Hibernian 2 Hearts 1

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Abdessalam Benjelloun's first goal for Hibernian gave the Leith side a dramatic win over Hearts in their Bank of Scotland Premier League clash at Easter Road.

A Derek Riordan strike after 15 minutes gave the home side the lead which was needlessly cancelled out seconds before the half-time whistle when Gorgie striker Roman Bednar pounced on a mistake by Hibees keeper Zbigniew Malkowski to grab an equaliser.

The Tynecastle side had the better of the second period but with 11 minutes to go the Moroccan, who had come on for Ivan Sproule on the hour mark, drove home from 16 yards before running the length of the pitch towards the Jambos fans in celebration which also earned him a booking.

The Hibees' victory also dented Hearts' Champions League prospects and they are now just five points ahead of Rangers who also have a game in hand, albeit against Old Firm rivals Celtic.

However, this was more about Hibs earning bragging rights over their city neighbours.

A typically frantic start to the match saw Calum Elliot flash a powerful header wide from distance after only a few minutes but the home side were impressively enthusiastic going forward although constant, niggling fouls prevented any real flow to the match.

In the 14th minute a Riordan corner from the left was miskicked by Elliot at the near post but luckily for the Tynecastle men the ball fell into the arms of Jambos goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

But only a minute later it was Riordan who fired the home side ahead. Hibs defender Jay Shields robbed a hesitant Hearts skipper Paul Hartley in the midfield with the ball breaking to Ivan Sproule on the right.

The Irishman drove his cross to the back post area where the Hibees striker took a touch before rifling his right-footed shot from 16 yards past Gordon and into the far corner of the net.

The visitors claimed Easter Road striker Steven Fletcher was in an offside position but referee Charlie Richmond pointed to the centre circle while Sproule gesticulated provocatively to Gorgie substitute Rudi Skacel who was warming up behind the goals.

On the half-hour mark a great block by Malkowski prevented Saulius Mikoliunas's angled drive from 12 yards hitting the net although the move was flagged offside.

Moments later the best move of the match involving four Hibs players and moving from left to right and back again, ended with Fletcher volleying a Shields cross over the bar from close range.

But with seconds to go in the first half the visitors drew level with a bizarre goal.

Bednar chased a long throughball from defender Robbie Neilson but Hibs skipper Gary Caldwell, who initially looked at fault to allow the Jambos' hit-man through, seemed to have recovered to shepherd the ball back to Malkowski.

However, the ball slipped from the keeper's grasp allowing the big striker the easiest of tasks to slip the ball into the empty net to stun the Hibs players and fans.

The visitors came out for the second half with renewed confidence and within seconds Malkowski had partly made up for his first-half error by saving Bednar's angled drive from 12 yards out.

On the hour mark, Sproule, who had been sent off against Hearts in their Tennent's Scottish semi-final at Hampden three weeks ago, was lucky only to receive a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Gorgie defender Christophe Berra.

The Irishman was immediately substituted by manager Tony Mowbray for Benjelloun with Scott Brown replacing Fletcher for his first appearance since he broke his leg at the beginning of the year.

In the 65th minute the tireless Hartley crossed from wide on the right to the back post where Ibrahim Tall was waiting but the Senegalese defender somehow headed high and wide from only six yards out.

Hearts, if anyone, looked more likely to get the next goal but in fact it was the home side who went ahead for the second time in the 79th minute.

Substitute Paul Dalglish, on for Oumar Konde, took a David Murphy throw-in and shielded the ball to Benjelloun who hammered a shot from 16 yards to give Gordon no chance.

The Moroccan then ran the length of Easter Road to goad the visiting supporters and was duly booked.

The Tynecastle men fought hard to get back level but Hibs were far too determined not to let the lead slip for the second time.

Teams:

Hibernian Malkowski, Whittaker, Caldwell, Hogg, Murphy,Fletcher (Scott Brown 61), Konde (Dalglish 76), Shields, Glass,Sproule (Benjelloun 61), Riordan.

Subs Not Used: McNeil, Gary Smith, Murray, Shiels.

Booked: Sproule, Benjelloun.

Goals: Riordan 16, Benjelloun 78.

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Tall, Berra, Wallace,Cesnauskis (Skacel 71), Hartley, Aguiar, Mikoliunas,Bednar (Pospisil 76), Elliot.

Subs Not Used: Banks, Camazzola, Brellier, Petras, Driver.

Booked: Hartley.

Goals: Bednar 45.

Att: 16,654

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com