IT'S YOUR LUCKY JAY

HEARTS midfielder Paul Hartley reckons Hibs youngster Jay Shields was lucky not to see red during Saturday's pulsating Edinburgh derby.

The Jambos lost 2-1 to their city rivals at Easter Road as Hibs dented Hearts' Champions League ambitions by winning the final capital clash of the season.

Hartley believes he was the victim of a two-footed tackle by derby debutant Shields in the run-up to Derek Riordan's opening goal and that the same player also clattered into Bruno Aguiar and escaped without caution.

Hartley ended up being booked himself for complaining to referee Charlie Richmond at Shields' robust moves.

Hartley said: "Jay Shields had at least two-footed challenges in the game. I'm not blaming the lad and I sort of had a word with the referee but he just seemed to let them go.

"Apart from the tackle that led to the first goal I thought there was another two-footer on Bruno Aguiar that was extremely dangerous play but the ref didn't see it that way.

"I don't like criticising referees but Hibs got a lot of things going for them while we got a lot of stupid decisions given against us.

"Myself and Scott Brown also had an altercation in the corner but there was nothing in it."

Hearts are still in the driving seat to land second place but the Scotland midfielder refuses to accept the Gorgie side are showing increasing signs of nerves during the run-in.

Valdas Ivanauskas' team selection left a lot to be desired and the Hearts supporters were shaking their heads as to why Andy Webster and Edgaras Jankauskas were not in the starting line-up and fans' favourite Rudi Skacel could only find a place on the bench.

But Hartley insists he doesn't pick the team and the simple truth was that Hearts just failed to perform on derby day despite a half-time rollicking from Ivanauskas and John McGlynn.

He said: "It is always disappointing to lose a derby. In the first half we didn't spring out the traps too well and were second to every ball. We were fortunate to get back into the game but overall we just didn't play well. We were always going to miss Edgaras Jankauskas' presence up front as he has been doing well for us of late.

"But that's not my decision as I don't pick the team. Hearts have a strong squad and we just have to play with the players who are in the team.

"Whoever comes in is expected to do well and there is healthy competition for places.Players want to do their best to stay in the team when they come into the side.

"I think John McGlynn was angrier than Valdas Ivanauskas at half time and we got the kick up the backside that was needed after our disappointing first-half display.

"John has been here, seen it and done it and he was a bit more vocal while Valdas said we had let our standards slip from recent weeks.

"It's a derby game and it was always going to be hard but we haven't won here for three and a half years and that is a massive disappointment.

"I don't think our first-half performance had anything to do with nerves. We just couldn't get going and that was disappointing.

"We struggled to string two passes together as normally when we break up the park it is with pace. But we were abit lacklustre and I don't know why that was.

"In the second half we were a lot better but it still wasn't good enough.

"I'm sure Hibs will want to finish as high up the league as possible and they will give the same commitment against Rangers as they did in the derby but at the end of the day it's all about what we do.

"There's still a lot to play for and we're still in the driving seat."

The Jambos host Celtic on Sunday and Hartley, who has again been linked with a move to Parkhead, insists victory is a must if the Jambos are to avoid a final-day winner-takesall showdown with Rangers at Ibrox on May 7.

But Hartley is confident Hearts won't blow their Champions League dream after fighting all season to be in the strong position they currently occupy.

He said: "We have another three high-pressure games coming up starting with a huge match against Celtic at Tynecastle.

"Celtic-Hearts games are always tough and exciting and Sunday is a massive game so I think you'll find it will be a real battle again.

"The fight for the Champions League place could come down to the final match but I hope it doesn't.

"We saw what happened with Celtic on the final day of last season but we really do not want to give that second place up and I'm sure we won't."

While everyone seems to be on their high horse about abusive chanting by Old Firm fans the Hearts and Hibs supporters got in on the act and did themselves no favours at all with their "gay" chants at each other.

Songs like "All Hibees are Gay" and "Paul Hartley is Gay" are not funny.

They are downright childish and an insult to the intelligence.

By the way, my dad's bigger than your dad.

It was Hartley who suffered the most vile abuse and terrible treatment at the hands of his former employers' fans.

The man who destroyed Hibs with aglorious hat-trick in the 4-0 rout at Hampden in the Scottish Cup Final admitted he was aware of the chants but insisted they don't trouble him one bit.

Hartley said: "I heard some of them but it doesn't bother me as hopefully I can thrive on that and it is just one of those things in football.

"It doesn't bother me - the Hibs fans find it amusing and good for them. One thing though, I'm not gay!"

Cue much hysterical laughter.

Taken from the Daily Record