Ex-Hibs hero Derek Riordan: We've lived in Hearts' shadow since I was a kid.. but that will change if we win on Sunday

7 Mar 2013 00:01

By Colin Duncan

LIFELONG Hibee Riordan senses the balance of power in Edinburgh is finally starting to shift in the Leith club's favour ahead of this weekend's Easter Road clash.

DEREK RIORDAN believes a derby win for Hibs will help re-establish the club as the capital’s major force after 30 years of Hearts dominance.

The former Easter Road star feels his boyhood heroes have played second fiddle to their city rivals for the best part of three decades. But given Hearts’ off-field problems he senses the balance of power is shifting.

Riordan is convinced a rare home league win for Hibs on Sunday will finally see them emerge from the shadows of the Tynecastle outfit.

Pat Fenlon’s men will have to overcome an Easter Road hoodoo against Hearts which has seen them win just twice in the SPL since 2006.

Riordan said: “Hibs’ record of late has been awful but they will never get a better opportunity to win a derby at home.

“Even when I was a bairn, going to the derbies, I don’t really remember Hibs winning many.

“Hearts are in a bit of trouble off the park and have been beset by bad luck on it as well.

“Most of their senior players are out injured and they have just sacked another manager.

“This is one of the poorest Hearts teams I have seen for a number of years. I don’t mean that disrespectfully as they have some great young players coming through but you do need experience in this league.

“This is a massive opportunity for Hibs to prove they are the best team in Edinburgh.”

Derek Riordan wheels away in delight Derek Riordan wheels away in delight

Riordan was involved in both Hibs’ most recent wins, scoring in a 2-1 success in April 2006 and teeing up Steven Fletcher for the only goal of the match in March 2009.

Two wins in seven years is a dismal return although Riordan has his own view as to why Hearts have been the stronger club for so long.

He said: “When I was a fan and then during most of my two spells at Hibs, Hearts were always a more imposing side.

“We had a great team with players like Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson, Dean Shiels, Guillaume Beuzelin and Ivan Sproule but we were never the biggest or the most physical.

“Hearts were always a much more physical outfit and the derbies seemed to suit them a bit more.

“We were a brilliant footballing side and I sometimes feel they intimidated us and that’s why our record had been so poor.”

It was a familiar story in last season’s Scottish Cup Final when Hearts outmuscled their bitter rivals en route to a thumping 5-1 victory.

Riordan, who spent eight years at Hibs, sat and suffered at Hampden with the rest of the support. But he has been impressed by the response of the players and the manager to that humiliating setback.

They’re undefeated in three derbies this term and are now well placed to capitalise on the turmoil at Tynecastle.

Hearts are teetering on the brink of collapse and are without a gaffer after John McGlynn’s sacking.

Riordan said: “It has been an incredible turnaround since May. It is virtually the same group of players from last season at Hibs so fair play to them.

“I’d looked forward so much to the Scottish Cup Final but I always felt Hearts were strong favourites. It is all change this season and this is probably the most confident I have felt going into a derby match.”

Without a club after being released by Bristol Rovers, Riordan will join his mates to watch Sunday’s showdown.

He will take his place in the stand in the hope Leigh Griffiths, a player whose goalscoring exploits have drawn comparisons with himself, can produce another piece of magic.

Riordan added: “I have heard the comparisons but he doesn’t have a right foot!

“The other players do all the hard work and he seems to score all the goals. To be honest he’s been the most exciting player in the SPL this season.

“If he produces his best there is no way Hearts will stop him.

“I’d love to be out there although I’ll have to settle for a place in the crowd.”

Taken from the Daily Record