Hamill's joy at clincher

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS hero Joe Hamill was today still savouring his first goal against Hibs, the youngster admitting: "It’s every Jambo’s dream to score the winner in a derby."

The 20-year-old winger pounced in the 76th minute at Tynecastle to steer home substitute Ramon Pereira’s cutback to make it 2-0 after Patrick Kisnorbo’s first-half opener.

Although Derek Riordan smashed a late consolation for the Easter Road outfit, Craig Levein’s side held on for a deserved triumph to leap into joint fourth place alongside their arch rivals - Tony Mowbray’s outfit remaining above them in the table courtesy of having scored more goals.

It was a crucial win for the Jambos, coming as it did just over 48 hours after their return from the UEFA Cup defeat to Feyenoord in Rotterdam.

Hamill carved himself a little niche in Hearts folklore with his winner against Rangers at Ibrox towards the end of last season but he has now firmly established himself as a Gorgie hero with his second-half effort against the Hibees, even if it will cause some family strife.

"I saw Ramon heading for the byline and made a run to the near post hoping the ball would come to me," he said.

"Thankfully it did and I just hit it with the outside of my left foot and watched it go over the line. I knew the keeper wasn’t getting it but it seemed to take forever to go in. It was a great feeling and a really important win for us after the Feyenoord match. It is always great to score, no matter who the opposition. But scoring in a derby is a dream for every Jambo, especially with it proving to be the winner. My fiancee’s family won’t be too happy, though, as some of them are Hibees so I don’t expect to be talking to them for a wee while!"

Hamill hopes the win can now help Hearts kick-start their league campaign, which has stuttered of late amidst the rigours of Europe. Levein takes his men to Tayside on Wednesday to tackle Dundee United before Dundee visit the Capital on Saturday.

It’s yet another hectic week but Hamill believes the two games offer Hearts the ideal opportunity to consolidate their improved league position.

"Hopefully, that win can kick-start our season now and we can start to climb the league. It was important to win yesterday and we are now level on points with Hibs. We have Dundee United on Wednesday now and then Dundee at home next weekend.

"Tannadice will be tough but it is a game we are capable of winning."

Phil Stamp went off at half-time with a calf strain which makes him doubtful for Wednesday’s game. Mark de Vries is also unlikely to make the match with the striker still receiving treatment on his poisoned toe.

Meanwhile, Hearts and Hibs today promised to work together to identify the culprit responsible for the coin-throwing incident in the second half of yesterday’s clash. Easter Road star Derek Riordan was struck by a 50p piece, apparently thrown from the visitors’ end in the Roseburn Stand. Tynecastle security chief Tom Purdie said: "Police are of the view that the coin came from Section K of the Roseburn Stand which is where the Hibs supporters were.

"We have launched an inquiry and will be studying CCTV footage from the match. We will liaise with Hibs’ security officer Jim Pryde on the matter to try to identify the person responsible."

Hibs managing director Rod Petrie said: "It is one of those oddities which still exists in football that the responsibility for all spectators rests with the home club.

"I don’t have any details of the incident but the throwing of coins or any sort of missile does not have a place in football. Regardless of whether it came from a Hibs or Hearts supporter it is not what anyone wants to see. If there are CCTV pictures then, of course, we will be very happy to cooperate in trying to put a name to the face - if visible - if it is shown to have come from an area occupied by Hibs supporters."

Taken from the Scotsman