Collins' words return to haunt him as 'pub team' seals another derby victory

Having defeated their guests with an exhilarating mix of competitive drive, great movement and interplay and some sound finishing, even Hearts' assistant head coach Stevie Frail couldn't resist a veiled reference. "We always hear how well Hibs pass the ball and credit to them, because they do, but we have players who can do that and I think that showed in the first half."

"The defining fact was that we made critical mistakes and they didn't," countered Collins. "They were nice and solid at the back, but we missed some chances in the first half. We should have done better with them, but we didn't. But we will learn from this. They are young players and we will study our defeats and move forward. That's the beauty of young players, they are still developing."

The first lesson to be learned is that Hibs still require a more reliable goalkeeper. Andy McNeil was the latest to blunder, gifting the advantage and, ultimately, the points to the opposition. Having earned his role as first-choice keeper after previous bloopers from Zibby Malkowski and Simon Brown, his 23rd-minute fumble was the kind that has to be viewed through splayed fingers.

"We know where we need to strengthen, but Andy knows himself - he's an honest lad - that he should have done better with the second goal," said Collins.

But Hibs were already behind by then, thanks to the dervish-like determination of Michal Pospisil. Chasing down a long ball forward he barged between two defenders to slot in the opener. "Sometimes when you score early on you give the other team a lift, but we went on from there and to go in 2-0 at half-time was a bonus," said Frail, whose charges had grown in poise and stature as the opening 45 minutes progressed, playing on Hibs insecurities with one break forward after another.

"We lost the goal and we lost confidence and we were a bit edgy," said Collins. "I think that was the perfect word for us in the first half. After we went a goal down we were far too edgy for my liking. In the second half we made a few changes and were much better."

Better, but still lacking a killer finish. Along with a new goalkeeper, the chances are a new striker will be a priority throughout the summer transfer window.

"It was frustrating," said defender David Murphy, who was one of the better Hibs performers on the day. "We had talked about the need to start positively, but once again we went behind early doors. Again we were trying to do the right things, but it just hasn't been working for us and again we drew a blank. We don't seem to be scoring many goals and that is a cause for concern."

The only concern Hearts fans have is how they will replace key players such as Julien Brellier and Takis Fyssas, who took their final bow at Tynecastle yesterday before their respective summer departures.

Brellier did not feature, but received a rapturous reception after the match, while Fyssas was granted a standing ovation when he left the pitch in the 57th minute. In what amounted to a virtual lap of honour, he hugged his team-mates, stripped of the shirt he later insisted he will keep as a memento, and blew kisses to the crowd.

But the Greek international has always know how to play to his audience. It was he who led them in a singalong when they secured second place last season, a song he reprised after the final whistle yesterday after he had given them the only farewell gift he could - victory over their Edinburgh rivals. What will he remember most of his time at Hearts, he was later asked. Of course there was the Scottish Cup victory and the second-place finish but there was more - he always loved the victories over Hibs. Not nearly as much as the Hearts fans did yesterday.

Taken from the Scotsman