Riordan denied as new Hearts keeper saves the day

But the early dominance did not last, and Riordan's threat was swiftly snuffed out by Hearts' substitute goalkeeper Janos Balogh. As a result, the game finished in a draw which left neither side entirely satisfied, but has kept them ticking along inside the top six, with Hibs still a point ahead.

Stalemate is the word most frequently applied to low-scoring draws, but there was nothing remotely stale about this full-blooded contest. Effervescent from start to finish, it could easily have gone either way, as both sides created several chances which on another day would have ended up as goals. Hibs were left to bemoan a penalty claim which was turned down, and Hearts scratched their heads in bemusement when Christian Nade had the ball in the net but was penalised for a supposed foul on Hibs goalkeeper Yves Makalambay.

In the main, though, it was the players themselves, not the referee, who were chiefly responsible for the lack of further goals, with Nade being especially culpable after spurning a gilt-edged chance to give his team the winner.

That opportunity, when the burly Frenchman spooned a pass from Andrew Driver over the bar from inside the six-yard box, came as the game moved into stoppage time, and just a minute after Riordan's own chance. By that stage, however, a winner for either side would have appeared mildly unjust.

That was a stark contrast to how matters appeared in the game's early stages, when Hibs fleetingly promised to run away with the game. Mixu Paatelainen had boldly chosen to play three men – Riordan, Colin Nish and Steven Fletcher – up front, and was rewarded after only 78 seconds had been played when all three were involved in the opening goal.

Nish began the attack, collecting a ball from Lewis Stevenson and holding off a challenge from Christos Karipidis. He then passed to Riordan, who returned the favour with an exquisite back-heel towards the byeline. Nish raced on to it, and crossed low into the box for Fletcher to nick in ahead of Lee Wallace and clip the ball into the net.

Hearts looked stunned by the rapidity of the strike, but it did not take long for them to recover their wits, and within minutes could have been level when Christophe Berra headed against the bar from a Laryea Kingston cross. With five men in midfield to Hibs' three, the visitors began to enjoy the bulk of possession, and the longer the half went on the more they looked like getting back on terms.

Before they actually did so, however, they might well have found themselves two goals down. Riordan had intercepted a poor clearance, and was just inside the box when Eggert Jonsson made contact with him. The Hibs player went down, but referee Eddie Smith was not interested in the home team's appeals for a spot-kick.

Not long afterwards, Nish committed a foul on Lee Wallace just outside the Hibs box. Bruno Aguiar, playing his first game for Hearts after an 18-month absence because of injury, stepped up to take the free-kick. He usually tries to chip the ball over the wall and high into the corner of the net, but this time he sent it low to the right, and a poorly positioned Makalambay was unable to reach it.

Hearts were forced into a change for the second half after a head knock left Kello feeling concussed. Balogh, his replacement, was quickly called into action, and did well to save a Riordan header at his near post.

Nade then appeared to have given Hearts the lead after heading in from a Kingston corner, but Makalambay was relieved to hear Smith blow his whistle for an infringement. The numerical advantage in midfield was still helping Hearts create a number of chances, but Hibs' three-man strike force looked dangerous every time they broke.

With quarter of an hour or so to play, a foul by Jonsson on Riordan set up a Hibs free-kick at the same spot from where Aguiar had scored. Riordan took it himself, and also sent it low to the right, but Balogh was in good position to save. Moments later Riordan found himself in space on the right, but his well-struck shot came back off the post.

Shortly thereafter a Stevenson cross from the left found Nish, who headed downwards into the path of Fletcher. With Berra and Karipidis closing him down, the Scotland striker had little time in which to size up his shot, and he was unable to keep it down.

In the five minutes which remained, both teams might have snatched the three points. Riordan's late chance arose when he intercepted a slack pass-back from Marius Zaliukas, and although the striker's first touch was not too bad, Balogh timed his intervention precisely to save at his feet.

Nade's effort followed, but by that time so many chances had been spurned that it was no surprise when he failed to find the net. Yet it would be wrong to remember this as a game of lost chances, for above all it was a contest which enhanced the fixture's reputation for entertainment and excitement.

Hibernian: Makalambay, Van Zanten, Bamba, Jones, Stevenson, Shiels, Thicot (Yantorno 79), Murray, Nish, Fletcher, Riordan. Subs not used: McNeil, Keenan, Rankin, Chisholm, Pinau, Cropley.

Hearts: Kello (Balogh 46), Jonsson, Zaliukas, Berra, Wallace, Karipidis, Kingston (Thomson 90), Stewart, Aguiar, Driver, Nade (Mole 89). Subs not used: Palazuelos, Mikoliunas, Makela, Ksanavicius.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Bruno Aguiar (Hearts)

The Portuguese playmaker, back at last after injury, was instrumental in Hearts' gaining the upper hand in midfield. He marked his comeback with a goal direct from a free-kick late in the first half, and but for understandable fatigue might have scored another late in the second.

