9th May 2018 Hearts v Hibs 2-1


Last home game of the season and a victory is essential to leave fans happy over the close season. Watched Reporting Scotland before leaving the house and saw an interview with ex-Hearts Manager Robbie Neilson. When asked what sort of game he expected Robbie replied "physical' and he was not far wrong.

Walked down to Tynecastle and took my seat at 19.25. Hearts made a few changes from Saturday with Aaron Hughes, Harry Cochrane, Danny Amankwaa and David Milinkovic coming into the side replacing John Souttar (injured), Ross Callachan, Don Cowie and Lewis Moore. The latter three players moved to the bench.

Hibs started well with Brandon Barker looking particularly threatening down the left. However his final ball was not the best and Jon McLaughlin in the Hearts goal had little difficulty in dealing with the balls into the box. McLaughlin was called into action after around fifteen minutes when he saved a Barker shot from around twenty yards. Hearts were coming more into the game and were denied a penalty around the twenty-five minute mark when Efe Ambrose brought Steven Naismith down in the box. Referee Craig Thomson has given nothing to Hearts since he awarded a penalty in the 2012 cup final and I was not surprised he dismissed the claim. However a minute later Hearts went ahead after Milinkovic and Naismith exchanged passed outside the box. Naismith then passed into the box for Kyle Lafferty to run onto the ball. It looked like an easy clearance for Hibs defender Lewis Stevenson but he dithered before attempting to clear and Lafferty took possession. Lafferty switched the ball to his left foot and prodded the ball past Hibs keeper Marciano into the net to give Hearts the lead. The Hibs fans behind the goal did not seem too happy with the Lafferty celebrations and stewards moved into that area in an effort to calm things down. Cochrane was having a good game in midfield and after a strong run he was tripped but got up and fired a shot straight at Marciano from the edge of the box. Shortly after Cochrane had another chance when the ball came to him in the penalty box but his shot was deflected of Darren McGregor for a Hearts corner. Just before halftime Hibs winger Martin Boyle had to leave the field due to injury. He was replaced by Dylan McGeouch. McGeouch was wearing a facemark to protect an injury and looked as if he should have been playing in Zorro rather than the Hibs midfield.

The second half started badly for Hearts when two minutes in Joaquim Adam made a lazy challenge on Lewis Stevenson as he burst into the Hearts box. A penalty was awarded and Florian Kemberi sent McLaughlin the wrong way from the spot to equalise for Hibs. Hearts however were not to be denied and after fifty-seven minutes went back into the lead. Paul Hanlon fouled Lafferty outside the box on the right hand side of the field. A number of Hibs fans felt Lafferty had gone down in slow motion but to me it was a definite foul. Cochrane hit a beautiful free-kick into the box for Naismith to deflect home with his head. The free-kick was so good the Naismith did  not even have to jump to head the ball. Hearts then brought on Cowie for Amankwaa to stiffen the midfield for the final part of the game. Hibs were desperately trying to get an equaliser but the Hearts defence stood firm with Christophe Berra, as always, outstanding in repelling attacks. With five minutes to go Cochrane had to leave the field due to cramp. He received a standing ovation as he left to be replaced by Callachan. Despite the referee awarding six minutes of injury time Hearts hold out for a win and bragging rights over the close season. During injury time Adao took great delight in hammering the ball upfield into the corners on the Hibs half in an effort to waste time and relieve pressure on the Hearts defence.

I walked home happy and have set up to record the rerun on the game on BT Sport at 8.30 tomorrow morning.

Teams
Hearts: McLaughlin, Smith, Hughes, Berra, Amankwaa, Lafferty, Milinkovic, Naismith, Mitchell, Cochrane, Adao. 
Subs: Cowie, Callachan, McDonald

Hibs: Marciano, Whittaker, Hanlon, McGinn, Stevenson, Boyle, Barker, Kamberi, Allan, McGregor, Ambrose. 
Subs: McGeouch, MacLaren, Silvia

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