From the Heart

richard wilson at easter road

4 Apr 2011

The reaction was unrestrained, as the Hearts players and coaching staff took to the field at the final whistle in a gleeful surge.

They felt released, since the circumstances of this Edinburgh derby made the late rescuing of a draw precious. There was sentiment, certainly, in their reaction, and relief too, but also gloating; this result, however it would have changed by Derek Riordan being more clinical in the final moments, emphasised again the hold that Hearts, and Jim Jefferies in particular, have on this fixture.

It is now seven games, or almost two years, since the Tynecastle side were last defeated by their city rivals, a record that was perhaps never more at risk than yesterday afternoon.

Reduced to 10 men by the dismissal of Marius Zaliukas, and having fallen behind with only 10 minutes remaining, Hearts might have fallen prey to self-pity. Instead, Andy Webster rose with graceful power to head down Craig Thomson's free-kick, and Stephen Elliott volleyed the ball in from close range.

There were seven minutes left, and Riordan should have scored twice before the final whistle, but the forlorn nature of his finishing told of the feeling of loss that Hibernian were already suffering. This game, these opponents, have become a source of agitation.

Reduced to 10 men and having fallen behind, Hearts might have fallen prey to self-pity

Reduced by injuries and suspensions, Hearts could at least cling to the knowledge that this fixture has a habit of succumbing to their will. They had won the last four and the notion of command survived an early scare when Martin Scott lifted a pass over the Hearts defence for Riordan, who awkwardly steered a volley wide. And in fact it was the visitors who performed with greater certainty and purpose.

This intent, which was as much a frame of mind as any kind of physical superiority, was at its most wearing for Hibs when it exposed the greater vulnerability in their defence. In the space of 12 minutes, the visitors created three blunt opportunities, and a worthy penalty claim when Paul Hanlon muscled Elliott to the ground.

The Hearts striker beat the turf in frustration when no foul was awarded, but he might already have been feeling a burden of regret. Elliott should have struck a more resounding effort from 12 yards out after only four minutes, but instead shot tamely straight at Mark Brown.

He was similarly timid when a Craig Thomson corner bounced off his chest two yards from goal, only to then land in Brown's arms. When Ruben Palazuelos headed wide from close range, it felt as though Hearts were too imposing for the home side to contain.

Even when Hibs defended their penalty area, it was fraught, and the Tynecastle side eventually took full advantage. Andrew Driver's cross was headed away to the edge of the box, but it landed in front of Ryan Stevenson, who dug the ball out from under his feet before driving a shot past Brown.

Easter Road became lost to a frantic air, and Ismael Bouzid had to dodge a cup of juice hurled from the East Stand as he took a throw-in moments later. Hibs might have recognised – in trailing to an uncompromising Hearts side – the feeling of dismay as being sharply familiar.

But if their defence was ever capable of surrendering to alarm, the understanding remained that Riordan carries a threat in front of goal. Akpo Sodje, too, is a powerful, menacing figure, and there was enough energy about the two forwards for Zaliukas to lose his composure when they combined.

When Sodje looked to run on to Riordan's pass, Zaliukas moved across to knock the striker over. As Iain Brines, the referee, pointed to the spot then dug into his pocket for the red card, Zaliukas raged at Jamie MacDonald, the Hearts goalkeeper, for not coming off his line, but there might have been some guilt in that reaction after he chose to deal with the situation so rashly.

Despite having to re-place the ball, Liam Miller remained composed enough to convert the penalty decisively. The optimism and belief, had shifted to the home side, so that Hearts were reduced to a need to stay in it, to find a way to hold onto their defiant spirit.

That impetus seemed fragile enough before Ian Black mis-controlled the ball just inside his own half, allowing Hibs to break upfield. The ball moved from Riordan to Miller to Victor Palsson, but the midfielder, with too much urgency, stabbed his shot over the bar.

Hearts were receding further into themselves, and Hibs were right to sense that victory had become within their reach. The introduction of Ricardo Vaz Te, the former Portugal under-21 attacker, also brought an element of dangerous uncertainty into the Easter Road side's forays.

His play was a little ragged, but still enough to render Hearts' stoicism immaterial. From David Wotherspoon's cross, Vaz Te's heavy first touch took the ball in a high arc into the penalty area, but he raced on to reach it ahead of MacDonald and stab it into the net.

Hibs, then, should have set about protecting their advantage, but some old liabilities in defence could not be contained.

Taken from the Herald