Hearts inflict more Cup pain on Hibs in Edinburgh derby

Scottish Cup Fourth Round
Hibernian 0
Hearts 2

* Nade 38,
* Glen 90

* Ewan Murray
* The Guardian, Monday 12 January 2009

Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher leaves the pitch after being sent off during the 2-0 defeat by Hearts in the Scottish Cup fourth round. Photograph: Chris Clark/PA

Hibernian's misery goes on. Not since 1902 has their name been etched on the Scottish Cup and few exits during the intervening 107 years will have been as harrowing as this one.

Their city rivals, Heart of Midlothian, were responsible for this defeat and how the men in maroon enjoyed it. For one half of Edinburgh, this remains a cup of cheer. A match which started in low-key fashion exploded into life after half an hour as Hibs' highly rated striker Steven Fletcher was dismissed for a wild lunge on Christophe Berra. The scouts from Manchester City and Fulham had made their journey north in vain and Hibs' dreams of cup salvation vanished for yet another year.

"Berra jumped like a brown trout," claimed an irate Hibs manager, Mixu Paatelainen. "Fletcher didn't even catch him. I don't think it was even worth a yellow card."

While few neutral observers would perhaps have complained if Craig Thomson, the referee, had merely booked Fletcher, Paatelainen's assertion that no contact was made is disingenuous. The Hibs player clearly caught Berra's ankle; only evasive action from the Hearts captain prevented serious injury. Fletcher had already passed up what was ultimately Hibs' only chance of note in the tie, dalliance allowing the visiting goalkeeper Janos Balogh to save the blushes of his defence.

From then on, it was downhill for the hosts.

It took Hearts a mere eight minutes to capitalise on Fletcher's mistake. Christian Nade, a striker noted far more for his ample frame than goal-scoring exploits, slammed home from close range after an Andy Driver cross. Not for the first time in this fixture, a Hibs goalkeeper was at fault, Yves Ma-Kalambay needlessly rushing to meet Driver in a wide area and leaving his net exposed. Ma-Kalambay was replaced by Grzegorz Szamotulski at half-time, a matter officially put down to the former having a tight hamstring; he may also have been suffering from a red face.

Hibs, notably when managed by Tony Mowbray, have gained a reputation for being pleasing on the eye. They were anything but after the interval, and Hearts passed the ball with such freedom that only an apparent lack of interest prevented them from doubling their lead.

Deividas Cesnauskis was the biggest culprit, twice opting to dribble rather than shoot when afforded a sight at goal. Hibs, meanwhile, had launched only two attacks in the opening 20 minutes of the second period."I am not happy," said the Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo. "Normally, we should win this game 4-0. We lack a killer instinct." The Hungarian need not have worried. As Hibs continued to toil, the Hearts substitute Gary Glen collected a pass from the outstanding Christos Karipidis, rounded Szamotulski and sealed victory. Amid a fairly uninspiring draw, Hearts' reward for this win is a fifth-round tie at home to Falkirk. For their rivals, the period of hurt will be extended to at least 108 years.

Man of the match Christos Karipidis (Hearts)

Taken from the Guardian/Observer