Derby spoils settled in a familiar way

Andrew Smith
at Tynecastle
Yet another mistake by a Hibs keeper gives Hearts first win since November
HEARTS 1
Velicka 20

HIBERNIAN 0

THE Hearts revival starts here. The Hibernian revival under Mixu Paatelainen stalled here. And all down to the revival of an aspect of the Tynecastle derby that is in danger of becoming a tradition. The Tynecastle men were well worthy of a first win since November 11, and a first SPL clean sheet since September 3. But they still required one of those archetypal aberrations from a Hibs goalkeeper at the Gorgie ground to seal their victory. Yves Ma-Kalambay must now be placed alongside Zibi Malkowski, Simon Brown and Andy McNeil as Easter Road custodians who haven't covered themselves in glory on such an occasion.

There was power in the close-range header from Andrius Velicka that followed a 19th minute corner from Andrew Driver, nodded back across goal by Christophe Berra. But Ma-Kalambay was right behind the Lithuanian striker's effort, only to fumble his attempt to grasp it and so allow the ball to spin behind him. The goal came during a period wherein Hearts were consistently on the front foot against strangely subdued rivals. Hibs did regroup after the interval and enjoyed long periods of possession as Stephen Frail's men elected to sit on their lead. Rarely, though, did the visitors threaten.

Statistics can be twisted around a one-game turn. Since Frail was made caretaker manager with sole responsibility for picking the team, Hearts have now lost only once in four outings and are unbeaten in three matches going into their Scottish Cup replay at Motherwell on Tuesday evening.

"It is vital to build on this," Frail said of the derby triumph. "We're not sitting back and saying we have turned the corner and that we will finish third or anything like that. It is a wee step and it's a step in the right direction. At the moment that is all we can do. It's back to basics. But we will look forward to Motherwell. We needed to get a reaction out of the players and have done so. That showed in the second half. It wasn't pretty but the players held out for one another. It is only three points, but the added confidence is that it is a win against our rivals."

There were peculiar bragging rights on offer. It was the first time in years an Edinburgh derby so late in season was a lower-half of the table contest. Essentially, the bitter rivals were scrapping to prove that they were the lesser struggling capital side. A saying about bald men and combs springs to mind. Providing evidence they weren't in such a form trough as the other lot across the city was supposed to prove an easier task for Hibs.

Even if they could not boast a win in eight SPL games, in the past week the Easter Road men were portrayed as a new, improved team under Paatelainen. After the instant impact of a 3-0 Scottish Cup victory over Inverness in his first game, certainly Hibs were a different team for his second encounter. The sale of David Murphy to Birmingham City for £1.5m and the subsequent short-term deal that resulted in former captain Ian Murray taking over at left-back made sure of that. Murray struggled to get up to the frenetic pace in his first game since he appeared for Norwich City two months ago. His team-mates had no excuse for being similarly deficient.

The home side's play belied their appalling run of ten games without a win, second-bottom of the table status and reputation as a (sometimes) collection of half-hearted performers by delivering the sort of biting, scratching first-half display demanded of any team intent on seizing a derby day. As is standard, in the opening exchanges both sides scampered around in a crazed manner. Thereafter, however, Hearts continued to throw themselves into the 50-50 challenges and chase down loose balls to force a tentative-looking visiting side ever deeper.

Ruben Palazuelos and Deividas Cesnauskis thundered forward in support of lone striker Velicka as Hearts accepted shooting opportunities whenever they found themselves in the final third. Eight minutes in, Ma-Kalambay had to contort his body in mid-air to extend fully his arm and brilliantly claw away a deflected effort from Palazuelos. Several other raking drives did not find their mark, but Hearts clearly thought there was merit in testing the erratic Belgian under-21 international keeper. Their convictions were justified with the telling strike.

In an effort to retrieve a desperate situation, at half-time Paatelainen withdrew the ineffectual Abdessalam Benjelloun in favour of Steven Fletcher, returning to action for the first time since sustaining an ankle injury two months ago. It was the introduction of new signing John Rankin for Merouane Zemmama midway through the period, however, that almost proved pivotal.

The £110,000 buy from Inverness Caledonian Thistle offered good delivery from set-pieces. An 82nd minute free-kick he swept invitingly into the box seemed certain to be turned in at the back post by Chris Hogg, only for the Hibs central defender to pull up under pressure from Christos Karipidis. Afterwards Paatelainen claimed Hogg had been impeded. Such a reading of the incident wasn't disputed by Frail, who had a sinking feeling that Steve Banks' goal was about to be breached as the ball was curled over by Rankin. "There might have been a wee bit in it (the challenge by Karipidis], but the referee never gave it, thankfully." As much as their form, Hearts' luck might be changing.

