HEARTS GET KICK IN LEITH

HIBS have been on the wrong end of some derby hidings this season but if this win robs their bitter rivals of a Champions League slot it will make up for all the heartache.

Victory for the Jambos yesterday would have virtually secured a place in Europe's biggest club competition but they blew a series of chances in the second half.

Derek Riordan gave Hibs the lead but their city rivals were well on top after Roman Bednar levelled just before the break.

Hearts had several chances to take the lead but paid a heavy price for some wasteful finishing.

Hibs sub Abdessalam Benjelloun scored the winnerwith 12 minutes left to give his side their second Easter Road derby win this season.

The Jambos had to do without their usual central defensive pairing of Steven Pressley and Andy Webster.

Pressley was injured while Webster is understood to be in owner Vladimir Romanov's bad books as he refuses to sign a new contract.

Their absence meant Ibrahim Tall and Christophe Berra played in front of keeper Craig Gordon.

They were kept busy as Steven Fletcher played at centre-forward with Ivan Sproule on the right and Riordan on the left of a three-man Hibs attack.

After a 4-0 thrashing in the Scottish Cup semi-final earlier this month Easter Road gaffer Tony Mowbray knew he had to change tactics against Hearts.

And his side got off to a great start as Riordan fired them ahead after 15 minutes with a controversial strike.

The impressive Jay Shields tackled Paul Hartley just inside the Hearts half and the ball ended up at Sproule's feet. He used his pace to race forward and sent in a cross that fell to Riordan.

The striker took a touch then rattled a right-foot shot past Gordon from 14 yards. It was a terrific finish but the keeper was furious with ref Charlie Richmond as Fletcher, in an offside position, appeared to run along Gordon's line of vision.

What wasn't up for argument was the quality of the finish in what could be Riordan's last Edinburgh derby.

Hearts were struggling to play their usual attacking game in an ugly match low on quality.

The Tynecastle side rarely put Hibs goalie Zibi Malkowski under pressure in the first half although the Pole pulled off a good save from a powerful shot by Saulius Mikoliunas in 28 minutes.

Hibees were looking comfortable and Fletcher came close three minutes before the break when he volleyed over at the back post from just four yards out.

Then, showing the beauty of games like this, there was a dramatic twist in first-half stoppage time.

A long, hopeful pass from Robbie Neilson should have been meat and drink for Gary Caldwell but he misjudged the flight of the ball and let it sail over his head into Bednar's path.

The Czech hitman raced towards Malkowski but seemed to have lost the ball just inside the box as Caldwell made up ground and David Murphy came across to cover.

Malkowski then tried to smother the ball but let it slip from his grasp and Bednar was alert enough to score from seven yards out.

It have Hearts a great lift and they came out buzzing after the interval, driven on by skipper Hartley. Bednar saw a shot saved by Malkowski after being sent through before Bruno Aguiar flashed a left-foot strike just wide.

But the best chance of the lot fell to Tall in 64 minutes.

The big defender got above his markers from Hartley's cross but sent a poor header two yards wide of Malkowski's right-hand post when he should have scored.

And the Jambos were made to pay for thatmiss in 78 minutes when Hibs went 2-1 in front.

During his two seasons in charge at Easter Road, Mowbray hasmade some telling substitutions, usually with Sproule coming on to win vital points.

This time Sproule - who was lucky only to receive a yellow card for a tackle on Berra - was the man who came off as Paul Dalglish and Benjelloun replaced the Northern Irish winger and Fletcher in 61 minutes.

Both subs played a key role in the leveller as Dalglish picked up a Murphy throw-in inside the Hearts box. Using his backside to hold off his marker - as his father Kenny used to do so well - he spun to lay the ball off for Benji who drilled a low shot past Gordon from 12 yards.

The Moroccan ran the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Hearts fans and was deservedly booked.

But Mowbray defended his player and said: "I'm sure there was no malice - it might just be a cultural thing. We'll sort it out once my French improves and his English improves."

With so much at stake Hearts tried for another equaliser but it didn't happen for them.

Boss Valdas Ivanauskas said: "We must work hard for the rest of our games. It was not good enough in the first half and too few of my players understood the importance of this."

If Rangers win at Parkhead today Hearts can't afford any more mistakes between now and the end of the season. Vlad is watching.

refwatch

CHARLIE RICHMOND rarely pleased both sets players and fans with his decisions but handled a fiery derby clash with maturity. Rating:6/10

Taken from the Sunday Mail