Hearts 3 Hibernian 2

For the short trip across the City to face rival Hearts, Hibernian made two changes to the starting line up from the team that dismantled St. Mirren so comprehensively on Saturday. Out went Fletcher and Zemmama due to injury with the replacements in the starting line-up Benjelloun and Brown, still missing however was skipper Kevin Thomson who had not recovered from the injury sustained in the Falkirk game.

Hibernian FC Match Reports
Heart of Midlothian 3 Hibernian 2
Scottish Premier League
26th December 2006

Hibernian kicked off and moved straight onto the attack with a Shiels flick finding Benjelloun getting the break to the ball in acres of space - but he volleyed just wide with Gordon scrambling to get across his goal and never looking like doing so. It was however to be the home side who were to take the early lead as Hearts moved straight upfield, Bednar got in behind from a Jankauskas head flick – he was clearly offside however that went unobserved by any of the officials. The Hearts man held off Martis and cut the ball back perfectly for Hartley to knock into the net from inside the six-yard area.

image In typical Edinburgh derby fashion Hartley and Stewart were shown the yellow card as the two clashed in the opening minutes. Hibs did try to fashion an immediate reply but Beuzelin’s half volley was sliced well wide of goal, so much so that it never went behind. The pace of the game was a frantic as expected and Whittaker was next in the book, shown a yellow card for a foul on Jankauskas. From the free kick Jones headed clear to the edge of the box where Mikoliunas shot over on the half volley.

Hearts were forced into an early change as Goncalves limped off to be replaced by Wallace, and before the defender could settle Hibernian had a fantastic chance to get level as Stewart’s free kick deep into the box saw Killen wrestle clear of Berra but he could not make decent contact with the outstretched volley and it went safely into the arms of Gordon. The Easter Road men were caught out with the counter attack as Hearts pushed forward and a simple ball released Bednar in behind Martis, with only the keeper to beat the Striker decided to shoot early but found his effort blocked by Malkowski, the ball broke free and landed at the feet of McCann but his effort was weak and straight into the arms of the Hibernian goalkeeper.

The game was being played at one hundred miles per hour but it was the home side who were enjoying the better of it, but as Hearts chased a second Hibernian missed another glorious chance as Killen latched onto Stewart ball over the top, after struggling free of Berra he was left with only Gordon to beat, the keeper raced from his line and the striker knocked it past him but could only look on agonisingly as the ball went wide. A fresh air swipe from Martis almost presented McCann with a real sight of goal but after help from Jones he redeemed himself by blocking behind for a corner. From that the ball was swung deep to the back post for the awaiting Berra, Murphy just got in front of the Hearts man to head behind. Brellier became the latest player to be cautioned, this time for persistent fouling before Benjelloun attempted an ambitious overhead effort that never threatened the Hearts goal.

From a Hartley free kick thrown deep into the danger aerial Jones had to be precise as he headed behind his own goal. Malkowski rose highest from the corner to claim the ball. Hibs were struggling to create clear cut chances and were reduced to long range efforts to try and get level and from a Beuzelin cross field pass, Shiels tried his luck but badly sliced his attempt wide. It took the last gasp clearance from Jones to stop a Bednar run after Jankauskas had got the better of Martis in an aerial duel. Bednar then almost charged down a Malkowski clearance following a very poor back pass from Murphy as Hibs continued to live dangerously in defence before Jankauskas attempted a shot from distance after holding off Martis but the tall striker’s shot was never on target and sailed wide.

On the stroke of half time Hearts won a free kick in a dangerous position twenty-five yards from goal and Malkowski had to be alert to save Hartley’s dipping drive from just under his cross bar. Referee McCurry signalled an end of an enthralling first period of play with the home side deserving of the half time lead but Hibs went not out of it by any means.