JEEPERS KEEPERS
Hibs goalies struck by the Tynecastle derby curse:

Simon Brown
Thought a Lee Miller header was drifting wide and let it go - only to watch in horror as the ball drifted into the corner of his net. Fortunately for him, Hibs went on to win 2-1 in this April 2005 derby.

Zibi Malkowski
Spilled shot at the feet of Edgaras Jankauskas to gift the striker a goal in the Boxing Day derby last season. Hearts won 3-2.

Andy McNeil
Completely misjudged bouncing ball in the box, allowing Andrew Driver to hook home and give Hearts a 2-0 win in March last year.

Yves Ma-Kalambay
Fumbled Andrius Velicka header in the first half yesterday, allowing ball to cross the line for the only goal of the game.

How they played
HEARTS

6
Steve Banks
Hardly had a save to make in what was a comfortable win. But coped very well with what little he had to do.

6
Robbie Neilson
Fairly routine day at the office for the club's longest-serving and most dependable player. Carried out duties well.

7
Christos Karipidis
Greek had quieter afternoon than he could have hoped for, dealing well with what little the opposition could muster.

6
Christophe Berra
Flick on from Driver corner found Velicka for the opener. Impressed in makeshift central defence with Karipidis.

7
Jose Goncalves
Looked to have his work cut out containing the live-wire Morais but did extremely well and seemed to relish battle.

8
Eggert Jonsson
Talented Icelandic youngster was in a different class, carrying out his defensive duties and moving ball around.

8
Michael Stewart
Intelligent player proved difficult to pick up outside the box first half. Sick on pitch and taken off after 63 minutes.

7
Ruben Palazuelos
Surprisingly hauled off having proved a key player in Hearts' effective midfield formation. Man of the Match contender.

8
Andrew Driver
His corner found Berra and his flick was met by Velicka for opener. Was allowed to roam in free role, causing problems.

7
Andrius Velicka
This class act was the difference between the clubs when he grabbed opener after 19 minutes – and always a threat.

7
Deividas Cesnauskis
Excellent first half – controlled, composed and always a danger. Fell out of things second period and was subbed.

7
Substitutes: Lee Wallace (for Stewart, 65) Brought on in second half in switch to replace sick team-mate. 6; Saulius Mikoliunas (for Cesnauskis, 70) Brought on while Hibs were enjoying their best spell of second half, but missed glorious chance to kill game in dying minutes. 6; Christian Nade (for Palazuelos, 81) Seamlessly slipped into the fray. 6

HIBERNIAN

4
Yves Ma-Kalambay
Joins past Gorgie offenders Malkowski and McNeil in hall of shame after fumbling ball just over the line. Criminal.

4
Kevin McCann
Youngster was mightily relieved to see his late interception stay out of his own goal, and found it tough going on the whole.

5
Chris Hogg
Struggled with skipper to marshal opposition. Perhaps lucky with Velicka penalty shout that went his way.

5
Rob Jones
Not as much threat as expected from set-pieces and found it tough containing Hearts' frontline for most part.

5
Ian Murray
Pitched in less than 24 hours after signing, Hibs' most experienced derby competitor had mixed fortunes on his return.

6
Filipe Morais
Far and away his side's biggest threat, but didn't get in enough telling crosses due to stubborn defending of Goncalves.

7
Brian Kerr
Like the team-mates around him, failed to take responsibility. Manager will expect a lot more than he offered here.

5
Guil
laume Beuzelin
Bossed game for all too brief period in second half before fading out. Has had many more effective games than this.

6
Merouane Zemmama
Replaced by Rankin midway through second half. Another one who failed to take game by the scruff of the neck.

5
Abdessalam Benjelloun
Hot and cold Moroccan wasn't at the races. Squandered a great opportunity and was hauled off at half time.

4
Dean Shiels
Suffered in front of a Hibs midfield who failed to keep the ball and create chances, while persisting with over-hit high balls.

5
Substitutes: Steven Fletcher (for Benjelloun, 45) Lacking in match practice and it showed. 5; John Rankin (for Zemmama, 68) Could have had an immediate impact on the game when he delivered a great free-kick to Hogg only for Banks to save. 5; Damon Gray (for Morais, 81) Brought on with Hibs chasing the game, and failed to make an impact. 5

Taken from the Scotsman