Caldwell suffers broken rib and punctured lung

ALAN PATTULLO

A BRUISING afternoon for Hibs yesterday was felt most keenly by defender Gary Caldwell, who had to depart the Edinburgh derby after only 26 minutes with an injury that was later diagnosed as a punctured lung and a fractured rib.

The Scotland international now seems certain to miss the up-coming World Cup qualifying double-header against Italy and Norway at the beginning of next month, and could be absent from the Hibs rearguard when the Easter Road side begin their UEFA Cup campaign.

Although yesterday's game proved a typically frenetic derby between two old foes Caldwell sustained his injury when colliding with his own goalkeeper, Zbigniew Malkowski. He left the field clutching his side and in some agony, and was replaced by Chris Hogg.

It was just one more blow on a day which started in a discordant manner for the away team, who lost an opening goal after 11 minutes. Tony Mowbray, the Easter Road manager, was also sent to the stand minutes before half-time after a prolonged dispute with the referee, Stuart Dougal."I was surprised to be sent off," said Mowbray. "I was just passing comment. There was no foul language, and no anger." Mowbray was irked by a series of decisions which had gone against his team, and was airing his thoughts. Dougal thought it constituted dissent, and waved the Hibs manager down the tunnel.

But the Hibs manager refused even to suggest that Caldwell's misfortune had any bearing on the result, with his team already trailing by one goal at the time. He had no excuses on a day when the better team won, but did warn observers not to read too much into the result at this stage of the season.

"We lost the first derby last season, and look what happened," he said. "You are judged at the end of the season, not after game two. There is every reason to believe we will enjoy an entertaining and successful season."

Mowbray confirmed that last season's top goalscorer Derek Riordan did not make the starting XI because, after missing three days' training last week, he was not considered 100 per cent fit.

Taken from the Scotsman