Kerr is quick to kill off unhappy Hearts

Ewan Murray at Tynecastle
Tuesday August 7, 2007
The Guardian

Life without Craig Gordon began in ignominious fashion for Hearts last night as they stumbled to a home defeat by their city rivals, Hibernian.

Steve Banks took the place of the Premiership-bound goalkeeper in the Hearts goal, but it is further upfield that Hearts fans are wishing the eccentric club owner, Vladimir Romanov, spends some of the riches which are about to arrive for the Scotland international's services. On this evidence Hearts, although plagued by injuries, will struggle to keep any kind of pace with the Old Firm .

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Recent Edinburgh derbies have had a habit of producing early goals, and this one was no different, Hibs scoring through the debutant Brian Kerr within two minutes. Kerrheaded home from six yards after Christos Karipidis failed to cut out an enticing cross from Steven Fletcher. The rest of the opening period was typically untidy, played at a ferocious pace and littered with fouls, a situation not helped by erratic refereeing from Stuart Dougal.

Hearts enjoyed much possession but lacked cohesion in the final third, an accusation which could not be levelled at a Hibs team who counter-attacked and defended as an impressive unit. Andrew Driver came closest to an equaliser, but the winger screwed wide from 10 yards on the half-hour.

Abdessalam Benjelloun came closer to a second goal for Hibs, volleying just wide eight minutes after the interval. Hibs, buoyed by the dissent, played down the clock under little pressure.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer