Tynecastle side did enough to merit three points, says John McGlynn

By STUART BATHGATE
Published on Friday 4 January 2013 01:28

HEARTS manager John McGlynn argued that his team had done enough to deserve all three points after the Edinburgh derby ended goalless at Tynecastle last night. While both sides were below their best, the home team had far more corners than Hibernian, and also created more chances during the closing stages of a second half which was markedly superior to the first.

“I think we merited the win, and unfortunately it’s probably two points dropped,” McGlynn said. “The number of games I could say that about, we should be sitting up there with Celtic with the number of points we’ve dropped in games that we’ve dominated.

“I thought we controlled the game. We had loads of the ball, passed the ball well. Our defence was playing together for the first time, but we kept the goal threat of Hibs very quiet with the exception of Eoin Doyle coming in on the right, who had a good chance after Ryan Stevenson probably should have opened the scoring.

“The count of corner kicks was something like 12 to 2 – I think that tells the story. From a corner kick near the end John Sutton hits the bar. Jason Holt rounds the goalkeeper and the last defender clears the ball. I think we merited the victory.”

Those chances both came deep into the second half, but Hearts had arguably a better scoring opportunity in the first half, when referee Willie Collum decided not to award a penalty after Scott Robinson went down in the box as Hibs captain James McPake challenged. The ball broke to Andy Driver, who shot wide of the far post.

“I thought it could have been a penalty – again, I haven’t seen it again,” McGlynn added. “There was a similar situation in a game between Dundee and Dundee United with the same referee. The player has been caught late, play went on, yet he’s given a penalty. Tonight he’s taken a different view. I’m not suggesting he played advantage, but I thought it was a penalty.”

With Andy Webster absent because of flu and Ryan McGowan on the verge of leaving for China, McGlynn was particularly pleased with his recast back four, in which Ryan’s younger brother Dylan was especially impressive.

“I’m delighted that the back four on the whole were solid, and it was great for young Dylan to go in there beside Marius [Zaliukas], who talked and guided him through the game,” said McGlynn. “I thought they kept [Leigh] Griffiths very quiet.”

Darren Barr, who made up the defence along with Kevin McHattie, agreed with his manager that Hearts had had the better of the contest. “We gave a good account of ourselves,” the right-back said. “Maybe just a wee break was missing.

“I don’t think it was the greatest game, but I think we were on top most of the game. We had more clearcut chances as well. It was just one of those things. You take your chance and you kick on.

“The atmosphere was absolutely brilliant. The turn-out was great and it was just a shame we just couldn’t find the goal for them.”

Barr admitted that he had one of the best chances to find that elusive goal, from a rebound after John Sutton had hit the bar with a header.

“I should have scored,” he said. “Maybe I tried to place it and just kept it down. It’s one of those things.”

Taken from the Scotsman