Hibernian 0-2 Hearts

By Clive Lindsay

A brilliant solo goal from David Templeton helped give Hearts a deserved derby win that leaves Hibernian second bottom of the Scottish Premier League.

Templeton opened the scoring with a mazy run and shot that was reminiscent of Lionel Messi in full flight.

That 19th-minute moment of beauty belied a first half of few chances.

Templeton set up Stephen Elliot for a close-range finish after 66 minutes for the visitors before Hibs captain Derek Riordan was sent off late on.

Riordan had been made captain, but his scything challenge on Rudi Skacel in the dying seconds showed an indiscipline that spilled over to the Easter Road stand as objects were thrown at the Hearts players.

And defeat leaves Colin Calderwood, who had kept faith with the line-up that lost narrowly to Dundee United, with three straight defeats since taking over as manager from John Hughes.
Stephen Elliott (centre) scored Hearts' second goal
Elliott (centre) scored Hearts' second goal at Easter Road

Hearts, meanwhile, move into fourth, justifying Jim Jefferies' decision to ring the changes after last weekend's defeat by Kilmarnock by introducing Templeton, Elliott and Ian Black in place of Calum Elliot, Suso and Darren Barr.

Yet Hibs made the more lively start full of flowing passing football, although they were unable to create anything clear-cut within their Edinburgh rivals' penalty box.

They were restricted to a couple of high balls from set-pieces aimed at Sol Bamba, with the defender failing to get sufficient purchase on his headers to threaten the visitors' goal.

Templeton cut in off the left wing to fire a drive from 25 yards straight at goalkeeper Mark Brown as Hearts at last threatened after 16 minutes.

Hibs had obviously not heeded the warning as Templeton netted a stunning solo goal three minutes later.

The 21-year-old winger again cut inside and shrugged off the challenges of Galbraith, Michael Hart, Bamba and Liam Miller before tucking a cool right-foot finish low past Brown from just inside the penalty box.

Referee Willie Collum was hoping to avoid controversy in his second high-profile derby within a couple of weeks after being criticised by Celtic for awarding Rangers a penalty.

That moment appeared to arrive when he stopped play as Elliott broke clear on the halfway line, but television replays showed that Kevin Kyle had created the space by fouling Hibs defender Paul Hanlon.

Calderwood showed his disappointment with the first-half display by replacing midfielder John Rankin with striker Valdas Trakys, who took over as lone striker as Riordan moved wide on the left.

Riordan immediately released Jonathan Grounds, whose low cross was well saved by goalkeeper Marian Kello with a forest of Hibs boots waiting to turn the ball into the net.

Hearts survived loud appeals for a penalty when Marius Zaliukas appeared to bundle Hanlon to the ground as they waited for a Riordan free-kick to be delivered into the box.

It was Hibs' turn to escape when Black chipped the ball into the box and Skacel volleyed well over from 15 yards when Elliott might have been better placed to find the target.

However, while Hibs had now taken control territorially, they fell further behind to Elliott's first goal since joining Hearts.

Kyle headed the ball into the box following a free-kick, Templeton got in front of his markers to stab the ball on and Elliot swept the ball home from 10 yards.

That killed the game, with Hibs fans streaming for the exits and those left behind reacting with some anger in the stands as the game ended without their side seriously threatening Kello in the Hearts goal over the whole 90 minutes.

Riordan got caught up with the frustration with his red card, while reports came in that there was also significant damage to seating in the Hearts end of the stadium - something likely to be investigated by the Scottish Football Association along with the missile-throwing.

Taken from the BBC