With todays game being live on Sky the kickoff was brought forward to 12.30. I left home around 11.40 to walk to Tynecastle and arrived around 12.00. I scanned my ticket for entry and wandered up to the concourse where I looked to see if there was anyone I knew. Never saw anyone so went up to my seat in the main stand where I was slagged off for being later in arriving that I normally do. I had a chat with those around me about last weeks derby and we all agreed that it was a gutless performance from Hearts. Hopefully todays game would be better.  Interim manager Steven Naismith made a few changes from last weeks side. Nate Atkinson replaced the injured Michael Smith at right back, Peter Haring returned to central midfield replacing Jorge Grant, Alan Forrest was replaced by Josh Ginnelly up front and surprisingly Yatoro Oda replaced Andy Halliday in a number ten role. Oda has not had much game time since joining Hearts in the January transfer window and it would be interesting to see

     Well here we are for another Edinburgh Derby. Hibs are no longer issuing programmes but I ordered a copy of the fans issue online. It costs £2 but with p&p it will be £4.10 and will arrive next week. I was at home until 11.00 before leaving home for the 12.30:kickoff. I walked to Princes Street and then caught a 34 bus to Easter Road. I got off at the top of Easter Road and then walked down and over the bridge at Bothwell Street to the ground. Getting in was a nightmare as there were barriers then stewards searching fans before getting through the gates. What made it even worse was seeing that Hibs fans were not being searched getting in yards away. After I entered the ground around 12.10 and headed up to my seat in the main stand upper. I was in row BB, the second row of the upper level and had a great view of the teams warming up. This changed just before kickoff when five ‘rather large’ (fat) guys arrived in row AA and decided they were not going to sit meaning that when th

With Alex away watching Manchester City v Bayern Munich and Jim looking to go and watch Brechin v Fraserburgh tonight I was on my own for a trip out to Penicuik tonight where Penicuik Athletic were meeting Tynecastle in a match postponed a few weeks ago. I checked my bus app and saw that a 47 bus, which takes a direct route, was due at Lothian Road, at 18.13, arriving in Penicuik at 19.02 in plenty time for the 19.30 kickoff. I left home after an early meal at 17.55 to head to the bus stop at Lothian Road. I was crossing Lothian Road at 18.05 when a 47 drew up at the stop. Thankfully there were a number of people getting on and I was able to catch the bus. With it being rush hour the bus was busy with a number of passengers boarding and alighting en route. I got off the bus at Tesco in Penicuik, a couple of stops before Penicuik Park and walked, in light rain, the short distance to the  ground, arriving at 19.05. I paid my £5 admission and entered the ground where my old work colleague

Tynecastle with an important game for Hearts. Having lost five of their last six matches Hearts are now only a point ahead of Aberdeen in the race for third place in the SPL and the guarantee of group stage European competition next season. I left home around 14.00 to walk to the ground and arrived around 14.20. After scanning my season ticket for entry I entered the stadium and had a wander around the concourse before heading to my seat in section Q of the main stand. The teams were warming up as I took my seat and I watched this before having a chat with those sitting near me. There was a general feeling of apprehension as everyone knew Hearts had to recover their confidence and start picking up points again.  Hearts were defeated 2-1 at Kilmarnock last week despite scoring first in seven minutes and Kilmarnock going down to ten men with half an hour remaining in the match. There were a number of changes in the Hearts side with Ross  Stewart in goals following an injury to Zander Cla

  Another match at Ainslie Park today with Spartans meeting University of Stirling in the South Challenge Cup quarter finals. I left home around 13.30 and walked down Ainslie Park down the old railway path. I arrived around 14.30 and showed my Fanbase ticket at the turnstile for entry. As the game was a cup tie my season ticket was not valid. I bought a £2 programme and also received a free copy of last weeks issue which had been delayed at the printers and was not received at the ground in time for the match. I also bought a half-time draw ticket although I  never seem to win anything. I then took a seat in the stand to read my programme(s) before the match kicked.  Spartans fielded an unchanged side from last week. The strength of the squad can be seen by those named on the substitutes bench. Alan Brown, Sean Brown, Gregor Woods, Harvey Swann, Ian McFarland and Mikey Herd are all experienced with a wealth of experience in the lower leagues and the SPFL. Having defeated the Uni 4-0 in

Third match in three days as off to Ainslie Park to watch Lowland League leaders against third bottom Gretna 2008. I had an early lunch and left home at 13.30 to walk to the ground. I normally walk to the ground along the old railway path but as the forecast was for rain I kept to the streets as in the event of heavy rain I would be able to jump on the bus to complete my journey. I arrived at the ground around 14.20 and showed my season ticket at the turnstiles. When I got in I was told there were no programmes today as there had been a hitch with delivery. However a QR code on the wall at the club souvenir hut allowed me to order a copy from Curtis Sport and also access the content online. I thought it was a bit much having to pay postage when it was the suppliers fault the programme was not on sale at the ground. It took me a while to order and Jim arrived just as I completed the transaction. He had been smart and ordered his copy earlier in the week and it had arrived in the post on