Live Blog: Hearts v Hibs, the Edinburgh derby

OUR live blog covers the biggest derby in the Scottish Premier League this season, bringing you all the latest from the game at Tynecastle - as it happens. The blog begins at 7.15pm - a half hour before the 7.45pm kick-off.

21.42

Okay, so this wasn't one for the purists - it wasn't even a game of football at some points - but it was strangely entertaining. You just had the feeling that something was going to happen - a sending-off, a bad tackle, maybe a freakish goal - but it never really did. We never even got another 50-50 between James McPake and Ryan Stevenson! 0-0 is probably a fair reflection of the match, but Hearts did threaten more after the interval. We're going into the winter break now and this will be our last live blog for a little while, but we will have the match report and a gallery featuring the key moments from tonight's game online at dailyrecord.co.uk as soon as possible. A big thanks for joining us and if you've been at Tynecastle, please take care getting home. Thanks again and good night.
93 min

And it's all over! The final whistle sounds! 0-0!
91 min

Callum Paterson is like a dog chasing a ball here! He's all over the place - no cause too lost for him. Hearts still threatening!
89 min

Into the closing few minutes now and Hearts threatening. A succession of corners and balls into the box. Ref adds on three minutes. Corner lifted in and John Sutton hits the bar! Darren Barr heads the follow-up over!
88 min

Was that John McGlynn there!?! A bald head rises in the Hearts end to shout abuse at Lewis Stevenson
87 min

"The ball at Tynecastle will be glad of the forthcoming winter break" says a wise man on Twitter. That just about sums this match up. Been a bit of better second half, but this isn't pretty at all tonight.
86 min

Another stramash - another minor miracle! Doyle gets a shot away, Macdonald can't hold it and Griffiths is about to pounce - but Dylan McGowan makes a vital interception and hooks it away!
85 min

Hearts - last sub of the match - Jamie Walker on for Andy Driver
83 min

How did that stay out!? Brilliant from McGivern - blocking a goal bound shot by Holt! The little hearts midfielder did so well though, wonderful composure to skin his marker and get the shot away. Brilliant block from McGivern - that would have been 1-0.
81 min

Free kick to Hibs in a promising position. Taouil sticks out a lazy leg and Griffiths goes down. Cheap. Griffiths takes it himself and wins Hibs their first corner of the match. The ball is swung in and Wotherspoon attacks it - but his header goes wide of target.
79 min

Zaliukas dangerous in the air, gets to a corner before Williams but just can't keep his header down. If there's a goal in this game, it will come from a set piece. Or it may be a horribly deflected fluke like the last time...
76 min

A bit of breaking news on Twitter while this game/ordeal at Tynecastle continues. Ex-Celt Freddie Ljungberg for Celebrity Big Brother? Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Hopefully they'll let him take his dug Amadeus in. He loves his faithful hound.
73 min

Hibs make a change - Lewis Stevenson on for Taiwo.
72 min

McGivern goes in the book. Just a week and a half late on Andy Driver. Free kick in a promising position for Hearts, Driver takes, but Williams punches it away. Wotherspoon then goes in the book for a dive.
69 min

Deegan gets a word from Willie Collum after sliding in late on Driver. Hearts then make another change, Callum Paterson on for Novikovas. A little bit of an odd one, the Lithuanian was starting to get on the ball.
67 min

Gary Deegan off with a burst nose. Willie Collum spotted the blood and asked him to leave the field of play. Now Hibs down to ten men temporarily.
65 min

Doyle is miles wide with a header from a throw in. Hearts were down to ten men at that point with Zaliukas off getting treatment.
64 min

Clumsy challenge by Stevenson on Claros there allows Hibs to get the ball out of defence and threaten. Zaliukas catches an elbow from Taiwo and needs treatment. Didn't look intentional.
64 min

Hearts beginning to look dangerous now. Novikovas and Driver getting more of the ball in the wide areas and delivering a few good balls into the box. Hibs not heeding the warning signs at the moment...
58 min

That corner leads to another corner and Hearts are beginning to look a bit menacing in these set pieces. Hibs eventually get it away.
56 min

Incredible! Willie Collum has his cards with him after all! Paul Hanlon goes in the book for a late sliding challenge on Novikovas. Definite yellow. The booking is followed by a bit of frantic play in the box - ends in a Hearts corner...
54 min

Another chance! This one for Hibs! Cairney plays what must be one of the only decent passes in this game, switching play beautifully and playing it into the path of Doyle. He is one on one with the keeper but opts for power and skies it over the crossbar. That was a glorious opportunity but Doyle lost his head there.
49 min

