Hearts 0 Hibs 0: Capital punishment as Edinburgh rivals serve up derby shocker
Hugh Keevins

DESPITE a late flurry of goalmouth action this bruising encounter at Tynecastle failed to live-up to the hype for the second time this season.
Hearts' Ryan Stevenson leaps over the tackle from Hibernian's Tim Clancy Hearts' Ryan Stevenson leaps over the tackle from Hibernian's Tim Clancy

THERE'S a case for saying the meeting of these two clubs has replaced the redundant Old Firm game in the SPL for both intensity and atmosphere.

Tynecastle reverberated to the sound of a rivalry that’s now so keen even Hibs’ chairman Rod Petrie felt compelled to make a joke about his club’s fans not having enough fingers on one hand to celebrate their most famous victory over their oldest foes.

The problem was the atmosphere was better than the game.

Hearts hadn’t played since losing to Kilmarnock on Boxing Day and started as if they’d found the wait for the chance to avenge that result a frustrating one.

The home side swarmed all over Hibs’ defence but lacked composure when the target came into view.

Hibs, meanwhile, claimed their win over Celtic could make the Hearts players wary but there was little evidence to support that suggestion as they played on the back foot to begin with.

When a chance did finally present itself to threaten Hearts’ goal, after fully 15 minutes, it ended with Eoin Doyle committing a rash challenge on Jamie MacDonald and the keeper requiring treatment after plucking a free kick out of the air.

There were exasperated looks all round on the home bench when the referee, Willie Collum, decided the collision merited no disciplinary action against the Irishman.

It was a rare show of leniency from a match official more normally accused of being trigger happy with the cards in his top pocket.

The ball was the biggest casualty as it was belted around the park by two sides who were caught up in the fervour of the occasion without distinguishing the match with any skill.

Doyle was more productively involved when he delivered a ball to Paul Cairney that gave him a good look at Hearts’ goal but his volley didn’t carry the power or direction to beat MacDonald.

The first half’s frenetic football hinted at chances being in limited supply so any sniff at goal had to be cherished.

Andrew Driver understood that only too well when he missed a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock 10 minutes before the interval.

His team-mate, Scott Robinson, was sent crashing to the ground amid claims for a penalty but the ball broke to Driver with the advantage rule being played.

Hibernian captain James McPake takes down Scott Robinson (8) in the box but nothing is given Hibernian captain James McPake takes down Scott Robinson (8) in the box but nothing is given

Regrettably for Hearts, Driver lashed his shot across the face of goal with Hibs’ keeper Ben Williams helpless.

Robinson was pelted with all sorts propelled from the Hibs end of the ground as he lay on the pitch after the miss. That may have vouched for the white hot environment on the night but it said little for the missile throwers.

John Sutton had an opportunity to end the half with a goal for Hearts but missed by yards after manoeuvring for space before shooting.

Robinson’s night didn’t improve after the break because he had to be replaced after only two minutes by Jason Holt after sustaining an injury.

But Hearts’ momentum remained and they should have scored immediately after the change had been made.

Mehdi Taouil’s angular drive was deflected on its way towards Williams and the keeper spilled the ball in the direction of Ryan Stevenson.

But the onrushing Hearts player was losing balance as he approached the ball and he only succeeded in knocking it wide of the post.

That miss was nothing compared to the one Doyle had after being sent in on Hearts’ goal by an exquisite pass from Cairney that split the home defence in two.

Doyle lashed the ball over the bar as the game took on an entirely different, more positive, complexion.

Even the referee was forced to change his ways and Hibs’ Paul Hanlon was booked after he brought down Arvydas Novikovas on the edge of the box.

Hearts were enjoying the ascendancy but without making their superiority count in the form of an opening goal.

Hibs’ Cairney had been forced to go off by then, being replaced by David Wotherspoon on a night that was only for able bodied men as play continued to rage from end to end.

With a quarter of the game left, the home side elected to try Callum Paterson in place of Novikovas up front and go after the strike that carried the potential of being decisive.

Taken from the Daily Record