Scottish Cup at Easter Road Stadium

Date: 02/12/2012 KO: 15:30 Ref: C Murray Att: 17,052
Hibernian

Marius Zaliukas 84 (og)

1
0

Hearts

FT (ht: 0-0)

Hibernian exacted some form of revenge for their Scottish Cup final derby thrashing when David Wotherspoon's late strike deflected off Marius Zaliukas to secure a 1-0 win and send holders Hearts crashing out.

Hibs had struggled to create chances and saw top goalscorer Leigh Griffiths carried off on a stretcher after Hearts midfielder Darren Barr accidentally stood on his ankle.

But their fans did not care in the slightest that their win was far scrappier than Hearts' 5-1 Hampden triumph, or that their 83rd-minute winner came from a fortunate own goal as they celebrated their first derby victory in 13 matches.

If ever a team owed their supporters a victory it was this one after their wait for their first Scottish Cup success since 1902 ended in the most painful of defeats.

Only five of the Hibernian starting team played at Hampden in May with manager Pat Fenlon subsequently embarking on a rebuilding job which saw the likes of Ben Williams, Ryan McGivern, Tom Taiwo and Alan Maybury arrive to add some steel.

Hearts have also undergone major changes since the final, but mostly outgoing. Six of their starting team featured at Hampden with the likes of Callum Paterson, Kebin McHattie and Jamie Walker since making the step-up from the youth team.

Manager John McGlynn, who was a fan at Hampden before replacing Paulo Sergio, was able to add some experience to the team with Mehdi Taouil and Arvydas Novikovas replacing Dylan McGowan and Jason Holt.

Hibs went into the game nine points above Hearts in second place in the SPL but they struggled to get forward in the first half.

Finding Novikovas early appeared to be a key facet to McGlynn's tactics and Ryan Stevenson did so with a crossfield ball after two minutes that led to the first chance.

The Lithuanian sent over a deep cross that found Paterson but his header was blocked by the legs of Williams.

The first booking came shortly afterwards for McHattie's body-check on David Wotherspoon, which sparked some home pressure.

Jamie McDonald punched clear two inswinging free-kicks by Griffiths and Taiwo shot over from 20 yards but it proved a false dawn for Hibs. Paterson was inches away from getting on the end of another Novikovas cross and Williams produced a good reaction stop after a glancing header from Zaliukas bounced off Hibs defender Paul Hanlon's chest and towards the top corner.

Hearts continued to find Novikovas in space down the left. The Lithuanian fired well wide when a cross would have been a better option, appearing to hurt his ankle in the process, and then sent over a deep centre that drifted past Williams and bounced off the outside of the post.

The visitors were using their extra man in midfield to control the first half without having a cutting edge.

Novikovas failed to appear after the break with Andrew Driver taking his place and Hibs created the first chance of the half but Eoin Doyle just could not reach Wotherspoon's flick-on.

They suffered a huge blow in the 51st minute when top goalscorer Griffiths was carried off after failing to get up following his tangle with Barr.

Ross Caldwell came on and Barr himself soon limped off with a less serious looking knock with Scott Robinson taking his place.

Doyle was close to another Wotherspoon delivery before being replaced by Ivan Sproule, while John Sutton came on for the visitors as both managers looked to end the stalemate.

A breakthrough looked unlikely until the 83rd minute. Paul Cairney switched the ball to Wotherspoon on the right wing after a Hearts attack broke down.

The midfielder had Jorge Claros inside him but he decided to go past McHattie and unleash a shot, which took a heavy deflection off Zaliukas and flew over MacDonald and into the far corner.

Hearts threw men forward in a bid to hold on to their trophy but they could only create one half chance which Paterson fired over from 20 yards.

Fenlon, who received a two-match touchline ban for gesturing to Hearts fans at Hampden, jumped in the air on the pitch when the final whistle sounded and was joined by a hobbling Griffiths as the Hibs team saluted their fans.

Hibernian
Starting Formation: 4-4-2cross
1
18 4 3 16
14 20 8 11
9 10

1. Ben Williams
18. Alan Maybury
4. Paul Hanlon
3. Ryan McGivern
16. Lewis Stevenson
14. David Wotherspoon
20. Tom Taiwo
8. Jorge Claros
11. Paul Cairney
9. Leigh Griffiths 54'
10. Eoin Doyle 71'

Subs

31. Sean Murdoch
17. Ivan Sproule 71'
29. Ross Caldwell 54'
32. Shefki Kuqi
36. Bradley Donaldson

Hearts
Starting Formation: 4-5-1cross
1
4 26 6 29
14 5 10 7 18
33

1. Jamie MacDonald
4. Ryan McGowan
26. Marius Zaliukas
6. Andy Webster
29. Kevin McHattie
14. Jamie Walker 73'
5. Darren Barr 59'
10. Mehdi Taouil
7. Ryan Stevenson
18. Arvydas Novikovas 46'
33. Callum Paterson

Subs

21. Peter Enckelman
8. Scott Robinson 59'
9. John Sutton 73'
11. Andrew Driver 46'
12. Gordon Smith

The referee ends the match.

