HIBS KID HIT BY COIN

Riordan is struck by coin at derby

By John Docherty

HIBS kid Derek Riordan was hit by a coin yesterday as Hearts stormed to a 2-1 win in the first Edinburgh derby of the season.

The incident happened near the end of the game - but there was confusion over where the 50 pence piece was thrown from.

Riordan said: 'A coin hit me on the side of the jaw but I don't have a clue where it came from. I saw it - it was a 50p piece - but the referee never saw it.It happens in games like this and you just have to get on with it.

'I wasn't surprised because the Hearts fans were giving me a fair bit of stick at that side of the ground.' But Hearts security chief Tom Purdie said he was told the coin came from HIBS fans.

He said: 'Police believe the coin was thrown from the K Section of the Hibs end.'

The incident could now be probed by the SFA. Goals from Patrick Kisnorbo and Joe Hamill gave Hearts victory despite a late consolation from Riordan.

The victory pushed the Jambos into fourth spot in the table and ended Hibs' unbeaten run of eight games.

Kisnorbo's opener was only the second of his career after being on target in the 3-1 UEFA Cup win over Braga at Murrayfield.

The Aussie said: 'That was a must-win game after these two defeats. It was very important, especially the way the league is going. We had to give it 100 per cent.

'As a team we are very confident and today we showed, coming back from a bad result on Thursday, that we are still up there with the big teams. It proved that on any given day we can win.

'That's two goals for me - not bad. But as long as I contribute to the team in any way I am happy.'

Hearts boss Craig Levein was delighted with the win and said: 'We know the significance of this match. The guys showed tremendous courage especially after a couple of set-backs and I thought we deserved to win.

'At home, in front of our own supporters it was really important to win this match.

Credit 'We put in as many attacking players as we could and our intention was to get in front.

'But all credit to Hibs, when they came back into it our backs were against the wall and it was typical of our defence and our team as a whole that we survived.'

Hibs manager Mowbray said: 'I am disappointed to lose the game although I am pleased with the players.

'Hearts played to their strengths and got off to the start they were hoping for. As the game went on we came into it and played some decent football in the last half hour.

'We came up against a team who have finished third in the last few years, we are a young side and should not be expected to win here.

'But I was pleased with the way we played. I think teams like Hearts know we are going to be a force to be reckoned with as time moves on, when the players mature, become men and can handle the physical side of football.

'We will be better than most teams. There were a lot of positives, we are on the same number of points as Hearts and are doing fine.

'Now we want to try to get to the next level and push on beyond Hearts and be up there challenging with the Old Firm. How long it will take we will wait and see.'

Riordan said: 'I thought towards the end we came back into the game and we are obviously disappointed to lose.

'My goal was no consolation. I hate getting beat by Hearts and I am gutted.'

Taken from the Daily Record