Hearts 2-1 Hibernian: Jambos edge Hibs in tight contest
- adamhigginsuk
- Aug 17, 2014
- 8 min read
HEARTS claimed the bragging rights in the first Edinburgh derby played outside Scotland's top-flight as both sides were reduced to 10 men in an eventful encounter.
Hibernian captain Liam Craig missed a first-half penalty after Danny Handling was brought down by Hearts' young debutant keeper Jack Hamilton.
Sam Nicholson brought a lukewarm second half to life with a superb 20-yard strike and Prince Buaben struck from the spot after being knocked over by Scott Robertson, who was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Hearts striker Osman Sow saw red for leaving an elbow in the face of Michael Nelson before Farid El Alagui volleyed home for Hibs in stoppage time.
It merely proved a consolation as Hearts, who won four of the sides' five meetings last season, continued their recent dominance over their city rivals.
After beating pre-season favourites Rangers at Ibrox on the opening weekend, the Jambos gave another glowing account of their capabilities to win the expected three-horse race for the one automatic promotion spot in the Scottish Championship.
Hibs also started with three points against Livingston last Saturday but could not build on the winning start as their woeful record against the neighbours across the capital goes on.
The 140-year rivalry was renewed with the start of a new era after both sides were relegated from the Premiership last term while managers Robbie Neilson and Alan Stubbs took charge in the historic fixture for the first time.
? DID YOU KNOW ?
Hibernian have won just two of the last 19 Edinburgh derbies in all competitions.
Daunting debut: Hamilton was thrown in at the deep end for his first Hearts outing on derby day (Picture by Adam Higgins)
With Neil Alexander sidelined and new signing Lee Hollis not match-fit, Hearts coach Neilson gave 20-year-old keeper Jack Hamilton his senior debut just days after recalling him from a loan spell at Stenhousemuir following an ankle injury to deputy stopper Scott Gallacher in training on Friday.
In a side featuring five derby debutants, Jason Holt replaced Dale Carrick in the solitary outfield change from the win over Rangers.
Stubbs - a veteran of past Old Firm, Merseyside and Tyne Wear derbies - handed four Hibs players their first derby experience while six of the starting line-up were born in Edinburgh.
Danny Handling returned from a one-match suspension and Michael Nelson made his first start of the campaign in the absence of Paul Hanlon, who has a knee problem.
Vocal backing: Hibs fans travelled in numbers across the city for the showdown with Hearts (Picture by Adam Higgins)
With their 3,300 seat allocation filled, Hibs were well supported at a sold-out Tynecastle but neither set of fans had much to shout about in the early exchanges amid a typically frenetic and stop-start opening.
Hibs pressed aggressively high up the pitch to close down the Hearts defence but the hosts were first to threaten in the breezy conditions in Gorgie through centre-back Danny Wilson.
After 10 minutes, the Jambos skipper rose highest in a crowded penalty area to steer Billy King’s corner wide of the target.
At the other end, Nelson glanced on a Liam Craig free-kick and watched his header drift beyond the left-hand post.
With both sides competing for territorial advantage, the ultra-competitive contest was littered with minor fouls and crunching tackles.
Hibs defender Jordon Forster made a crucially timed intervention to prod the ball away from Holt inside the box.
As a result, goalmouth action was at a premium but Hibs were handed a glorious opportunity on the half hour mark when awarded a penalty which divided opinion.
Referee Willie Collum, in charge of his fourth Edinburgh derby, pointed to the spot when adjudging that Handling had been taken out in the box by the onrushing Hamilton after latching onto El Alagui’s flick-on.
The young keeper was subsequently booked but was reprieved when, after a long run-up, Craig slid the ball harmlessly wide in front of the jeering Jambos fans.
Fuelled by the spurned chance for the visitors, Hearts grew as an attacking force with the influential Nicholson proving a livewire.
A snapshot from the 20-year-old on the swivel inside the box was kept out by a strong right-hand from Mark Oxley, who displayed his shot-stopping capabilities having illustrated his eye for goal on the opening weekend.
Inevitably, Hibs' best route to goal came through set-pieces with Forster nodding over eight yards out from a floated Craig corner.
But Hearts almost snatched the lead on the stroke of half-time when Jordan McGhee drove a 25-yard volley inches wide after latching onto a Lewis Stevenson clearance.
Positive mood: Hearts fans have witnessed their side beat their city rivals in the last three derbies at Tynecastle (Picture by Adam Higgins)
The hosts began the second half on the front foot as former Crystal Palace forward Sow burst down the left hand side without finding a team-mate with his byline cutback.
With Hearts enjoying more possession and showing a greater level of urgency, Hibs struggled to make a significant impression.
Jamie Walker returned to action after a two-game ban from the bench in place of King to add extra steel to the feisty midfield battle.
Holt fired straight down the throat of Oxley before giving way to Gary Oliver while Sam Stanton headed harmlessly off target from Craig's free-kick at the other end as both sides continued to trade blows without any success.
Amid the overriding passion and ambition, the lack of service and quality was profound but Hearts found the decisive breakthrough 14 minutes from time.
The game yearned for a moment of magic and Nicholson provided it with, niftily escaping the attentions of Robertson before cracking home a thunderous 20-yard effort which cannoned in off the post.
The celebrations began in earnest around the terraces and the feeling of elation grew bigger as the Jambos seemingly made sure of the points from the spot.
Buaben drove purposefully into the box and was shoved over by the retreating Robertson, who was shown a second yellow card.
The former Dundee United midfielder kept his cool to place a sidefooter into the roof of the net with conviction to double the lead.
