Hibernian 2 - 0 Hearts

DARRYL BROADFOOT at Easter Road October 31 2005

BY George, so much for the two-horse race. Hibernian, by dint of a thoroughly merited and meticulously executed derby win, are galloping gaily amid a tightening chasing pack.

It exposed the folly and astounding naivete of George Foulkes, the Hearts chairman, in predicting that Celtic are the only legitimate contenders to the early pacesetters. Such disingenuous chatter not only endangers the goodwill that has been afforded to Hearts by impartial football fans craving a break from the monotonous Old Firm duopoly, but reinforces the belief that in football, politicians should be seen and not heard.

Foulkes skipped merrily from one radio station to the next prior to the game; pressing flesh here, flashing a smile there and offering around carefully considered soundbites like confectionery. Amid the saccharine bluster, though, not a clue about the identity of the incoming manager. In truth, he is probably as in the dark as the rest of us.

Foulkes left the ground as part of the Vladimir Romanov entourage: a motley crew of businessmen in sharp suits whose motivation for this grand project remains as mysterious as the real reason behind George Burley's banishment. Against this backdrop of confusion, John McGlynn had the onerous task of retaining the team's focus on keeping their end of the bargain. It had to fail them sometime. Easter Road would not have been the chosen venue for the first defeat of a remarkable season.

The fortunes of the old capital rivals could not be more contrasting. Hibernian, reliant on the development of their own produce and the bargain-hunting properties of Tony Mowbray, cannot compete with financial muscle of the men from the west of the city. On paper, the respective line-ups looked as much a mismatch as the events of the previous encounter. In reality, Hearts played like a team who believe their chairman's hype.

Edgaras Jankauskas' sending-off unquestionably turned the flow in Hibernian's favour but they were worthy of their win regardless of the Lithuanian striker's wanton stupidity. After an hour of rutting between two teams refusing to concede ground, Jankauskas succumbed to the irritating qualities of Scott Brown with the kind of petulance which, frankly, has been more in keeping with the abrasive Hibernian midfielder.

It was the last act of a cumbersome afternoon for the former Champions League finalist. For all his formidable dimensions and prestigious pedigree, Jankauskas has the ability to infuriate. He was at his enigmatic worst on Saturday, spending an inordinate amount of time on the ground appealing challenges his size ought to sustain and even counter. Against Celtic, he was a lion; against Hibernian, a liability.

With Julien Brellier unable to provide adequate support and substituted with an hour on the clock after he threatened to short-circuit, Hearts were again over-reliant on the exploits of Rudi Skacel. "He does not like the physical side of things, so we had to get him out of the game," said Kevin Thomson, a peerless performer in midfield for the hosts. All told, the men bedecked in maroon were uncharacteristically toothless.

Hibernian, by comparison, were irrepressible in attack. Derek Riordan has emerged hungrier, yet mercifully no leaner, from his solitary confinement after a contractual impasse. Stationed on the left side of an electric three-pronged attack, the youthful Robbie Neilson looked just as wabbit as his doppelganger, Steven Pressley, by the end.

Brown's industry on the opposite flank curtailed the adventure of Takis Fyssas while Thomson diligently disarmed Skacel.

Mowbray's impressive scouting network has also turned up another marvel, albeit one whose weekends surely ought to be spent shooting pheasant or sipping Pimm's at the polo club. Humphrey Rudge, a name for which knighthoods are made, was in imperious form at the back for the hosts and won praise from an old master in the art of uncompromising defending. "He puts his head where the ball is without fear," said Mowbray. "Too many of my defenders wanted to play football last year."

Guillaume Beuzelin was the quiet architect of Hibernian's victory. The Frenchman's understated class can often go unnoticed, while his laidback approach is prone to the occasional slack pass. When the notion takes him, there is no doubting the former Le Havre man's panache. Hardly a renowned plunderer of goals, he sent Hibernian on their way to victory with the opener.

The introduction of Ivan Sproule, he of scorching pace, was vindicated with 10 minutes remains, when the Irishman collected an incisive pass from Gary Caldwell which was slipped inside Fyssas. Making a beeline for the byeline, the winger's cutback sat perfectly for Beuzelin, who clipped his shot into the net via Craig Gordon's right-hand post.

Three minutes later, the points were secured by the industrious Garry O'Connor. David Murphy's lofted pass breached the Hearts defence and despite forlorn protests of offside from the visitors, the Scotland striker composed himself and before finishing emphatically.

Taken from the Herald