Ross Caldwell decides to take the corner short.
93

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan McGowan on Ivan Sproule. Free kick taken by Ryan McGivern.
92

Outswinging corner taken by Ryan Stevenson from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Lewis Stevenson.
89

Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Stevenson, clearance made by Paul Hanlon.
89

The ball is sent over by Kevin McHattie, Callum Paterson takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
87

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan McGowan on Lewis Stevenson. The referee cautions Ryan McGowan for unsporting behaviour. Direct free kick taken by Ben Williams.
85

David Wotherspoon takes a shot. Marius Zaliukas puts the ball into his own goal. Hibernian 1-0 Hearts.Assist by David Wotherspoon.
82

Andrew Driver sends in a cross, Lewis Stevenson manages to make a clearance.
82

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by David Wotherspoon, Andy Webster makes a clearance. Outswinging corner taken by David Wotherspoon from the right by-line.
79

John Sutton fouled by Lewis Stevenson, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Mehdi Taouil from right channel.
76

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by David Wotherspoon, clearance by Marius Zaliukas. Corner taken by David Wotherspoon from the left by-line, save by Jamie MacDonald.
75

Ivan Sproule fouled by Scott Robinson, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Ryan McGivern.
75

The ball is crossed by Andrew Driver, clearance by Paul Hanlon.
74

Ross Caldwell is caught offside. Marius Zaliukas takes the free kick.
73

(Hearts) makes a substitution, with John Sutton coming on for Jamie Walker.
73

The offside flag is raised against Ross Caldwell. Jamie MacDonald restarts play with the free kick. Ivan Sproule on for Eoin Doyle.
70

A cross is delivered by Andrew Driver, clearance by Ryan McGivern.
67

The referee blows for offside against Eoin Doyle. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
61

Foul by Lewis Stevenson on Callum Paterson, free kick awarded. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Andrew Driver, Lewis Stevenson makes a clearance.
59

Scott Robinson replaces Darren Barr.
58

Unfair challenge on Jamie Walker by Tom Taiwo results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Andy Webster.
55

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mehdi Taouil by Paul Cairney. Andy Webster takes the free kick.
54

Leigh Griffiths goes off and Ross Caldwell comes on.
53

Corner taken by Andrew Driver from the left by-line to the near post, David Wotherspoon makes a clearance.
50

Ryan McGowan fouled by Eoin Doyle, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Andy Webster.
49

Corner from the right by-line taken by Leigh Griffiths, Eoin Doyle takes a shot. Jamie MacDonald makes a comfortable save.
48

Unfair challenge on Eoin Doyle by Darren Barr results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Leigh Griffiths from right channel, save by Jamie MacDonald.
47

Darren Barr produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.
46

The second half kicks off.

Arvydas Novikovas leaves the field to be replaced by Andrew Driver.
45

It is the end of the first-half.

Marius Zaliukas challenges Eoin Doyle unfairly and gives away a free kick. Marius Zaliukas is given a yellow card. Leigh Griffiths crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, Ryan Stevenson makes a clearance.
44

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin McHattie by Eoin Doyle. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
43

The ball is crossed by Jamie Walker.
42

The ball is delivered by Alan Maybury.
42

The ball is swung over by Leigh Griffiths, clearance made by Andy Webster.
41

Ryan McGowan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Eoin Doyle. Ben Williams restarts play with the free kick.
40

The ball is crossed by Mehdi Taouil, clearance by Ryan McGivern.
39

Jamie Walker produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
38

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamie Walker by Leigh Griffiths. Andy Webster takes the direct free kick.
37

Eoin Doyle takes a shot. Marius Zaliukas gets a block in.
36

Arvydas Novikovas delivers the ball, Lewis Stevenson manages to make a clearance. Paul Cairney fouled by Darren Barr, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ryan McGivern.
35

Unfair challenge on Kevin McHattie by David Wotherspoon results in a free kick. Marius Zaliukas restarts play with the free kick.
33

Callum Paterson challenges Alan Maybury unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Hanlon restarts play with the free kick.
31

Leigh Griffiths is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
31

Arvydas Novikovas produces a cross, clearance by Paul Hanlon.
30

David Wotherspoon delivers the ball.
29

Effort from just outside the area by Darren Barr goes over the target.
27

Effort from just inside the box by Arvydas Novikovas hits the post.
25

Arvydas Novikovas produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
22

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Darren Barr by Paul Cairney. Booking for Paul Cairney. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ryan Stevenson, Ryan McGivern manages to make a clearance.
20

Jorge Claros gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mehdi Taouil. Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
19

Arvydas Novikovas delivers the ball, Ryan McGivern makes a clearance.
16

Jamie Walker takes a outswinging corner to the near post, save by Ben Williams.
12

A cross is delivered by Arvydas Novikovas, save by Ben Williams.
11

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jorge Claros by Andy Webster. Free kick taken by Ryan McGivern.
10

Marius Zaliukas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Leigh Griffiths. Leigh Griffiths crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Jamie MacDonald makes a save.
6

Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Tom Taiwo goes wide of the right-hand upright.
6

Kevin McHattie gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Wotherspoon. Kevin McHattie goes into the book for unsporting behaviour. Free kick crossed left-footed by Leigh Griffiths, save by Jamie MacDonald.
5

Centre by Arvydas Novikovas, Callum Paterson takes a shot. Save by Ben Williams.
1

The official flags Callum Paterson offside. Free kick taken by Ben Williams.

Paul Cairney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie Walker. Andy Webster restarts play with the free kick.

The game begins.

Taken from sportinglife.com