Incredible! What a chance! Taouil shot is spilled by the keeper, the Hibs defence don't react Williams has to hook the ball away from the onrushing striker. His clearance goes as far as Stevenson, who can't steer it in. What a let off for Hibs. Someone should have charged their back four admission, they just sat back in the best seats in the house and watched that unfold. Well done by Williams.
48 min

First sub of the match and Jason Holt is on for Scott Robinson, who is unable to continue. First taste of the derby for him.
46 min

Hibs kick off and immediately launch the ball straight up the park to the Hearts keeper, deploying the same tactic employed by nearly every Scottish team. Why?! Why?! Surely it makes more sense to keep possession? Oh, what do I know.
HALF TIME

Quickest ever half time interview from Pat Fenlon! He wants Hibs playing higher up the park. That was it really.
HALF TIME

The half time chat on Sky surrounds that penalty call, but what about the Stevenson challenge? If this had been on ESPN I think someone would have mentioned the compliance officer by now. Poor stuff from Sky. Where's Stephen Craigan when you need him?
HALF TIME

And the half time whistle sounds. Incredibly, no yellow cards. Fortunately, no fatalities and unfortunately, zero football being played. 0-0, practically no attempts on goal and what more can I add to that appraisal? Let's put it this way, it's a wee bit better than the last Edinburgh derby. Back in a moment.
45 min

One minute of time added on...
43 min

Real blood and thunder affair here. Still very little football being played, but the challenges are flying in all over the park. Will be interesting to see if anyone goes in on Stevenson after that studs up assault on McPake.
41 min

That was a bit of a nasty one. McPake and Stevenson come together, both going for the ball, but Stevenson lifts his boot and shows his studs, catching McPake on the ankle. The referee didn't get a clear view - but it was a pretty horrible challenge from Stevenson. The replays showed it to be even nastier than I first thought - should have been a straight red for the Hearts man.
39 min

Another little flashpoint there and no card from Willie Collum for Tom Taiwo. The referee did well there, just calmed down the situation.
37 min

A new Scottish football prize has come to mind watching this match, an award for whatever side manages to put together more than four consecutive passes in an Edinburgh derby. Not too much football being played at Tynecastle at the moment - to say the least.
33 min

So close from Hearts! A shot driven in low from the right just dragged wide of target. But it was the challenge in the build-up that caught the eye! James McPake slides in on Robinson, seems to wipe him out completely and take none of the ball. But Willie Collum again waves away the appeals! How did he miss that one?
31 min

Another dodgy one, another word from Willie Collum and no cards produced. This time it was Darren Barr for Hearts, caught Cairney unintentionally to begin with - but it was the follow up. The Hearts man had a wee kick while Cairney was on the ground.
30 min

Both sides are currently locked in a contest to see how many players you can fit in one corner of the park. It was like primary school football for a moment there - everyone chasing the ball.
28 min

It all went very quite for a moment there. The commentary is intermittent to say the least on Sky. Possibly reflects the quality of play though - not much happening at the moment and now the pace has died, this game desperately needs a bit of inspiration.
25 min

Hearts have a pop. Robinson on the volley from around 25 yards out, but it's a mile and a half wide of the target. Lovely play from John Sutton in the build-up, so strong holding off his marker and chesting it down for the attacking midfielder.
24 min

24 minutes on the clock and the first shot on target. It might actually be the first shot on goal. Doyle finds Cairney at the back post and in space, he shapes to shoot, but just doesn't get any power on it. Poor from the Hibs man, could have got a bit more power on that and he looks like he knows it.
22 min

There's a poke in the eye for you! McGivern rises for the ball, gets his head on it and Darren Barr accidentally sticks his finger in his eye. Oooyah.
18 min

Zaliukas will be so important tonight though, will have to shepherd young Dylan McGowan through this match. He'll be missing his big bro' tonight.
18 min

The pace is finally dipping. Marius Zaliukas plays the very first pass across the back four that we've seen tonight. Almost made him look classy.
16 min

No, it's Hibs getting their retaliation in early. The ball's going through to Jamie Macdonald, Eoin Doyle is chasing for Hibs, he gets pulled by a defender, glances up and then goes through the keeper as he gathers the ball. His momentum was carrying him forward there, but it looked like Doyle knew what he was doing. Macdonald lands really awkwardly on his shoulder, but is okay to continue. That could have been another card there.
14 min

How did Clancy not get a card for that?! Was so late and rash with the sliding challenge on the flank. Pensive Willie was maybe a bit lenient there. Cue a Hearts player evening things up any minute now....
12 min

To use an old saying, Gary Deegan loves a tackle. Flying in to everything in the heart of midfield. Great to see him playing with no fear after so long on the sidelines. The pace hasn't dipped yet, both teams driving forward at every opportunity. Hearts relying on the long ball down the channel for Driver a wee bit too much in the opening stages.
10 min

