Robertson the lion-Heart Striker gives Hibernian a derby lesson in goal-scoring

IAN PAUL

2 Jan 1990

Hearts 2, Hibernian 0

HEARTS, who had seen off the old year in uninspiring style, took full advantage of the fresh start offered by this first game of the new decade to resuscitate their championship hopes.

They did so mainly because striker John Robertson appreciates that the bottom line in all the present-day hustle remains the same as that in more sophisticated times.

You must put the ball in the net.

By the time he had gone about his business, and scored two goals, even if one was from a penalty, Hibernian were chasing an impossible target, and the 25,224 crowd knew in their hearts -- if Hibs sympathisers will forgive that old pun -- that another Edinburgh derby had been decided.

The game was only 48 minutes old at that point, but in a contest as close, not to mention gritty and tense, as this one, the chances of a miraculous recovery are minimal.

Nor had Hibs any real cause for complaint because they had been daft enough to present their rivals with the first goal at a time, 38 minutes, when the match was finely balanced.

Neil Cooper pulled down Wayne Foster even though what danger there had been to Hibs had been mopped up comfortably.

Referee Alistair Huett, who had a hectic afternoon trying to control the excesses that invariably mar this derby, perhaps was as surprised as anyone, but he recovered in time to do his duty, and award the penalty kick.

Robertson made a professional job of the shot, and Hearts, who had been just as messy in their play as Hibs, were given all the lift they needed to set sail for victory.

It might have been different had John Collins scored from the best opportunity his team had in that half, after a fine move involving Steve Archibald and Graham Mitchell.

Unfortunately for him, keeper Henry Smith came out of goal to block the young midfield man's shot.

Therefore it was no surprise at all to see Hearts add to their score shortly after the interval, a goal of such simplicity it made all the hashing and bashing seem ludicrous.

A long clearance was hoisted from the Hearts penalty area to the 18-yard line at the other end, and Robertson, always with an eye to the main chance, set off in pursuit, with Dave Sneddon and Cooper in his slipstream.

Even an attempt to clip the striker's heels failed, and Robertson calmly picked his corner to send the ball out of Andy Goram's reach.

The Hearts' hero might easily have scored his third some time later when Hibs' defence made a hash of a clearance.

He kept his cool again, but this time sent his shot into the side net.

It was as near as he or anybody else came to another goal.

Hibs threw on both substitutes, Keith Houchen and Pat McGinlay, for Brian Hamilton and Gareth Evans, but nothing they could do disturbed the confidence now apparent in Hearts' ranks.

The Tynecastle team, too, used their deputies, Scott Crabbe and David Kirkwood, but that was merely an exercise in freshening up the troops.

Form does not matter too much, however, when assessing this macho confrontation.

As usual, aggro was much in evidence, and when Mitchell was booked for a fierce tackle on Gary Mackay after five minutes, we knew we were in for much of the same.

In the end four others were booked, Brian Whittaker and Jim Sandison of Hearts, and Paul Kane and Evans of Hibs.

HEARTS -- Smith, Kidd, Whittaker, Levein, Sandison, McPherson, Colquhoun, Mackay, Foster, Robertson, Bannon.

Substitutes -- Crabbe, Kirkwood.

HIBERNIAN -- Goram, Kane, Sneddon, Cooper, Mitchell, Rae, Orr, Archibald, Evans, Collins, Hamilton.

Substitutes -- Houchen, McGinlay.

Referee -- A N Huett (Edinburgh).