Andy Webster wins Hearts Edinburgh bragging rights over Hibernian

Scottish Premier League 2011-12
Hibernian 1

Zaliukas (og) 59

Hearts 3

McGowan 58,
Webster 83,
Skacel 90+2

Ewan Murray at Easter Road
guardian.co.uk, Monday 2 January 2012 14.36 GMT

Hibernian's Victor Palsson tackles Hearts' Ian Black during the Edinburgh derby. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

The thousands who flock to Edinburgh for new year celebrations will have found some giddy, maroon-clad locals in their midst on Monday afternoon.

Heart of Midlothian deservedly claimed local bragging rights over Hibernian, thereby extending their unbeaten derby record to nine games. There began what promises to be an intriguing January for both Edinburgh clubs. Hibs are in desperate need of fresh blood to pull them clear of a relegation scrap while Hearts are similarly keen – but to offload players to cut costs.

"I know if we have a good proposition to sell, what I believe is we have to sell," said the Hearts manager, Paulo Sérgio. "I know our players have other clubs looking at them because they are playing well. It's normal that other clubs will show that they want our players, too. I believe we're going to have a hard January with all those movements. Each day is a challenge for us to see what is happening."

While tales of off-field woe continue to surround Tynecastle, Hearts' showing at Easter Road showed they lack nothing in spirit. It is genuinely difficult to decipher whether it is that commodity, talent or both that Hibs are so short of in these distressing times.

Plenty eyebrows were raised when Hibs chose Pat Fenlon to succeed Colin Calderwood as their manager late last year. It is Fenlon, however, who has surely been taken aback at what he has inherited. Hibs look chronically low on confidence in all areas of the field; Hearts were the lowest away scorers in British senior football this season, with four goals, before finding their rivals' net three times.

"We've been in this position for a while," said Fenlon. "Confidence at the club is low and that's up to me to try to change that. We are trying to freshen up the squad if we can. We just have to wait and see."

Hearts were the superior side in the first half. David Templeton and Mehdi Taouil wasted early chances to emphasise that. Ian Black was afforded an even better opportunity, from the penalty spot, after the Hibs goalkeeper Graham Stack had taken out Stephen Elliott. Yet Black became the third Hearts player in succession to see a spot‑kick saved. While the effort was hardly fierce, it was well-placed with Stack sprawling across his goal to save low and to his right.

After the interval Black offered some form of recompense. The midfielder's corner was knocked down by Andy Webster and Ryan McGowan's close-range header sent Hearts into the lead. As one over-zealous visiting fan was hauled off the pitch mid-celebration, Black unveiled a T-shirt which read "I'll paint this place maroon". The player had reportedly taken up work as a part-time painter and decorator amid a Hearts salary delay last month.

Hibs' response was immediate. Within a minute Danny Galbraith's low cross was turned past his own goalkeeper by the Hearts captain, Marius Zaliukas. Then Webster finished expertly from another Hearts corner before Rudi Skacel wrapped up victory in the dying seconds courtesy of a fierce half-volley.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer