27th December 2017 Hearts v Hibs 0-0

Ready for Derby game. Match programme arrived on Saturday and cover is based on the movie The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. The movie was released in 1966 which was when I saw Hearts in a live game for the first time. In the programme they covered that season and the crowd for the first game I was at, at Easter Road, was 21,395. Hearts lost 3-1 and Don Kerrigan was the first player I saw scoring for Hearts. 

Walked down to Tynecastle and got to my seat around 7.20. Heart made three changes from Saturday. Jamie Walker came in for the suspended Harry Cochrane, Jamie Brandon replaced the injured Michael Smith at full-back and Isma came in for Anthony McDonald up front. When the team lined up it appeared Kyle Lafferty was playing wide right, Jamie Walker in the number 10 role and Isma at centre forward.

The first major incident in the game occurred in seven minutes when Hibs Martin Boyle crossed a low ball into the Hearts box which Oli Shaw hammered off the crossbar. From where I was sitting it looked like the ball had crossed the line but it bounced back into Jon McLaughlin arms who carried on with the game. TV evidence confirmed the ball had crossed the line and Hibs manager Neil Lennon was not happy after the game but the referee or his assistants did not give the goal. This 'goal' started debate on the use of goal line technology as used in the English Premier League but I am not sure that the SPFL could afford the costs involved. A former referee came out with the ridiculous suggestion that goal-line technology should be used in televised games but that penalises teams who are not regularly on television. if this technology's introduced would it have to cover all four Scottish divisions. How would a team like Cowdenbeath afford to have the systems installed. I can understand the use of the TMO in rugby and cricket where there are natural breaks in the game to allow referrals to the television official but this would not work in football. If the referee stopped the game to look at technology how would he restart the game in the event of deciding the ball had not crossed the line? A dropped ball would be unfair to the defending teams it is likely they would have already cleared the ball away from goal. Part of the fun of football is discussing refereeing and being human all referees make mistakes but generally their decisions are correct. Football is a simple game and unless this technology could be introduced at all levels I would be against it coming into Scottish football.The game continued with Hibs generally attacking but kept out by the Hearts defence. While I am to 100% enamoured by Craig Levein's style of football he certainly ensures the defence is organised. Hearts only chance in the first half came from a free-kick about twenty-five yards out. Lafferty's initial attempt hit the Hibs wall and he fired the rebound past the post.

Early in the second half Connor Randall was forced of the field through injury and replaced by Aaron Hughes although the defensive solidarity was not weakened. Walker made a break down the left and passed to Lafferty on the edge of the Hibs six yard box who seemed to get the ball stuck under his feet and could only knock the ball past the post. Hibs brought on Brandon Barker and shortly after after he came on John Souttar got in a brilliant tackle as he attempted to break down the left. The tackle was hard but fair and Barker was eventually substituted, limping off the field. Hearts had a couple of penalty claims but the game petered out in a 0-0 draw.

I could not understand why after a brilliant performance against Celtic Hearts went through the game without a corner or a shot on target. The midfield were not pressing to the extent they had against Celtic and I though Walker was carrying an injury. Paper talk has linked him with a move to Wigan in the transfer window and I don't think he will be seen in a Hearts shirt much longer. Up front Isma was not in the game, his first touch was awful and he did not have a decent shot on goal all game. I don't think he is a centre forward as he does not win duels in the air and is inclined to drift out to the wings. He is a better player playing off  Lafferty than trying to do it all on his own. There was a lot of criticism of Prince Bauben from fans but I thought he was the only one in midfield attempting to find a 'killer' pass albeit they did not come off. Bauben also holds the ball up well to allow team mates to move into position for a pass. For me Hearts man of the match from was Brandon who had an excellent game at left-back despite being a natural right-back.

Walked home after the game disappointed in a poor performance but happy with a point and another clean sheet.

Teams

Hearts: McLaughlin, Randall, Souttar, Berra, Brandon, Cowie, Buaben, Walker, Milinkovic, Isma, Lafferty. 

Subs: Hughes, Callachan

Hibs: Marciano, Hanlon, Bartley, McGinn, McGeouch, Stevenson, Boyle, McGregor, Ambrose, Stokes, Shaw. 

Subs: Barker, Matulevicius, Murray.