HIBERNIAN

YVES MA-KALAMBAY 5/10

Ridiculed by the Hearts support and did little to subdue them with a nervous showing, particularly with the ball at his feet. Also spilled innocuous first-half shots from range.

DAVID VAN ZANTEN 5

Toiled to contain Driver's pace and rarely seen as an attacking threat, with Rob Jones and Sol Bamba frequently supplying much-needed cover for the right-back.

ROB JONES 7

Typically robust defensive showing from the home captain. Booked in the first-half for a lunge on Christian Nade. Hibs' best player.

SOL BAMBA 6

A few nervous attempts at clearing his lines, especially in the dying stages, but signs that he and Jones could form a decent long-term central defensive pairing.

LEWIS STEVENSON 6

Fortunate not to be booked after taking Bruno Aguiar's feet from underneath him. Otherwise subdued, with delivery from the left flank often poor, but crucially blocked a Laryea Kingston shot late on.

STEVEN THICOT 5

Deployed by the hosts as a sitting midfielder but passes often went astray and Thicot struggled to contain the Hearts midfield's advances. Replaced by Fabian Yantorno as Hibs looked to snatch a winner.

DEAN SHIELS 4

Going through an inauspicious run of form. Chose the wrong option when 25 yards out on more than one occasion, opting for personal glory rather than playing in one of his team-mates.

IAN MURRAY 6

Booked late in the game for a lunge on Michael Stewart. Like Thicot, found the going tough against a dominant visiting midfield but made a few crucial interventions.

STEVEN FLETCHER 6

Scored his first derby goal and should have had a second, volleying over from all of eight yards range. Linked up well with his fellow attackers, but will be troubled by that glaring missed opportunity.

DEREK RIORDAN 6

Perhaps unlucky not to be awarded a first-half penalty after a challenge from Eggert Jonsson. Played a crucial part in Hibs' goal, but Jonsson rallied to largely keep the local hero in check.

COLIN NISH 5

Somehow escaped a booking for persistent fouling, the most costly one on Lee Wallace which resulted in Hearts' equaliser. Provided a physical threat without genuinely looking like scoring a goal.

SUBSTITUTE

FABIAN YANTORNO (for Thicot, 80)3

Brought on with ten minutes remaining, and had little time to influence the outcome.

HEARTS

MARIAN KELLO 3/10

Has been impressive in recent weeks but nervy here, particularly with his kicking, and a howler moments before the interval almost have Hibs a second goal. Replaced at half-time following a head knock.

EGGERT JONSSON 6

Tackle on Derek Riordan had home fans and players screaming for a penalty, probably legitimately, and the young Icelander was caught out at the time of Hibs' goal. Steadied thereafter, though.

MARIUS ZALIUKAS 4

Came within a superb Janos Balogh save from entering derby folklore for a glaring error, a poor back-pass offering Derek Riordan a match-winning sight at goal.

CHRISTOPHE BERRA 6

Not put off by an early caution, although windy conditions caused a few moments of panic for the Hearts captain. Enjoyed a keenly-contested tussle with Nish and Fletcher.

LEE WALLACE 6

An improved performance from the left-back. One of many forward advances prompted the foul and free-kick from which Hearts levelled.

LARYEA KINGSTON 5

A poor first-half showing from the midfielder, with his set plays noticeably wasteful. Improved after the interval, though, only an impressive Lewis Stevenson block denying him a goal.

BRUNO AGUIAR 8

The most outstanding player on display. Curled home a sublime free-kick and only denied a further goal or two having lost his footing at crucial moments. Linked play superbly.

CHRISTOS KARIPIDIS 5

Is slowly becoming accustomed to a holding midfield berth. Endured a poor start but gradually found his feet.

MICHAEL STEWART 6

A disciplined showing from the former Hibs man. Rarely seen as an attacking force but broke up Hibs' advances well and proved a perfect foil for Aguiar.

ANDREW DRIVER 6

Back in the team after a lengthy absence, the young winger displayed little sign of rustiness with his pace a constant menace to Hibs' back line.

CHRISTIAN NADE 6

Probably his most tireless shift in a Hearts shirt. Unlucky to have a second half headed chopped off for a foul on Yves Ma-Kalambay, toiled to make the ball stick in the opening half but showed willingness to chase lost causes. Missed glorious late chance.

SUBSTITUTE

JANOS BALOGH (for Kello, 45) 7

Twice denied Derek Riordan in superb fashion, firstly punching a half-volley from his top right-hand corner before robbing the Hibs striker as he attempted to round him. An impressive debut from the Hungarian.

Taken from the Scotsman