The first of what could be many stramashes in the box. Driver gets to a lost cause, hooking the ball in from the byline. The Hibs keeper is under pressure, flaps at the ball and the covering defender hooks it away to safety. Good play from Driver.
8 min

Eoin Doyle gets a wee word or two from Willie Collum there. The ref did well, could have booked the Hibs man for a trip on Stevenson - but probably doesn't want to show too many cards just yet. Still a frantic start to the match.
6 min

Whistle sounds for a handball after a very strange free kick. Driven in low by Leigh Griffiths to the edge of the box, it almost sets up a man at the back post, but the whistle has gone. Andy Walker highlighting it commentary, why wasn't Griffiths in the box for that - rather than taking the free kick?
4 min

Leigh Griffiths runs straight into Marius Zaliukas as he tries to jink through the heart of the home side's defence. They counter and Ryan Stevenson wins the first corner of the match. It leads to a half chance and a little room to work in the penalty box, but Hibs clear. Frantic stuff so far, really end-to-end.
2 min

Eoin Doyle thought he'd won a corner there, but no, he hadn't. Replays show the Hearts defender may have got a touch. Hearts then go straight up the park. Driver breaking on the left, but Hibs deal with the cross. Good start to the match so far.
1 min

The noise is unbelievable - and the match is off! Hearts kick off and fail to keep possession.
19.44

The teams are out now. Willie Collum looking slightly pensive as he leads the players out of that tight Tynecastle tunnel. Then again, he always does. You could call him 'Pensive Willie'. Then again, maybe not.
19.41

The two clubs' overall head-to-head record from a grand total of 297 matches is actually quite surprising. It reads as follows: Hibs wins - 77 / Hearts wins - 133 / Draws - 87.
19.39

We've been hearing a lot about Hibs cup win over Hearts this season, but there has been one previous meeting in the league this campaign - a 1-1 draw at Easter Road. We should also mention that the cup match, sealed by a deflected goal, was an absolute stinker - so God only knows where the optimism and enthusiasm is coming from.
19.37

In fact, from what we are hearing the atmosphere isn't so much building as reaching a crescendo. Not long until kick off and there's a growing feeling that this could be a special one tonight.
19.35

The atmosphere is building at Tynecastle, both teams now out warming up at the moment.
19.31

We're getting a few shots of a rather quiet looking Hearts dressing room on Sky Sports at the moment. This is going to be a very tricky one for them tonight and this month could make or break their season. It is an old cliche, but the simple fact is that a lot of players at Tynecastle will be waiting on word from their agents this month.
19.28

Hearts v Hibernian teamlines:

Hearts: MacDonald, Barr, Dylan McGowan, Zaliukas, McHattie, Driver, Stevenson, Robinson, Taouil, Novikovas, Sutton.

Subs: Enckelman, Gordon Smith, Walker, Holt, Prychynenko, Mullen, Paterson.

Hibernian: Williams, Clancy, McPake, Hanlon, McGivern, Deegan, Taiwo, Claros, Cairney, Doyle, Griffiths.

Subs: Murdoch, Wotherspoon, Stevenson, Maybury, Handling, Caldwell, Donaldson.

Referee: William Collum
19.26

As mentioned earlier, Hearts are without departing right-back Ryan McGowan - and also ill defender Andy Webster for this evening's Edinburgh derby. Seeking to cut the gap between them and their rivals to three points, Hearts have made three changes and switched their formation to 4-5-1, with Dylan McGowan in at centre-back, Scott Robinson in midfield, Arvydas Novikovas on the wing and Darren Barr moving from midfield to right-back. Hibs have made one change from the XI which began Saturday's 1-0 win over Celtic, with Ryan McGivern returning at left-back after a hamstring problem. We'll bring you the full team news in just a moment.
19.24

We've been building up to the match today by looking back over a few previous Edinburgh derbies. You can view some of the highlights in our picture gallery.
19.21

Hibs chairman Rod Petrie has enjoyed a wee dig at Hibs' city rivals this week. Although Hibs manager Pat Fenlon already has one eye on a long-term plan ahead of the match.
19.18

Hearts have been coming to terms with what could be the first of many departures in the January window this week. The influential Ryan McGowan is China-bound and with that in mind, won't be in the Hearts side tonight in case he picks up an injury. The jambos have had a tough few days, but John Sutton hasn't been too impressed by some of the pre-match talk coming from Easter Road.
19.15

Good evening and a warm welcome to the main event! We got all the 'wee' games out the way yesterday and now it's down the serious business of what could well be billed as Scotland's biggest derby game. Hearts welcome Hibs to Tynecastle tonight and, given some of the pre-match talk, it may not be the friendliest of meetings.
19.09

Welcome to the blog. We kick-off at 7.15pm tonight. Back soon for the build-up to the big match.

Taken from the Daily Record