'Typical derby - tackles, fouls & sweat'

STUART BATHGATE

Key points

• First draw in a year as Edinburgh derby ends one all
• Hibs go ahead after Derek Riordan’s first half wonder goal
• Pressley equalises for Hearts with penalty
• Hearts three points clear of Dunfermline in race for UEFA Cup place
• Williamson complains referee missed punching incident

Key quote
"We couldn’t supply the right final ball and get in front. When they scored we were rattled, but we got back into it and we just couldn’t get the winning goal" – Craig Levein

Story in full A GOAL of exceptional quality from Derek Riordan was the highlight of the Edinburgh derby at Easter Road yesterday, though a Steven Pressley penalty cancelled it out and ensured Hearts left Easter Road with a point. The 1-1 draw took the third-placed club three points clear of Dunfermline in the race for a guaranteed UEFA Cup spot, and it was also enough for Hibs to nudge back into the top six.

It was the first time since the 4-4 match at Tynecastle in January 2003 that the city rivals have ended up all-square. Since then there have been two victories for Hearts, if you count the pre-season Festival Cup game, and one for Hibs.

While a draw was a reasonably fair result, the league table shows that

De Vries himself said to me it wasn’t a penalty, but that’s no consolation - Colin Murdock
Hearts, a dozen points ahead of their neighbours, are by far the more consistent side. But consistency cannot legislate for the brilliance of the sort of strike conjured up by Riordan in the first half, and, with Hibs having withstood so much pressure before that goal, it was hard to see where Hearts were going to score from in the second half.

The answer was provided within a minute of the restart - from the penalty spot. Colin Murdock made contact with Mark de Vries, and Pressley, who had scored from the spot against Aberdeen four days earlier, equalised with ease.

I said to the players when we came out for the second half: This is a game we’re not going to lose - Craig Levein

There were few clear-cut chances thereafter, Paul Hartley coming closest with a free-kick which rebounded off a post. With honours even, neither manager had too much to complain about, though Bobby Williamson did suggest that the officials should have been spotted an incident in which Hearts’ Alan Maybury supposedly hit Scott Brown.

"I’m disappointed that the three officials couldn’t see this," said Williamson, who admitted he had not seen the alleged incident himself. The Easter Road manager claimed that Brown, who was yellow-carded in the first half, was subjected to provocation, while Murdock, who had a word with his younger colleague as the teams went off the field at the break, suggested it was hard to temper his natural enthusiasm.

"Maybe a prescription," the centre-back said when asked how best to calm Brown down. "A hundred milligrams of Temazepam might work. He’s got a lot of energy and has been subject to a lot of harsh challenges. He can be a menace at times, but he knows that."

No matter how provoked he might have been, the fact remains that Brown committed several fouls after being shown the yellow card. It seemed probable that Williamson would substitute him at the break, but the manager said he had not thought of doing so - on the curious grounds that he thought the booking was unjust.

Whatever Williamson or Murdock said or did not say, Brown was quieter in the second half. The first name in referee Mike McCurry’s book, he was later joined by Murdock himself, Jarkko Wiss, Patrick Kisnorbo and Paul Hartley. Yet, by the standards of this fixture, proceedings were fairly peaceful, with almost every penalised challenge being over-enthusiastic rather than malicious.

"Both teams had a go, but I was disappointed to drop the two points," was Williamson’s verdict on the match. "Derek Riordan’s goal was a tremendous strike and it was good for him to get his first derby goal. Hopefully many more will come.

"The goalkeeper had no chance, but after that Hearts were quite solid and defended well. To lose the penalty was disappointing so soon after half-time. It was a typical derby and we were caught out."

Craig Levein’s assessment of the match used exactly the same phrase. "It was just a typical Edinburgh derby with a lot of tackles, a lot of fouls and a lot of sweat," the Hearts coach said. "I thought we were the better side.

A hundred milligrams of Temazepam might work. He’s got a lot of energy and has been subject to a lot of harsh challenges. He can be a menace at times, but he knows that - Bobby Williamson on Scott Brown

"Before the game I’d probably have accepted a point, but the way the game unfolded I think a win would have been a true reflection of possession and chances.

"We played well for the first 25 minutes and were very composed early on, but we couldn’t supply the right final ball and get in front. When they scored we were rattled, but we got back into it and we just couldn’t get the winning goal."

Pressley, as ever, was instrumental in ensuring Hearts regained their composure after going behind. The Tynecastle captain revealed the words he had spoken at the break - and of how he was reminded of them not long afterwards.

"I said to the players when we came out for the second half: This is a game we’re not going to lose. When I was waiting to take the penalty Patrick Kisnorbo was shouting it in my ear: Remember what you said."

Television replays of the penalty incident showed that Murdock had definitely come into contact with De Vries, who was in possession on the edge of the box. The Irishman himself was philosophical about the award. "It was good play by De Vries - he was running across me, I tried to pull out of the challenge but the referee gave the penalty. De Vries himself said to me it wasn’t a penalty, but that’s no consolation."

The usually tense derby atmosphere was made more fraught than usual by the background of Hearts’ proposed move to Murrayfield. In such rancorous circumstances, it was all the more commendable that both sets of players more or less kept the lid on their own tempers.

Taken from the Scotsman