6th April 2019 Hearts v Hibs 1-2

I always look forward to Derby games and this was no exception although due to television coverage the game was kicking off at the early time of 12.30. I left the house at 11.35 thinking the kick-off was 12.15 and arrived at Tynecastle around 11.50. Unfortunately it is next weeks semi-final against Inverness that starts at 12.15 so I had a longer wait until kick-off. Thankfully however the rain did not reach my seat in the main stand. The seat next to me remained empty and I do not know where Eric was, probably in hospitality. Craig was there with his wife Claire and their children Harmoni and Harper and I could see them in their seats in the front row of Section G.

Hearts made a number of changes with Michael Smith returning after injury while Uche Ikpeazu passed the concussion protocols after being stretched off against Aberdeen last week and came back in at centre-forward after missing the midweek game at Ibrox. There was a surpise at left back with Bobby Burns making his first start after signing from Irish football at at start of the season. He had been loaned out to Livingston to gain experience and returned to Hearts in January. Hibs were along their usual lines although centre-half Darren McGregor returned after missing the midweek match with Kilmarnock.

The game started with Hearts on top although Hibs Florian Kamberi missed an early chance when his control let him down as he looked to connect with a cross from Darryl Horgan. Jake Mulraney was looking as if he could trouble the Hibs defence and attempted an overhead kick after a cross from Ikpeazu but his effort had no power and Ofir Marciano made a comfortable save. Mulraney then ran onto a long free-kick from John Soutar. Marciano raced from his goal on to the left hand side of the penalty area as Mulraney gathered the ball. The forward checked back slightly and instead of trying to chip the keeper, who was rushing back towards his goal as defenders moved across to cover, ran to the byeline and fired over a low cross.  No Hearts players had made the effort to rush into the box to put the ball into the net and the chance went begging. Olly Lee then hit the foot of the post after a free-kick awarded when Sean Clare was fouled twenty yards out on the right hand side off the goal. Hearts took the lead after Lee’s shot from a Mulraney cross was deflected behind by Paul Hanlon. Lee took the corner on the left and found Peter Haring unmarked about ten yards from goal. His header flew into the corner of the net. Three minutes later Marc McNulty gathered the ball on the left hand side of the Hearts goal about thirty yards out after John Souttar failed to clear the ball. McNulty looked offside but referee Willie Collum allowed play to continued. McNulty powered forward, chased in vain by Christophe Berra, and crossed low into the Hearts six yard box. Horgan rushed in to shoot past the helpless Bobby Zlamal for the equaliser. Ikpeazu continued to cause the Hibs central defence problems with his strength and strong running, however referee Collum appeared reluctant to award free-kicks in the striker's favour. The referee also took no action when Souttar was floored by Hibs Stephane Omeonga in the penalty box after he touched the ball away from him. Souttar felt it was a penalty but Mr Collum took no notice.

Eleven minutes into the second half Hbs took the lead after a fast inter-passing move between Kamberi, Horgan and Steven Mallen. Horgan, who had come inside from his right-wing berth as the move developed to just outside the Hearts penalty box  box, shot past the helpless Zlamal from eighteen yards. This move summed up the difference between the sides. Hibs were moving the ball quickly but Hearts by comparison were slow in passing and moving and appeared content to pass between the defence and midfield without a lot of penetration or movement towards the Hibs goal. Mulraney had a chance from just inside the penalty box after a run from  Clare followed by a low cross from Smith.. The winger tried a lob rather than a shot  and the ball ended up in the crowd after flying over the crossbar. Ikpeazu attempted a lob over Marciano from the right hand side of the penalty box after a storming run into the box but his weak effort was easily gathered by the keeper. Mallan tried a long range effort from a free-kick in a Hibs counter-attack which Zlamal pushed past the post. Hearts then had a clear opening when a cross from Burns found Arnaud Djoum on his own around eight yards from goal on the right of the six yard box. Like Mulraney earlier he shot over the bar. Hibs were dangerous on the break and Zlamal did well to stop McNulty on a one to one. As the game moved into injury time Zlamal moved up into the Hibs penalty box for a Lee corner but no Hears player was able to connect with the ball. Zlamal scuttled back to his goal before the opposition could take any advance of his wanderings. After four minutes injury time the final whistle went and His victory move them above Hearts in the league table.

The rain was still spitting down as I walked home unhappy with both the performance and the result. Thankfully there is still the cup semi-final to look forward to as Hearts chances of achieving a European spot next season through their league position now look dead and buried.

Teams
Hearts: Zlamal, Smith, Burns, Souttar, Haring, Berra, Clare, Lee, Ikpeazu, Djoum, Mulraney.
Subs: Keena, Morrison, McLean
Hibs: Marciano, Gray, McGregor, Hanlon, Stevenson, Omeonga, Mallan, Milligan, Kamberi, McNulty, Horgan.
Subs: Bartley, Spector, Slivka.