Half Time: Heart of Midlothian 1 Hibernian 0

Hearts restarted play with neither side having made any change at the break and Hartley immediately sent the ball out of play with a miss-hit pass. A Beuzelin foul on Mikoliunas twenty-five yards from goal gifted Hearts another free kick in a great position and they were to take this chance. Hartley’s effort was weak but on target, Malkowski dived to gather at his near post but to the agony of the visiting support spilled the ball at the feet of Jankauskas who could not miss from two yards out to put Hearts well and truly in the driving seat.

image A strong run from Brown offered some hope for Hibs, the midfielder holding off Brellier and Hartley before passing wide to Murphy but there were no takers to the wing backs powerful low cross that zipped along the face of Gordon’s goal. A fine run from Whittaker earned Hibs their first corner of the second half and it was from there they were to get back into the game. Shiels corner was met powerfully by the head of top goal scorer Killen giving Gordon no chance as it flew past him into the bottom corner of the net.

Brown was yellow carded for a crude challenge on Brellier as the pace of the game showed no signs of letting up. A poor pass back from Mikoliunas gave Hibs a corner after Gordon failed to control. From the cross by Shiels, Bednar headed clear under from Jones as Hibs continued to press for an equaliser. Hibernian did draw level however when a long diagonal ball into the box allowed Shiels in behind Barasa and as the Hibs man raced away he was hauled to the ground by the defender, referee McCurry having no hesitation in awarding the penalty. When the drama had died down Shiels stepped forward to send Gordon the wrong way and level the score.

The drama was not finished there as Shiels was found guilty of barging Gordon when trying to retrieve the ball and after a melee he was shown the red card by referee McCurry. Hearts replaced Jankauskas for Velicka before play resumed as the home side were award a free kick in a similar position from where they scored their second. This time Hartley could do no better than strike the wall with his effort. Benjelloun tried a shot from distance but it was tame and never a threat to Gordon, referee McCurry then correctly waved away the penalty claims of McCann after the Hearts player fell in the Hibs box a little too easily.

The home side got their noses back in front against ten-man Hibs after McCann slipped the ball wide left to Velicka, his cut back meant for Bednar was too long but somehow also escaped several Hibs defenders before falling perfectly for Mikoliunas who found the top corner of Malkowski’s net with 69 minutes on the clock.

Beuzelin was shown the yellow card for a late foul on Wallace as the tackles continued thick and fast before Hearts replaced Bednar with Pospisil. A great team move saw Brown burst forward; he passed the ball into Killen on the edge of the Hearts box and he slipped it onto Whittaker. The full back’s fine shot beat Gordon but hit both posts before going to safety for the home side. It was desperately unlucky for a Hibs side down to ten men but who were playing the better football and certainly deserved some reward.

All the pressure was coming from Hibernian who to their credit continued to pass the ball around and play the game in the right manner despite the numerical difference. With time running out Hearts were awarded a corner kick. Taken by McCann it was headed clear by Stewart at the front post. A late free kick for Hibs allowed the Easter Road men to throw caution to the wind and send players forward. From the cross Gordon dropped the ball under pressure and Berra sliced it high into the air, Gordon again could not hold but this time he had been fouled.

Three minutes of additional time were signalled as Hibs sent almost everyone forward but they were to create no more chances as time ran out and Hearts hung on for the three points. Having deserved of more Hibs will ultimately feel disappointed but they gave a fine performance and played the game in the correct manner.

Heart of Midlothian: Gordon, Berra, Goncalves, Zaliukas, Brellier, Mikoliunas, Hartley, Barasa, McCann, Bednar, Jankauskas. Subs: Banks, Pospisil, Aguiar, Karipidis, Wallace, Velicka, Driver.

Hibernian: Malkowski, Whittaker, Martis, Jones, Murphy, Shiels, Beuzelin, Brown, Stewart, Benjelloun, Killen. Subs: McNeil, Hogg, Stevenson, Glass, McCann, McCluskey, Campbell.

Referee: Mike McCurry

Attendance: 17,369