EDINBURGH DERBY SPECIAL: SKACEL'S A FAINTHEART

KEVIN THOMSON has revealed how Hibs put the shackles on Rudi Skacel and took a step closer to becoming a top force in Scottish football The midfield starlet reckons Skacel chucked it at Easter Road because he didn't fancy the physical side of the Edinburgh derby.

The Czech star has scored 10 goals in the SPL this season but was only a fringe player as Hearts lost their unbeaten league record at the home of their bitter rivals.

Thomson, 20, has told how Hibs' decision to keep close tabs on the Marseille loan star helped them gain revenge for the 4-0 drubbing at Tynecastle earlier in the campaign.

Now it is Hibs who are making Scottish football sit up and take notice as they moved to within four points of the top of the SPL with their2-0victory at the weekend.

Man of the match Thomson said: "What can I say? Three points against the league leaders, in a derby match and at home.We couldn't ask for a better result.

"I'm not taking anything away from Hearts, who are a good side with some big strong boys,but we gave as good as we got and overall the better team won.

"We've never been intimidated by them. Obviously a derby is played at 100 miles an hour and there are a few boys who like to put tackles in.

"We'vegotafewoftheminourteam and it showed a wee bit against Skacel because he doesn't like the physical side. The fact we were able to get him outthegametosomeextenthelpedus"We didn't pinpoint Skacel before the gameand I'mtakingnothingaway from the boy, who is a good player.

"But we obviously knew that by keeping a close eye on him it would keep him out and help us.

"I'm not saying the Hearts side don't like the physical side, don't get me wrong. But we wanted the game to be played at a high tempo and wanted them to work for their points and the hard work we put in dominated the match.

"Both teams were up for it but we made it difficult for them and the better team won on the day."

It seems Premiership scouts have season ticket books for Easter Road these days and Spurs and Fulham were just two of the clubs with representatives at the derby keeping close tabs on Thomson in particular.

Hibs have been overshadowed by Hearts this season but the glare of publicity is back on the best young players in the business after their heroics of last term.

Scotland Under-21 star Thomson admits the players were desperate to avenge their heavy defeat in Gorgie earlier in the season.

But he is stopping short of declaring his team's title credentials against the Jambos, Celtic and maybe even Rangers.

He added: "I'd heard a few people say Hearts would come to our place and take two or three goals off us but we stood up and were counted.

"We've got some really good players here and we showed how far we've come since that defeat at Tynecastle earlier in the season.

"The manager has always had faith in his boys and we've always been confident we can produce for him and we showed how far we've come in the last 10 games.

"But it's vital we keep our feet on the ground. It was a massive win for us against Hearts but our game at Livingston at the weekend is every bit as important. We can't afford to bring complacency into our game and must keep pushing for more.

"I'm not going to sit here and say we're going to win the league or split the Old Firm but we're certainly taking the right steps towards becoming a strong force in Scottish football."

Hearts keeper Craig Gordon hopes his team-mates show face at training this morning - because they didn't turn up against Hibs.

The Scotland star admitted their capital rivals asked them serious questions at Easter Road and for the first time this season the Jambos didn't have an answer.

Hearts' majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov addressed the team before and after their first defeat of the season and offered words of encouragement despite their first setback in 13 SPL matches.

But Gordon admirably refused to seek excuses.He said: "The defeat was hard to take because you never want to lose the Edinburgh derby, especially in the circumstances of today when we didn't even turn up.

"There could be lots of reasons for that but as players we've got to take responsibility to get ourselves up for games and look at ourselves more than anyone else for the defeat.

"There are a lot of angry boys in the dressing room but it's always like that when you lose a match, never mind a derby.We're not used to it but we have to take it on the chin, move on and get over it. It's a question of getting back to work on Monday morning and starting to build again.

"We were always going to be defeated at some point this season and we're disappointed it happened in the derby. But we're still there or thereabouts and we'll be back.

"Possibly Hibs rattled us more than we have been recently but these are challenges and situations we'll come up against over the course of a season"We've shown in recent weeks, against Rangers and Celtic, we're capable of coming up with answers andwe have to handle it again.

"We didn't come up with any answers to them and that's disappointing. But it's only one game and we shouldn't get too concerned about it.

"We have to keep going the way we have been and it's up to players to show their own mental strength and carry on doing the things we've been doing until told otherwise.

"We're still trying to do things pretty much the way we have been and it has been good enough in our previous 12 matches.

"I'm sure Mr Romanov will get things sorted about a manager in due course.Whoever it is will put his ideas across and we'll go on from there.

"I suppose it will happen fairly soon and whoever comes in will have a great base to work from as we're top of the league.

"Mr Romanov spoke to us before and after the game with Hibs, not at any great length, and more to wish us all the best.

"Afterwards, his message was pretty much to bounce back fromthe defeat.

"Our fans came here in numbers and expected us to continue the way we have been. We feel as if we've let them down because we didn't perform.

"It's one setback in a long season. I'm sure we'll be beaten again before the end of the campaign but that's football and we've got to come good again

Taken from the Daily Record