Hamilton made a vital contribution to preserve the two-goal cushion, denying an El Alagui header from close range before palming over a curling Craig free-kick from the right flank as Hibs sought a late recovery.
Nicholson received a standing ovation when making way for Hearts debutant James Keatings, who scored 15 goals for Hamilton last year, while Scott Allan made his first league appearance for Hibs as a late replacement for Handling.
And before long, the next instalment of the late drama unfolded when Sow was given a straight red card for appearing to catch Nelson with an elbow.
? DID YOU KNOW ?
As Hibs wore their changed white strip, it was the first time an away kit was worn in an Edinburgh derby since New Year's Day 1985.
Scotland's lowest away scorers last season, Hibs, had failed to find the net on six of their previous seven trips to Tynecastle but managed to get on the scoresheet to throw themselves a lifeline.
Former Falkirk and Dundee United striker El Alagui cleverly knocked the ball over the head of Wilson before crashing an explosive volley past Hamilton from 20 yards in the second minute of stoppage time.
Subtle: Hibs defender Stevenson appears to stamp on Hearts midfielder Walker, under the nose of assistant referee Gavin Harris (Picture by Adam Higgins)
Craig was booked for a spat with Kevin McHattie and Forster confronted Walker, who then appeared to clash with Lewis Stevenson, as the tension increased a notch and players lost their discipline in the dying embers.
But time ran out for the visitors as Hearts took the derby spoils to continue their impressive start to the season.
The Jambos face John McGlynn’s Livingston in a midweek Petrofac Training Cup second round tie before travelling to Raith Rovers next Saturday while Hibs host play-off hopefuls Falkirk at Easter Road next weekend.
Rebuild: Hibs let 16 players leave Easter Road at the end of last season and have brought in just five so far (Picture by Adam Higgins)
EDINBURGH DERBY STATS:
The two sides met in the second week of the season in the Premiership at Tynecastle a year ago as Hearts won 1-0.
Hearts coach Robbie Neilson played in 18 Edinburgh derbies over eight years in his playing days (winning six, drawing six and losing six).
Hibernian have now lost on their last three trips to Tynecastle since their last victory in May 2012 (a 2-1 win in the Premiership).
Standings: The Scottish Championship table after two games (Picture by Adam Higgins)
Sunday 17th August 2014
SPFL Scottish Championship
Tynecastle (Gorgie, Edinburgh)
Hearts 2-1 Hibernian KO 12:30pm Live on Sky Sports 3/HD3 (HT 0-0)
Nicholson 76 Craig 31 missed pen
Buaben 80 (pen) El Alagui 90+2
Hearts (4-4-1-1): 13 Hamilton - 8/10, 30 McGhee - 7.5/10, 5 Ozturk - 8/10, 4 Wilson (C) - 8/10, 3 McHattie - 7/10, 11 Nicholson - 9/10 (Keatings 85 - 2/10), 6 Gomis - 8/10, 17 Buaben - 8.5/10, 12 King - 7/10 (Walker 58 - 4.5/10), 10 Holt - 7.5/10 (Oliver 72 - 3.5/10), 20 Sow - 7/10.
Subs not used: 25 Hollis (GK), 22 McKay, 14 D Smith, 29 L Smith
Booked: Hamilton (31), Buaben (32), McHattie (53), Ozturk (71)
Sent-off: Sow (88)
Hibernian (4-4-2): 1 Oxley - 7.5/10, 2 Gray - 7/10, 6 Forster - 7/10, 5 Nelson - 7/10, 16 Stevenson - 6.5/10, 7 Harris - 7/10, 8 Robertson - 6/10, 10 Craig (C) - 6.5/10, 11 Stanton - 6.5/10 (Kennedy 79 - 2.5/10), 19 Handling - 7/10 (Allan 85 - 2/10), 9 El Alagui - 7.5/10.
Subs not used: 31 Perntreou (GK), 22 Booth, 17 Tudur Jones, 14 Heffernan, 35 Cummings
Booked: Robertson (45), Gray (59), Craig (90+3)
Sent-off: Robertson (79)
My Man of the Match: Sam Nicholson (Hearts) - 9/10 My Poorest Performer of the Match: Scott Robertson (Hibernian) - 6/10
Referee: Willie Collum (Scotland) - 8/10 Assistant referees: Willie Conquer (Scotland) and Gavin Harris (Scotland) Fourth Official: John Beaton (Scotland)
Attendance: 17,280
MANAGER REACTION:
Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson
"I thought it was very tight and competitive. There were a lot of tackles flying in. Some bits of football broke out now and again but the majority of it was very tense. It was a full house and a big atmosphere; there was a lot of pressure on both teams. We knew once the game died down after 60-70 minutes that we had the players who could cause problems. Sam [Nicholson] showed that. He has great ability and great technique and if he gets into those wee pockets he can produce things like that for us. I'll have to have a look at Osman's red card and see what the contact was but I can't comment just now because I was 60-70 yards away."
Hibernian head coach Alan Stubbs
"We warranted something from the game. We didn’t look in any trouble and then suddenly we were two down. The way we lost those goals was the disappointing thing, especially when you've got a team where you want them. We should have come away with at least a draw - a defeat feels like we've been robbed. We were doing what we wanted to do and were keeping their fans quiet and probably a little bit of ill-discipline has cost us. The penalty was a penalty and the lad has had a good strike but it's disappointing, it really is, as I don't think the scoreline reflected the game. These things can happen in games and it's how you respond that`s important. For 10 or 15 minutes after it we let it affect us too much."
Last updated: 17 August 2014
18:34pm
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