29th December 2018 Hibs v Hearts 0-1
After leaving the Spartans game caught a 27 bus from Ferry Road to Hanover Street. Then walked to Easter Road arriving at the ground at 19.00. Security was over the top with police insisting on stopping fans in Bothwell Street and ordering cans to be dumped in bins, then ordering fans to walk on the pavements. On the approach to the ground Stewards were checking fans had tickets before long queues at the turnstiles as everyone was searched before being allowed into the ground.
I was in the South Stand lower and knew that despite having a seat I would be spending the whole match standing if I wanted to see the action. There was not originally a programme showing for this game as it is impossible to get a programme at the away end of Easter Road. However I have ordered one direct from the publishers and received an e-mail on 2nd January saying my order had been completed with the programme arriving through the post on 8th January.
I went for a coffee and a sausage roll as I had had nothing to eat since lunchtime. Kiosk had run out of sausage rolls but they gave me a pie to replace it at no extra cost saving me the massive sum of 30p. Hearts made two changes to the side that faced Hamilton bringing in Clevid Dikamona and Sean Clare for Steven McLean and Calumn Morrison. I was surprised at the changes as press reports had stated Dikamona would be out until the end of January and Morrison had been one of Hearts best players against Hamilton. Hearts line-up in a 5-3-2 or 3-5-2 depending of if you classed wingbacks, Marcus Godinho and Ben Garrucio, as defenders or midfield players.
Hearts started well and had an early chance when Olly Lee crossed from the right. From the other end of the ground where I was it looked as if Steven Naismith should have headed for goal but he headed across goal to Peter Haring who touched it back to Lee whose cross-shot landed Adam Bogdan's arms with the aid of a deflection. Efe Ambrose then had a shot from the edge of the Hearts penalty box but it was a comfortable save for Colin Doyle in the Hearts goal. Michael Smith had a chance after a short corner from Lee but Bogdan got down to push the ball away. Hearts opened in scoring in the twenty-ninth minute. A long ball from Arnaud Djoum was headed down by Clare to Lee twenty-five yards out. Lee was facing away from goal with Paul Hanlon on his back. Lee spun to the left away from the defender and fired a left foot shot past Bogdan. I almost had my head taken off as a guy in the row behind me fell forward as he celebrated. The searches outside had obviously not worked as a flare was thrown onto the pitch after Hearts scored. Hibs tried for an equaliser but the closest they came was a Steven Whittaker header which was well saved by Doyle.
The second half almost started with a bang. Naismith chased a long ball into the box alongside Darren McGregor. Naismith won the ball but from a tight angle his shot was blocked by Bogdan at his near post. Soon after Hibs Olly Shaw tried a half-volley which clipped the top of the bar on the way out of play. Hearts lost Haring to injury after fifty-three minutes. He has been carrying a hernia injury for three months and will now get an operation during the winter break. He had been having a really good game in midfield but was forced off and replaced by Oliver Bozanic. Hearts had a great chance to put the game beyond doubt with twenty minutes to go. Naismith won the ball and sent Clare through on goal. However under pressure from McGregor he could only stab his shot at goal where Bogdan saved. Shortly afterwards Clare was sent through again and tackled just outside the penalty box where he fell to the ground. Referee Kevin Clancy booked Clare for diving. When will referees understand that not all falls after contact are dives! Hibs had another good chance with ten minutes to go when Doyle tipped Whittakers thirty yard drive onto his right hand post. The ball then ran along the line and touched the left-hand post before being cleared. Hibs then started throwing crosses into the Hearts box for the remainder of the game with McGregor moving upfront as an auxiliary forward in an attempt to get an equaliser. The Hearts defence held firm with Christophe Berra and Dikamona resolute in defence. Smith operating behind the two central defenders as a sweeper was also excellent, picking up loose balls and clearing with accurate passes to the Hearts midfield.
The final whistle brought great scenes at the Hearts end as players and fans celebrated. I walked to Leith Walk and caught a number 10 bus immediately which took me straight home.
