Hibernian 1 Hearts 0

By Lisa Gray, PA Sport

A last-minute Garry O'Connor strike gave Hibernian manager Bobby Williamson his first derby win since taking over at Easter Road despite his team having been reduced to 10 men.

Grant Brebner had been shown a straight red card for a challenge on Robert Sloan in the first half of a game filled with plenty of action.

Derby games are, by their very nature, fiery affairs and there was no doubt that there was plenty at stake for both Edinburgh clubs.

Hibs headed into the game in the knowledge that Williamson had failed in every previous attempt to defeat their city rivals since his arrival at Easter Road and the most recent disappointment was still fresh in the memory after Hearts clinched the first ever Festival Cup just a few weeks ago.

Hearts meanwhile are under pressure to retain their crown of Scotland's third best team, outside the Old Firm, and both teams headed into the game determined to maintain their 100% league records.

The previous meeting between the two sides amounted to little more than a pre-season friendly but the fierce rivalry between the two sides was evident even then when Hibs striker Tom McManus and Hearts defender Austin McCann became embroiled in an on-field wrestling match.

Referee Stuart Dougal appeared keen to show early on that he was not willing to tolerate such behaviour but, at times, the official was guilty of being too severe with his punishment.

Dougal flashed the first yellow card when the game was just three minutes old and set the tone for the remainder of the match.

Mathias Doumbe was cautioned for handling the ball before Hearts' Scott Severin followed him into the book for a foul a few minutes later and Alen Orman, McManus and Andy Webster all found their way into his book before the end of the first half.

But the harshest decision came when Brebner was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Sloan shortly before half-time - sparking an ugly incident at the interval when a Hibs supporter came onto the pitch in an attempt to exact his own punishment on the referee.

In terms of football there was plenty of entertainment too.

Hibs should have opened the scoring after 21 minutes. Derek Riordan's short pass was met by Jarkko Wiss and the Finn unleashed a thunderous shot which looked certain to find the back of the net but fell just wide of the upright instead.

Riordan had an opportunity himself to open the scoring a few minutes later when Yannick Zambernardi picked him out with a long ball and the young striker forced Tepi Moilanen into a decent save to block the shot.

Hearts' chances in front of goal had been more limited but they could have snatched the opener when Severin flighted a cross into the box in an attempt to pick out Mark de Vries at the far post. However goalkeeper Daniel Andersson beat the Dutchman to the ball and managed to punch clear.

The match threatened to boil over after 36 minutes when Brebner was shown a straight red card for a foul on Sloan - a challenge which did not appear to merit such a harsh punishment.

Hearts could have taken the lead just a few minutes into the second half when Phil Stamp unleashed a powerful shot but sent the effort just over the crossbar instead.

Hearts were, understandably, now looking the stronger team and Andersson did well to tip Severin's shot just wide for a corner on the hour mark.

Seconds later the Hibs goal was under pressure again when Stamp nodded into the path of Dennis Wyness at the far post only for the former Inverness striker to nod just over the crossbar and squander a glorious opportunity.

O'Connor had replaced Riordan and he was on the pitch for just six minutes before being booked and Hearts substitute Steven Boyack was also cautioned.

Hibs showed they still had hopes of snatching the win when Scott Brown supplied a long ball for Zambernardi who tried his luck with a shot from 10 yards but that was held by the goalkeeper at the near post.

Hearts recovered quickly and were soon on the attack again. Boyack's pass was met by Kevin McKenna and he tried to poke the ball home from just outside the six-yard box but was denied by Andersson.

McKenna had the chance to make amends for that miss when he met Hartley's corner only to nod over the crossbar from closer range.

Instead it was Hibs who took all three points when O'Connor defied the odds to fire home the winner in injury time, sparking a pitch invasion when the full-time whistle was blown.

Teams

Hibernian: Andersson, Orman, Doumbe, Smith, Zambernardi, McManus (Dobie 63), Brebner, Wiss (Glass 85), Murray, Scott Brown, Riordan (O'Connor 60).

Subs Not Used: Hyldgaard, Whittaker.

Sent Off: Brebner (37).

Booked: Doumbe, Orman, McManus, O'Connor.

Goals: O'Connor 90.

Hearts: Moilanen, Maybury, Pressley, Webster, McCann, Hartley, Stamp, Severin, Sloan (Boyack 45), de Vries (McKenna 68), Wyness (Kirk 76).

Subs Not Used: Gordon, MacFarlane.

Booked: Severin, Webster, Boyack.

Att: 14,803

Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com