Derby rivals share the spoils

Published Date: 02 January 2010
By Colleen Strachan
GOALS either side of the break saw Hibs and Hearts share the spoils in the second Edinburgh derby of the season this afternoon.
Gordon Smith gave the visitors the lead almost on the stroke of half-time at Easter Road before Anthony Stokes hit the equaliser nine minutes into the second half.

Both sides were reduced to ten men when an off-the-ball clash between Ruben Palazuelos and Darren McCormack ended in both players being shown straight red cards.

Hibs gave new signing Graeme Smith his debut, following injuries to both Graham Stack and Yves Ma-Kalambay and the Easter Road keeper should have been well tested with just eight minutes on the clock when Michael Stewart won possession down the left. The Hearts skipper stabbed the ball infield to Christian Nade and hared into the edge of the box to collect the return from the Frenchman before sending a cracking low ball across the face of goal for Gordon Smith. However the youngster, who was sliding in at pace, was just inches away from connecting for a certain goal.

At the other end Hearts handed Hibs a chance on a plate, a high ball causing Lee Wallace all sorts of problems and then the defender put his keeper in trouble with a poor passback under pressure from Anthony Stokes but Marian Kello spared his team-mate's blushes by tracking back to collect the loose ball.

With just over 20 minutes gone Stewart went down injured on the Hibs byeline but, as he writhed about on the ground in agony, the Hearts bench failed to see their captain and it took Hibs subs Colin Nish, who was warming up at that end of the pitch, to run back to the dugout to alert the Tynecastle side's physio.

Fortunately for the visitors, the midfielder was able to carry on although he spent the next few minutes trying to run the problem off.

Hibs came close on the half hour when a free-kick from Merouane Zemmama was headed out from the six yard box, straight into the path of Chris Hogg, who released an absolute thunderbolt that seemed set to rip into the back of the net, only for a Hearts player to throw his body in front of the ball and deflect it away.

The home side would have been kicking themselves a few minutes later when Liam Miller's pass caught the Hearts backline on the hop, allowing Stokes to beat the offside trap and get in a shot in, only for the Irishman to send his effort wide of target.

Hearts had looked second best until that point but they got a goal right on the stroke of half time when Ruben Palazuelos cut a brilliant ball in from the left flank and it fell perfectly for young Smith, who drilled an absolute belter beyond Smith to put his side in front.

However Hibs took just nine minutes to level and it was another well-worked goal, David Wotherspoon spotting Derek Riordan haring out wide left and sending the ball into his path. The former Celtic striker whipped in another cracking ball, this time at head height, and it was perfectly placed for Stokes to steer a header into the net.

The game exploded just a couple of minutes later when Palazuelos appeared to aim a headbutt at Darren McCormack and the young Hibs player reacted with a headbutt of his own – all of which was in clear view of the refreree and both players were shown straight red cards. The Hearts player then had to be held back as he raced towards to tunnel to continue his argument with the Hibs defender.

Iain Black could have snatched all three points for Hearts with 15 minutes left when he tried his luck with a poweful long-rang effort, only for Smith to prove himself equal to the ashot, getting a hand to it to push it away from danger.

Hibs: Smith, Hanlon, Murray, Hogg, McCormack, Riordan, Rankin, Zemmama, Miller, Wotherspoon, Stokes. Unused subs: Flynn, McBride, Cregg, Nish, Benjelloun, Stevenson, Thicot.

Hearts: Kello, Wallace Zaliukas, Bouzid, Cinikas, Palazuels, Stewart, Jonsson, Suso, Smith, Nade. Unused subs: Balogh, Black, Witteveen, Templeton, Wallace, Mulrooney, Visconte.

Refreree: Charlie Richmond

Taken from the Scotsman