SPFL,
Sunday 30 March 2014 – Tynecastle
The fourth Edinburgh derby
of the season had been billed, particularly from those from the east of the
city, as the game which would finally seal Hearts fate and consign the Gorgie boys
to their fate of Championship football next season. A rare win for Hibernian at Tynecastle would mean Hearts would be unable to catch 11th placed
St. Mirren and would face the prospect of slugging it out for promotion back to
the top flight of Scottish football with the likes of Rangers when the new
season starts in August.
However, Gary Locke’s young
side didn’t read the script and recorded their third win over Hibernian this
season, two wins being in the league, the other at Easter Road in the League
Cup. Hibernian had sold out their allocation of tickets for the game but for
those bedecked in green and white who arrived in Gorgie wearing party hats and
streamers, the occasion was as akin to turning up at a New Year Party – in the
middle of January. Indeed, given Terry Butcher’s side’s freefall in recent
weeks, there may well be another ‘relegation party’ between these two teams in
a few weeks at Easter Road – one can’t rule out the possibility the Hibees may
be accompanying their great rivals in the Championship next season if they slip
further down the league and are involved in the dreaded play-offs.
Both sides may have had hugely
disappointing seasons and the kick-off may have been the hardly traditional
Sunday lunch time but the atmosphere at Tynecastle was as frenetic as ever on
Edinburgh derby day. This was fuelled early on by a wreckless challenge from
Hibs Lewis Stevenson which caught the chest of Hearts striker Callum Paterson.
The young forward was uninjured, though, and after just seven minutes, he
crossed from the right towards Ryan Stevenson. The former Ayr United and
Ipswich Town player headed the ball into the path of Dale Carrick who did well
to control the ball before firing past Hibs keeper Williams. 1-0 to the home
side to the obvious delight of the home support who once again turned up in numbers.
Hibs looked momentarily
stunned by this turn of events but eventually began to claw their way back into
the game. Danny Handling was given too much space on the edge of the Hearts
penalty box but his effort on goal sailed over the crossbar. Soon afterwards,
Hibs were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Hearts penalty box but Sam
Stanton’s effort was well wide of goal. The best chance for the visitors,
though, fell to £200,000 striker James Collins who was set up by Watmore.
However, from 12 yards out, Collins fired his shot high into the stand, much to
the frustration of the visiting support for whom the party was turning decidedly
miserable.
Hearts also had chances to
double their lead and Sam Nicholson’s fierce shot was saved well by Williams.
Hearts almost began the second half the way they began the first
and fine play from Dale Carrick set up David Smith whose effort whistle past
the post of Williams.
Hibs then claimed loudly for handball when
Hearts Australian defender Dylan McGowan blocked Collins' shot on the edge of the
penalty box but to no avail before Ryan McGivern’s two attempts on goal were
more in hope than expectation.
Towards the end of the game, it
appeared Hibernian had snatched the equaliser. Stevenson’s cross was headed by
Forster past Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald into the net but the visiting
support’s raptures were soon doused by the appearance of the assistant referee
raising his flag for offside. Television replays showed this to be an incorrect
decision by some distance as the Hibs man was clearly onside. The fury felt by
the Hibs fans was shared by manager Terry Butcher and some of the Hibs players,
particularly Alan Maybury who took his frustration out on Hearts substitute
Billy King by tripping the Hearts youngster. A second yellow card was shown to
the former Hearts favourite meaning the visitors were reduced to ten men.
Given Hearts surrendered a 2-1 lead to
nine men in the League Cup semi-final defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle a
few weeks ago, few of the Hearts support were taking anything for granted.
However, in stoppage time with Hibs pressing for the equaliser, Hearts broke
away. The experienced Ryan Stevenson timed his pass to Billy King to perfection
and the youngster kept his cool before rounding Hibs keeper Williams to end the
scoring at 2-0 to Hearts.
Afterwards, jubilant Hearts manager
Gary Locke said "It's probably too little, too late but the players have
shown they're improving and hopefully we've got a strong future. Our wide men and Dale Carrick up front caused them quite
a lot of problems. The whole team played very, very well. It was a
great game and Hibs added to that by having a right go in the second half. It
was end to end and I was obviously delighted to see young Billy King score at
the end.”
For Hibernian, it was
yet another disappointing outcome to an Edinburgh derby. Manager Terry Butcher could
not contain his anger at the assistant referee’s decision to rule out Jordon
Forster's headed goal.
"It's scandalous,
it really is," said the former England captain. “It's a horrendous
call from the linesman. He can see right along the line of grass. He can spot
the player who was playing Jordon Forster on. The players worked very hard, the
system was good and they applied themselves but we've lost the game and it's
hard to take. We've left the players in no uncertain terms that we need to get
going now. We have six games left and we have to get points and I am confident
that we can do that.
"Every club in
the bottom half is in a dog fight. We need to pull our fingers out and work
harder."
Hearts relegation
fate may well be confirmed when high-flying Aberdeen visit Gorgie on Wednesday
but Sunday’s victory was at least a last hurrah for their beleaguered but magnificently
loyal supporters who are making no secret of the fact they hope their city
rivals will still be with them next season.
For Hibernian, the
loss of form at a crucial time of the season is a worry. They are six points
clear of a play-off place in the league and the lack of games left suggests
they should be okay. But their failure to defeat Hearts yet again means one can’t
really be confident Terry Butcher’s side will beat anyone else this season. The
Easter Road fans will be hoping St. Mirren and Partick Thistle don’t suddenly
discover form as the nerve-jangling prospect of a play-off is hardly one to
look forward to.
Hearts: MacDonald; Paterson, McGowan,
Wilson, McHattie; Hamill, Holt, R. Stevenson; Smith, Carrick, Nicholson.
Hibs: Williams, McGivern, Nelson,
Collins, L. Stevenson, Maybury, Handling, Taiwo, Watmore, Forster, Stanton.
Referee: Steven McLean
Att: 16,873
Top man: Danny Wilson – immense in the
Hearts defence.
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