Hearts 4 Hibernian 0

Goals from Rudi Skacel, Paul Hartley, Stephen Simmons and Saulius Mikoliunas gave rampant Hearts a comprehensive 4-0 win over Hibernian in a frenetic Bank of Scotland Premier League derby at Tynecastle which also saw the Easter Road manager Tony Mowbray banished to the stand.

Skacel opened the scoring with an untidy goal after 12 minutes and seconds before the interval the frustrated Hibees boss was sent off by referee Stuart Dougal following a touchline argument with fourth official Alan Freeland, after Jambos striker Roman Bednar had challenged his full-back David Murphy.

After the break there was more misery for the Leithers when Hartley converted a 58th minute penalty after Stephen Glass had handled in the box and Simmons' 71st-minute strike, followed by Mikoliunas' 30-yard snap-shot, capped off a commanding performance from the home side.

The final moments were enjoyed by the gleeful home support who saw their side go top of the SPL, albeit only on goal difference over Rangers.

The Gorgie side looked sharper and more incisive in the opening stages and there was no surprise when they got the breakthrough after only 12 minutes on the clock.

Hartley drove at the Hibees defence and played in Bednar and when the striker's shot from 14 yards was initially blocked by Malkowski, Jambos midfielder Skacel followed in to bundle the ball over the line to the despair of chasing Hibs defender Gary Smith who helped the ball over the line.

The Czech was booked by referee Dougal for his over-enthusiastic celebrations where the visiting fans were congregated but the home side's glee was almost short-lived, as moments later only a good save by Jambos keeper Craig Gordon prevented Gary Caldwell header from a Kevin Thomson corner levelling the scores.

The home side remained firmly on top however, and only a Steve Whittaker block prevented an Andy Webster header at the back post from another Skacel cross creeping in at the post.

The Leith side seemed dispirited as the game flew towards the interval and their frustrations boiled over seconds before half-time when boss Mowbray was sent to the stand by Dougal after vociferously contesting a Bednar challenge on his defender Murphy with fourth official Freeland.

After the interval, with Mowbray sitting in the directors' box, the Tynecastle side seemed to have quickly gained the initiative again but in the 50th minute the visitors broke and created a good chance when Murphy floated a long pass to Kevin Thomson.

With Gorgie keeper Gordon out of his goal, the Hibs midfielder lobbed the ball from the edge of the box towards the net only to see it go inches past the post.

Hibs pressed again moments later and a fine cross by the tireless Murphy to the back post was met by Guillaume Beuzelin but the Frenchman's poor headed effort went wide.

At least the Leith side were offering some threat now but their hopes of a comeback were diminished in the 58th minute when Glass, under pressure from Hartley, was adjudged to have handled a Bednar flick-on inside the Hibs penalty area.

There were no real protests from Glass or the other visiting players when Dougal pointed to the spot and the former Hibs player stuck the spot kick into the corner to give the home side what now looked like a commanding lead.

In the 63rd minute Hibs introduced substitutes Derek Riordan and Ivan Sproule for Amadou Konte and Glass but soon after it was Bednar who should have made it 3-0 when he raced clear of Smith, only to fire his angled shot from 20 yards wide of the far post.

But the visitors had all but collapsed now and in the 71st minute, Hearts substitute Simmons, who had replaced Calum Elliot earlier, pounced on a mistake by Beuzelin to slam in the third goal from 12 yards out.

With six minutes to go Jambos midfielder Mikoliunas got in on the act when the thrashed in a 30-yard drive which seemed to catch the hapless Malkowski by surprise.

Teams

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Webster, Pressley, McAllister, Mikoliunas, Hartley, Bednar (MacFarlane 74), Skacel, Brellier (Wallace 69), Elliot (Simmons 52).

Subs Not Used: MacDonald, Cesnauskis, Berra, Tierney.

Booked: Skacel, Bednar.

Goals: Skacel 13, Hartley 58 pen, Simmons 71, Mikoliunas 83.

Hibernian Malkowski, Whittaker, Smith, Caldwell (Hogg 27), Murphy, Beuzelin, Stewart, Thomson, Glass (Riordan 63), O'Connor, Konte (Sproule 63).

Subs Not Used: Simon Brown, Morrow, Murray, Shields.

Booked: O'Connor, Beuzelin, Whittaker.

Att: 16,459

Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com