Hibs rue missed chances as Hearts bag a point

Ryan Stevenson fired the Jambos ahead only for Liam Miller to equalise from the spot as Hearts were reduced to ten men, captain Marius Zaliukas sent off after barging Akpo Sodje in the back.

Hibs appeared to have made their numerical superiority count when Ricardo Vaz Te fired them ahead with only 11 minutes left but Stephen Elliott volleyed home a stunning equaliser three minutes later.

The third Capital derby of the season started in rip-roaring fashion, Hibs striker Derek Riordan skewing a right-foot shot wide before Hearts hitman Elliott forced the game's first save out of Mark Brown, his well-hit shot beaten away by the goalkeeper.

Callum Booth drilled a low effort straight at Jambos goalie Jamie MacDonald but it was the Gorgie outfit which settled first and began to exert pressure on their hosts, Paul Hanlon forced into a superb last-ditch challenge on Elliott as he threatened again before the Irishman had claims for another a penalty in another tussle with the Hibs skipper waved away.

Elliott, though, passed up the game's best chance, caught on his heels as Craig Thomson's 13th minute corner flashed through a ruck of bodies and struck him before landing in the grateful arms of Brown.

Ismael Bouzid flashed a free header wide before Hearts went ahead in the 24th minute, Hanlon's clearing header from Andy Driver's falling into the path of Stevenson who fired a low shot from 17 yards out beyond Brown and into the far corner of the net.

Hibs were rocked but they hauled themselves level thanks to a crazy moment from Zaliukas, the Hearts skipper barging Akpo Sodje in the back as he attempted to get under a high ball from Derek Riordan, referee Iain Brines immediately pointing to the spot and reaching for the red card for the Lithuanian defender.

Liam Miller, forced to twice re-spot the ball, kept his composure to step up and slot home from 12 yards despite MacDonald diving in the right direction.

Now it was Hearts, who had been forced to sacrifice the attacking talent of David Templeton for the defensive qualities of Jason Thomson, turn to be rattled, MacDonald racing to the edge of his area to boot clear as Riordan raced onto Victor Palsson's through ball.

And Francis Dickoh was presented with a golden opportunity to fire Hibs ahead right on the stroke of half-time, meeting Booth's cross only to send a powerful downward header wide, leaving the defender holding his head in anguish.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first, Brown haring out to grab the ball before Stevenson could reach it.

Hibs looked to make best use of their numerical superiority and they should have made it count in the 54th minute when Miller picked out Palsson all alone in the Hearts penalty area but the Icelandic Under-21 star looked on in horror as he lifted his shot not only over MacDonald but the target.

A man short, Hearts were forced to try to hit on the break as Hibs made intelligent use of the ball although some superb defending by Andy Webster and Bouzid held them at bay, MacDonald again playing his part in beating away a Riordan drive.

Hibs put on David Wotherspoon for Palsson with Ricardo Vaz Te having replaced Martin Scott at the interval as they sought that second goal, Hearts replying by pushing on Ryan McGowan for the tiring Driver.

It was Hibs who continued to pose the greater threat and they would have felt they should have gone ahead in the 77th minute when Miller's raking through ball found Sodje, his touch wasn't great but the ball fell for Riordan who rounded MacDonald only to find Webster barring his path as he attempted to pick out his fellow striker.

But Hibs finally did get their reward as Vaz Te, like six of his team-mates playing in his first Edinburgh derby, latched onto the ball inside the Hearts penalty area and coolly rolled it beyond MacDonald with 79 minutes gone.

Their lead, however, was short-lived, just three minutes in fact, as Webster rose to nod Craig Thomson's free-kick back across goal where Elliott was lurking to volley home.

But right at the death Riordan had the chance to win it for Hibs but the normally reliable hitman pulled his shot across the face of goal and wide.

Hibs: Brown, Towell, Dickoh, Hanlon, Booth, Palsson (Wotherspoon 69), Scott (Vaz Te 46), Miller (Murray 82), Thornhill, Riordan, Sodje. Subs not used: Smith, Nish, Stephens, Stevenson.

Hearts: MacDonald, Bouzid, Zaliukas, Webster, C Thomson, Templeton (J Thomson 35) Black (Skacel 82), Driver (McGowan 72), Stevenson, S Elliot. Subs not used: Balogh, Obua, Glen, Robinson.
Referee: Iain Brines.

Taken from the Scotsman