This derby scrambles brains of veterans

By KENNY MacDONALD

BOBBY WILLIAMSON saw the strongest of men wilt in a New Year Edinburgh derby — and realised another player had been hit by derby-day fever.

In January 2003, Williamson's Hibs side seemed to have won the capital derby with late goals by Craig James and Grant Brebner.

But five minutes of injury-time saw Graham Weir score twice in the final 45 seconds to earn Hearts a stunning 4-4 draw.

Williamson, now Uganda manager, admits it was one of his most experienced players who got caught up in the crazy Tynecastle atmosphere.

He said: "We were 4-2 up and the game was well into stoppage time. I was waiting for the final whistle.

"Stuart Dougal was the ref and he worked in Edinburgh at the time. He gave Hearts a foul in midfield, which I thought was a foul on Grant Brebner.

"Hearts battered the ball forward and Weir, who'd just come on as a sub, scored in a scramble. So that was 4-3 and the ground was rocking as the Hearts fans sensed an amazing comeback.

"We lined up to kick-off. Now, we had a specific way of kicking off which involved the ball being played up for Mixu Paatelainen to attack.

"But Mixu actually took the kick-off, we immediately lost possession, the ball was thumped forward again and Weir made it 4-4.

"Our defence should have dealt with the two long balls better, but I was more annoyed that Mixu, one of our most experienced players, had got caught up in the atmosphere.

"He should have been more knowledgeable, but he got swept up in it and Hearts took advantage.

"That is what can happen in these games. You never know who'll handle it best.

"Experienced guys can sometimes crack. Youngsters cruise through them. You can never depend on anyone.

"The game in Edinburgh this time will be no different from any of the rest. It'll be hammer and tongs from the start.

"My record wasn't that great. At Easter Road I won a couple, but I don't remember anything better than a draw at Tynecastle."

Despite being Glasgow-born and living in his home city during his time as Hibs boss, Williamson refuses to accept the Edinburgh derby is a smaller version of the Old Firm.

He said: "I experienced Glasgow derbies as a player, but it doesn't matter whether it's Glasgow, Edinburgh, wherever. As a manager or a player, they're the games you have to win or, at the very least, mustn't lose.

"I was involved in Midlands derbies with West Brom, Ayrshire ones with Kilmarnock. It's doing a massive disservice to those clubs and their fans to say they're any less important than Old Firm games.

"If you lost one of them you just hid away because you knew you're biggest rivals would be celebrating.

"It will be something Pat Fenlon and Paulo Sergio will have to experience first-hand for themselves to understand what it's about.

"But it's a great occasion and if there's a winner it'll be a massive boost for them."