Hearts 1 Hibernian 0: Jambos take first step forward in their bid for a great escape

David McCarthy

12 Aug 2013 07:56

YESTERDAY'S derby win gives the administration-hit club a glimmer of hope as they aim to defy the odds and their fans the chance to taunt under-pressure Hibs boss Pat Fenlon.
All it took was one terrific cross from Dylan McGowan and one flashing header from Callum Paterson 20 minutes from the end of a game that was short of quality but never dull. All it took was one terrific cross from Dylan McGowan and one flashing header from Callum Paterson 20 minutes from the end of a game that was short of quality but never dull.

AND then it was 12. Hearts yesterday began the process of clawing back the 15-point deficit they were handed at the start of the season.

The fact they did so at the expense of their neighbours made it all the sweeter for the vast majority of the 16,621 at the footballing theatre that houses their dreams.

It’s festival time in Edinburgh but this was the only show in town yesterday and audience participation was compulsory.

There wasn’t a ticket to be had for the three stands that held the home support and most of the Hibs end was filled as well. In the end the visitors filed out silently, leaving their hosts to roar their belief that miracles can happen.

All it took was one terrific cross from Dylan McGowan and one flashing header from Callum Paterson 20 minutes from the end of a game that was short of quality but never dull.

That’s usually all it takes to beat Hibs these day. This is a team that cannot score a goal so one against them tends to be enough and now manager Pat Fenlon’s job is surely hanging by a thread.

It was raw and it was raucous as these clashes always are. Both teams needed the result for different reasons but if the Hearts players weren’t lifted by the sight of almost 13,000 maroon scarves being swirled as they lined up they shouldn’t have been there.

Starting so many points adrift of their rivals due to administration meant a victory was compulsory but Hibs had their own reasons for needing the points and it was not only to keep Hearts at arm’s length.

11/08/13 SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP HEARTS v HIBERNIAN TYNECASTLE - EDINBURGH The Hearts players pile on top of goalscorer Callum Paterson The young Jambos pile on after Paterson's goal
Rob Casey/SNS Group

Their European humiliation, followed by a home defeat in their first Premiership match, meant the heat was on Fenlon and they needed a result. On paper they were the better team but the game isn’t played on paper.

Hearts’ scorer is a right-back playing at centre-forward which tells you all you need to know.

But what they lack in numbers they make up for with, well, heart.

They were dealt a huge blow after 10 minutes when Ryan Stevenson was forced off, despite two attempts to carry on, after a crunching challenge. He was replaced by Jamie Walker.

There was precious little football played in the opening 20 minutes with Ben Williams collecting a couple of crosses and that was about it.

But there was no shortage of effort and application and the pace made it impossible for anyone to put their foot on the ball and make a pass.

The ferocity of it all meant a flashpoint was only ever a heartbeat away and sure enough it happened in the 27th minute. Jamie Hamill was taken out and as he lay on the turf Scott Robinson and Rowan Vine contested the loose ball and both lost the rag.

A shoving match ensued, players from both teams piled in, but referee Craig Thomson kept a lid on it and booked the duo who started it all.
In Pictures: Look back on some of the best images from the game in our picture gallery

Jason Holt conjured up by far the best piece of play five minutes from the break, keeping possession with three Hibs players snapping at his ankles before flicking the ball into Hamill’s path for a strike that was saved.

The midfielder dug out a much better effort just after the break and it was heading for the corner before Williams dived left to clutch the ball.

By then young Fraser Mullen, who had been booked, was off and Ryan McGivern introduced at left-back for Hibs and as the match careered towards the hour mark the visitors took control.

James Collins fired a couple of efforts – one saved and the other curled just wide – before Hibs cut Hearts open in the 65th minute and should have scored.

Collins released Liam Craig and his cross should have been buried by Tom Taiwo who was just on for Robertson. The midielder was 12 yards out and stretching but he should have done better than fire it high into the stand.

And just as Gary Locke was looking to make a substitution to change the momentum his players did it for him.

McGowan got down the right, swung in a perfect cross and Paterson at last freed himself from the shackles of his markers. The kid rose high to bullet a fantastic header past Williams and Tynecastle erupted.

Hibs had no option but to go for it as the home support taunted Pat Fenlon. He watched Paul Hanlon loop a header just over but in this, their fourth competitive game of the season, they still waited on their first goal.

The wait continues. And there’s no guarantee that when it comes, Fenlon will still be their manager.

Taken from the Daily Record