Frail's savvy set-up the difference in dire derby

STUART LOVELL
GAMES between Hearts and Hibs are never easy to predict, but I'll be trying hard to erase this one from the memory bank after the two teams provided us with one of the most sterile derbies I've ever had the misfortune to watch.
There was very little imagination on show, very few efforts on goal and compared to what we've been used to in the past, not much passion from the players either.

With the exception of Robbie Neilson and Ian Murray getting wired into one another, I can barely recall a tackle being made and that is the most disappointing aspect of the match when you consider the importance of last weekend's fixture to both teams.

As a player, I always felt the key to winning an Edinburgh derby was to keep a clear head on the pitch while everyone around you was losing theirs. It was often the case that the team who maintained their composure in the heat of the battle would emerge victorious.

Strange then on Saturday, that the game never really threatened to spark into life despite a typically lively atmosphere at Tynecastle.

On the balance of play, Hearts were clearly the better side and thoroughly deserved the three points.

I doubt whether their keeper, Steve Banks, has had a quieter afternoon throughout the whole season.

Tactically, Stevie Frail got it spot on playing Michael Stewart in the hole behind Andrius Velicka. This allowed him the freedom to roam in between Hibs midfield and back four, but, more importantly, it meant he was able to match up against Guillaume Beuzelin when Hibs gained possession, thus stopping the most influential player in their team from affecting the game to any great degree.

Hearts had a noticeable advantage over Hibs physically and the fact both Neilson and Goncalves looked comfortable in direct opposition to Zemmama and Morais in the wide areas meant much of Hibs' attacking threat was nullified from the start. Benji had a quiet game as did last week's hat-trick hero, Dean Shiels, but neither player was helped by the poor service they received throughout the match.

Hearts, on the other hand, started brightly with both Driver and Cesnauskis showing some nice touches and, though it took the home side 20 minutes before making the breakthrough, it was clear the goal was coming.

Nevertheless, the manner of Velicka's winner was very soft and, from Hibs' perspective, it is something that has happened too often in recent seasons.

At first glance, it appeared Driver's corner had been headed back across goal by Christophe Berra, but, on closer examination, it looked like it was actually Hibs' centre-back, Chris Hogg, who accidentally re-directed the ball into the path of Velicka while under pressure at the far post.

I don't know if Hogg was detailed to mark Berra at all set-pieces or whether it came about on this occasion by accident, but bearing in mind how dangerous the Hearts skipper can be from corners and free-kicks I'd have thought Hibs might have preferred their 6ft 7in centre-half, Rob Jones, to pick him up.

When the ball dropped to Velicka just six yards out it looked a foregone conclusion he would score, but his header lacked power and the only thing you could say is that he tested the keeper. I say tested, but I think most people would've expected Yves Ma-Kalambay to do better with such a tame effort.

It is ironic that goalkeepers can pull off spectacular saves one minute – as he had done from a deflected Palazuelos (pictured] shot earlier in the half – but are then unable to make the simpler saves just seconds later.

Referee Kenny Clark – never a popular figure at Tynecastle – was on the receiving end of a fair bit of stick from the home support for some puzzling decisions in the first half, not least when he chose to book Velicka for supposedly diving inside the box.

That was a particularly poor call from the ref; if anything it was a penalty kick as Velicka had managed to get wrong side of Hogg and was in a dangerous position when he went down under
a challenge from the defender.

There can be times when a player's reputation precedes him and, on this occasion, I'm sure that was the case. Velicka may have lost his footing after being fouled, but he certainly didn't dive and a booking looked a harsh decision.

There were very few positives for Hibs to take from this game, but at least their fans saw the return of Steven Fletcher.

He has been one of the few bright spots in what is turning out to be a disappointing season for the Easter Road club and if Hibs are to turn things around he'll need to find his best form and fast.

The best player on the pitch, in my view at least, was Hearts' centre midfielder, Ruben Palazuelos. He worked himself into the ground and when he got the ball he seemed to have that bit more time than the rest to make a telling pass.

A fine performance from a player with a great deal of promise.

Taken from the Scotsman