Hearts 1 Hibernian 0

Mixu Paatelainen made just one change to the side that defeated Inverness last weekend in the Scottish Cup, former skipper Ian Murray making his debut second time around at the expense of the injured Paul Hanlon. Fellow new signing John Rankin had to be content with a place amongst the substitutes where he was joined by top scorer Steven Fletcher, returning to the side after injury.

Hibernian FC Match Reports
Heart of Midlothian 1 Hibernian 0
Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Saturday 19th January 2008

Hearts got the game underway in a ferocious atmosphere, the pace of the opening moments was incredible and it almost caused Concalves to make an early slip before the powerful defender recovered under pressure from Morais. Hearts won the first corner kick inside 3 minutes but it was calmly collected by Ma-Kalambay as the home side tried to exert early pressure.

image After Morais was fouled on the edge of the Hearts penalty area, Hibernian were awarded a free kick wide on the right, Benjelloun curled it in low at the near post but Banks was on hand to gather comfortably for Hearts. Stewart had an effort deflected wide at the other end for a corner kick that again came to nothing, before Cesnauskis tried his luck with a dipping volley from the edge of the Hibs penalty box that brought out an excellent save from Ma-Kalambay as both teams traded punched like heavy weight boxers.

Hearts would have opened the scoring in 13 minutes had it not been for a quite simply sensational save from Ma-Kalambay. After fine work on the right wing and a good inter change of play a gap opened up for Cesnauskis and the Hearts players’ effort took a deflection off Murray to wrong foot the goalkeeper only for Ma-Kalambay to adjust his body weight mid air and get a strong right hand to it to keep it out.

A quick break-away from Hibernian after Shiels robbed Goncalves of possession saw Morais and Benjelloun link up, but the later hit a tame shot on the turn from 18 yards that did not trouble Banks. The play was raging from end to end and the home supporters thought they had scored when Jonsson had an effort that looked destined for the top corner before a deflection from Jones saw it end up wide of goal. The home side however did not have long to wait for the opener and from the resultant corner Berra headed back across goal for Velicka to nod Hearts in front after Ma-Kalambay fumbled the ball just over his line.

Seconds after opening the scoring, Velicka was yellow carded for simulation after he threw himself to the ground in an attempt to win his side a penalty kick. Hibernian should have levelled when Zemmama played the ball wide right to Morais, his low cross was completely missed by Benjelloun when a touch would have seen Hibernian level. Hibs won a succession of corner kicks as they attempted to turn the heat up on the home side, but did not cause any undue panic to the Hearts defence before Hogg tried an ambitious long range shot that was comfortably held by Banks.

In 34 minutes Hibernian had a free kick on the edge of the Hearts box after Shiels was fouled by Berra, Benjelloun’s shot striking the wall and behind for a corner kick. From the corner Jones headed wide under pressure from Berra. Another free kick from Hibernian, this time played long from just side the Hearts half again found Jones but once again Banks saved without too much hassle. Both sides were giving their all in this Edinburgh Derby and there was no let up in the pace.

A Hibernian corner was headed down to Zemmama but Stewart cleared the little winger’s shot from the goal line at the near post. Both Driver and Stewart had shots at the Hibernian goal as the half drew to a close but neither hit the target, Hibernian then going in at the break trailing their hosts by a single goal and once again they could only have themselves to blame as errors proved costly.

Half Time: Heart of Midlothian 1 Hibernian 0

Before they restarted the second half Hibernian replaced Benjelloun with Fletcher and immediately from kick off Hibs won themselves a corner kick but could make nothing of it. Hibs made an excellent start to the half and Fletcher was within a whisker of turning an excellent Shiels cross into the Hearts net. The players from the green half of Edinburgh were getting stuck right into the action and had the Jambos on the back foot, but a solid home back-four where managing to protect their goalkeeper.

image Despite the promising start from Hibs it was Hearts that went close to scoring again when Driver wrong footed Kerr from a Goncalves throw in and hit a powerful shot that was just over the bar from 16 yards. The Hibs supporters in Roseburn Stand were calling for a penalty kick after Shiels went down under the challenge of Berra, before Kerr fired straight at Banks from 18 yards.

A succession of corner kicks went Hibs way but the Easter Road men could not do anything with them. Hearts pulled Michael Stewart from the action before Hibs captain Jones was given the afternoon’s second yellow card for a trip on Palazuelos. Hibernian supporters then received their first glimpse of new signing John Rankin when he replaced the increasingly ineffective Zemmama after 66 minutes. Beuzelin was next to receive a caution from the referee after an impulsive trip.

There was another shout for a penalty kick for Hibernian when Hogg appeared to be wrestled to the ground by Karipidis at a Hibs corner kick but referee Clark waved play on. It is on these decisions that games can be won and lost and Hogg made it plain to be seen that he felt it should have been a spot kick, although television evidence proved inconclusive. It took a last gasp block from Berra to keep the home side in front after Fletcher had cut inside Karipidis and was shaping to shot from 18 yards, as in spite of enjoying the vast majority of the possession Hibernian just could not break through the Hearts back line.

Both sides made changes as Palazuelos was replaced with Nade for Hearts while Hibs changed Morais with Gray. The youngster’s first involvement ended with a free kick wide on the right, taken left footed by Shiels it found Beuzelin inside the Hearts box and as everyone in the Stadium expected the Frenchman to level the game he tamely headed towards goal and in doing continuing the easy afternoon for goalkeeper Banks.

Driver made it two bookings apiece after a trip on Shiels before Rankin shot straight at Banks from the resulting free kick. All the pressure was coming from Hibernian with the home supporters becoming increasing hostile towards their own side but the visitors just could not make the breakthrough. After a rare break forward from Hearts they were awarded a corner kick, and from Driver’s delivery Berra headed low towards the far post but could only look on in frustration as Ma-Kalambay saved well.

Fletcher was lucky to escape a yellow card after a silly barge on Banks before Nade was not so lucky and talked his way into the referee’s notebook for dissent. The fourth official signalled 3 additional minutes and as the game entered injury time Hearts almost snatched another a McCann turned a low Mikoliunas cross just past his own post.

In the end Hibernian could not force an equalising goal in a game that they deserved at least a share of the spoils. Mixu Paatelainen could be pleased with the efforts of his players who gave their all but on the day the luck and the points belonged to Hearts, the Tynecastle side drawing to within four points of their city rivals.

Heart of Midlothian: Banks, Berra, Palazuelos, Velicka, Neilson, Karipidis, Jonsson, Stewart, Goncalves, Cesnauskis, Driver. Subs: Bjornsson, Wallace, Nade, Thomson, Mikoliunas, Beniusis, Ksanavicius.

Hibernian: Ma-Kalambay, McCann, Jones, Hogg, Murray, Beuzelin, Shiels, Kerr, Zemmama, Benjelloun, Morais. Subs: McNeil, Chisholm, McCormack, Gray, Fletcher, Hanlon, Rankin.

Referee: Kenny Clark

Attendance: 17,131