Hearts 4 - 0 Hibernian

Scour the history books and you will struggle to find a more one-sided and emotional Edinburgh derby. The Hearts fans within Tynecastle yesterday left believing they had witnessed the start of a renaissance in the club's fortunes.

They have called this "season zero" in terms of a new beginning after the uncertainty over the club's future during the years when Chris Robinson was in charge. With new club owner Vladimir Romanov in the stand, they watched in awe as George Burley's side strolled to a comprehensive victory in the glorious sunshine.

The win takes them top of the Bank of Scotland Premierleague and on their current form they will be at least challenging for third place when the season reaches its climax.

At the end, the home supporters celebrated while the Hibernian followers could only look on shell-shocked as their team were outplayed. To add to their woes, they had their manager, Tony Mowbray, sent to the stand just before half-time after he engaged in a touchline shouting match with referee, Stuart Dougal, and fourth official, Alan Freeland, after an alleged elbowing incident.

This should have been Hibs' year in terms of expectation but their local rivals have turned the tables after only two games. The Easter Road side have the UEFA Cup to look forward to, which is a blessing for their supporters as they are likely to spend the domestic league in the shadow of their bitter rivals.

A fireworks display was held before the match but the real cracking performances which lit up Tynecastle came on the park from the Hearts players.

A simple tap-in from Rudi Skacel – which went in off Hibs defender Gary Smith – a penalty from Paul Hartley, a strike from substitute Stephen Simmons and a long-range effort from Saulius Mikoliunas separated the teams.

Overall, the gulf in class was as wide as the Firth of Forth. For all the talk of the foreign signings and the Lithuanian influence, Hearts started with seven Scots in their side and three came on as substitutes, a fact which which have warmed the heart of Walter Smith, the national team manager.

To add to the homegrown feel it was Hartley who ran the show. He thoroughly out-smarted Guillaume Beuzelin and Michael Stewart in the middle of the park and put in a sublime performance.

The hype surrounding Hearts due to the Romanov connection meant their players have a lot to life up to this season. Full points from their first two games has shown they can cope with the pressure.

Hartley in particular has risen to the challenge of performing at the top level and it was his strong run which set up Skacel for the first goal. Pressure from Hartley resulted in Glass handling for the penalty, which the former converted. Simmons made it three before Mikoliunas' long-range effort.

One of the key differences yesterday was the tactical nous of both managers. Stewart looked uncomfortable playing wide right while Beuzelin, the playmaker in the Hibs team, was not given enough protection in midfield.

He was hounded off the ball repeatedly by the Frenchman, Julien Brellier, and it was only when Hibs changed after the interval to a diamond formation that he started to find space.

By then it was too late for Hibs, who had been run ragged throughout the game. Their chances were not helped when captain Gary Caldwell had to be substituted after 26 minutes with a punctured lung and a broken rib. Even if he had stayed on, it would not have made little difference.

Hibs' front pair of Amadou Konté and Garry O'Connor was anonymous and the fact their best chances fell to Beuzelin, a midfielder, and Caldwell, a defender, demonstrates that service was poor.

The question to be asked now is whether Hearts can sustain their challenge at the top of the table? The fact that Romanov has pledged to keep the best players at Tynecastle and to spend cash to bring in more suggests they can.

At the end, when the crowds had long gone, John Robertson, their former manager and legendary player came to the touchline to chat to Hartley.

Robertson is the last, real Hearts hero. On this form, Hartley has the potential to follow him into Tynecastle's affections and the ability to stamp his authority on the team the way the former coach once did.

Taken from the Herald