I went for a coffee and a sausage roll as I had had nothing to eat since lunchtime. Kiosk had run out of sausage rolls but they gave me a pie to replace it at no extra cost saving me the massive sum of 30p. Hearts made two changes to the side that faced Hamilton bringing in Clevid Dikamona and Sean Clare for Steven McLean and Calumn Morrison. I was surprised at the changes as press reports had stated Dikamona would be out until the end of January and Morrison had been one of Hearts best players against Hamilton. Hearts line-up in a 5-3-2 or 3-5-2 depending of if you classed wingbacks, Marcus Godinho and Ben Garrucio, as defenders or midfield players.
Hearts started well and had an early chance when Olly Lee crossed from the right. From the other end of the ground where I was it looked as if Steven Naismith should have headed for goal but he headed across goal to Peter Haring who touched it back to Lee whose cross-shot landed Adam Bogdan's arms with the aid of a deflection. Efe Ambrose then had a shot from the edge of the Hearts penalty box but it was a comfortable save for Colin Doyle in the Hearts goal. Michael Smith had a chance after a short corner from Lee but Bogdan got down to push the ball away. Hearts opened in scoring in the twenty-ninth minute. A long ball from Arnaud Djoum was headed down by Clare to Lee twenty-five yards out. Lee was facing away from goal with Paul Hanlon on his back. Lee spun to the left away from the defender and fired a left foot shot past Bogdan. I almost had my head taken off as a guy in the row behind me fell forward as he celebrated. The searches outside had obviously not worked as a flare was thrown onto the pitch after Hearts scored. Hibs tried for an equaliser but the closest they came was a Steven Whittaker header which was well saved by Doyle.
The second half almost started with a bang. Naismith chased a long ball into the box alongside Darren McGregor. Naismith won the ball but from a tight angle his shot was blocked by Bogdan at his near post. Soon after Hibs Olly Shaw tried a half-volley which clipped the top of the bar on the way out of play. Hearts lost Haring to injury after fifty-three minutes. He has been carrying a hernia injury for three months and will now get an operation during the winter break. He had been having a really good game in midfield but was forced off and replaced by Oliver Bozanic. Hearts had a great chance to put the game beyond doubt with twenty minutes to go. Naismith won the ball and sent Clare through on goal. However under pressure from McGregor he could only stab his shot at goal where Bogdan saved. Shortly afterwards Clare was sent through again and tackled just outside the penalty box where he fell to the ground. Referee Kevin Clancy booked Clare for diving. When will referees understand that not all falls after contact are dives! Hibs had another good chance with ten minutes to go when Doyle tipped Whittakers thirty yard drive onto his right hand post. The ball then ran along the line and touched the left-hand post before being cleared. Hibs then started throwing crosses into the Hearts box for the remainder of the game with McGregor moving upfront as an auxiliary forward in an attempt to get an equaliser. The Hearts defence held firm with Christophe Berra and Dikamona resolute in defence. Smith operating behind the two central defenders as a sweeper was also excellent, picking up loose balls and clearing with accurate passes to the Hearts midfield.
The final whistle brought great scenes at the Hearts end as players and fans celebrated. I walked to Leith Walk and caught a number 10 bus immediately which took me straight home.
Teams
Hibs: Bogdan, Whitakker, Hanlon, Horgan, Slivka, Mallen, Kamberi, McGregor, Ambrose, Shaw, Mackie.
Subs: Hyndman, Gray, Allan
Hearts: Doyle, Smith, Haring, Berra, Lee, Clare, Djoum, Naismith, Garuccio, Godinho, Dikamona.
Subs: Bozanic, Mulraney.
Hibs: Bogdan, Whitakker, Hanlon, Horgan, Slivka, Mallen, Kamberi, McGregor, Ambrose, Shaw, Mackie.
Subs: Hyndman, Gray, Allan
Hearts: Doyle, Smith, Haring, Berra, Lee, Clare, Djoum, Naismith, Garuccio, Godinho, Dikamona.
Subs: Bozanic, Mulraney.
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