

Six minutes after the break and the visitors halved the deficit, Ian Murray charging in to head home a cross from Grant Brebner, the midfielder having had to come off the bench early in the first period after his skipper John O’Neil suffered a shoulder injury.

Minutes after Caig had brilliantly tipped over a shot from Kirk, De Vries restored his side’s two-goal lead when he stroked home No.3 after’s Caig had done well to block Valois’ drive.

With 69 minutes on the clock, Hibs were denied what looked a clear penalty when De Vries brought down Brebner. However, Mike McCurry saw it differently and ignored the visitors’ pleas.

De Vries had been struggling with cramp in both his calf muscles during the second half but he still had enough running left in him to blast two more goals in injury time.

His historic hat-trick arrived in the 90th minute when Paul McMullan - the young winger was forced to slot in at left-back after replacing the limping Stephane Mahe on the hour mark - picked him out in the box and the striker stepped inside Mark Dempsie before lifting the ball over the adancing Caig.

That sent the home fans wild with joy and just when they thought things couldn’t get any better, that man De Vries did it again.

This time Gary Wales was the provider after a weak header out from Gary Smith, the front man playing a cross in to the back post where De Vries rose to head the ball back across Caig and into the far corner of his net.

For the fans, this was as good as it gets and suitable revenge for the 6-2 defeat at Easter Road two years ago. Many no doubt took advantage of the pubs’ extended Festival opening hours in the Capital. As the hangovers begin to subside the supporters will be looking forward to seeing more of their star attraction.

Levein was looking for a win yesterday to build on the opening-day draw at Dundee. And while he achieved that, the confidence the team will surely take from such a triumph may well be worth much more than the three points which were won in such stunning style.

Taken from the Scotsman