Clydesdale Bank SPL, Sunday 28 August 2011 - Tynecastle
As I took my seat in the Wheatfield Stand this afternoon, I have to confess I felt uneasy. Edinburgh derbies are always tense occasions (at least until Hearts inevitably open the scoring) but when I heard the Hearts team announced by the always excellent Scott Wilson my anxiety increased. David Templeton, Rudi Skacel, Arvydas Novikovas and Eggert Jonsson were all on the subsitutes bench. John Sutton, Mehdi Taouil and the youngster who was so impressive at White Hart Lane on Thursday - Ryan McGowan - didn't even get on to the bench. The much-missed Kevin Kyle, who had targeted the Edinburgh derby as his comeback game, was nowhere to be seen.
Ryan Stevenson, who knows a thing about scoring in Edinburgh derbies, partnered Stephen Elliott up front. Full backs Jamie Hamill and Danny Grainger were encouraged to make forward runs. I wasn't convinced this would work but, in the end, I need not have worried.
It wasn't the greatest Edinburgh derby ever played but Hearts won comfortably after dominating the proceedings. There was a slight delay to the kick-off after some lout in the Hibs end thought it smart to lob a smoke bomb on to the pitch. A flare then appeared on the corner of the field but it was unclear where this was thrown from. What can be done about these idiots?
Hearts enjoyed plenty possession but a lapse in concentration in defence allowed O'Connor a header at goal which, thankfully, went wide. Six minutes before half time Hearts took the lead their domination deserved when fine play from Jamie Hamill on the right wing found Ryan Stevenson in the penalty box and former Ayr United man calmly stroked the ball past Hibs keeper Stack.
The second half followed the same pattern as the first with Hearts on top. Stephen Elliot hit the post before forcing a fine save from Stack who then saved well from Andrew Driver. Hearts doubled their lead with 20 minutes left when a brilliant cross from Hamill was headed home by Andy Webster. Hibs Sodje hacked the ball off the line but it seemed the ball had crossed for a goal. Jonsson blasted the rebound into the net to make sure but the goal was Webster's.
There endeth the scoring and a good week for Hearts who restored some pride with a goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane during the week and continued their domination of the Edinburgh derby. It was pointed out after the game that Hearts have won 276 Edinburgh derbies to Hibs 200. Even if Hibs were to win four derbies a season from now it would take them 20 years just to catch up.
Hearts are now fourth in the SPL. Hibs are bottom...
Top man: The quite brilliant Jamie Hamill
Luvly Jubbly!
ReplyDeleteJamie Hamill looks like he was built for derbies! An excellent showing.
ReplyDeleteA lot of praise must go to Eggert Jonsson. Not for her performance as such, but for his willingness to put the ball in the back of the net when all other Hearts players had stopped to claim that Webster's header had crossed the line.
The officials didn't give the goal to Webster and it would have been a nervy last half hour had Jonsson not reacted the way he did.
Stevenson deseves a lot of praise as well. He didn't look the part when he first joined but he has been our best player so far this season.
Not the quickest but he has a bit of skill and chips in with his fair share of goals. Another excellent Jefferies lower league signing.