Football: How Edinburgh derby drama unfolded last season

Published on Friday 6 November 2009 10:07

HIBS 1, HEARTS 1 (SPL, 19 October 2008)

HIBS got off to the best possible start when Steven Fletcher put them ahead after just 90 seconds, Colin Nish running on to a cheeky backheel from Derek Riordan before squaring the ball to Fletcher, who forced the ball home from close range.

However, Hearts - who lost keeper Marian Kello at the break due to injury - left Leith with a share of the spoils after a stunning free-kick from Bruno Aguiar before half-time.

After the interval, a great block from Lewis Stevenson denied Andrew Driver after he'd gone on a mazy 40-yard run while, at the other end, Fletcher missed a great late chance to snatch the points when he sent a left-foot volley wide from close range.

HEARTS 0, HIBS 0, (SPL, 3 January, 2009)

YVES MA-KALAMBAY answered his critics with a stunning display, denying Hearts with a string of excellent saves. The home side also hit the woodwork on three occasions during a thrilling derby. Christian Nade went agonisingly close when he met Robbie Neilson's long throw-in with a glancing header that crashed against the bar. Then Eggert Jonsson's cutback found Nade but again the striker was unlucky as his low shot smashed off a post.

Gary Glen's dipping drive from 25 yards came off the top of the crossbar before, in the dying seconds, Hibs almost snatched victory when Fletcher raced clear but hesitated just long enough for Janos Balogh to make a crucial stop.

HIBS 0, HEARTS 2 (Scottish Cup, 11 January, 2009)

GOALS from Christian Nade and Gary Glen saw Hearts knock their ten-man city rivals out of the fourth round.

Steven Fletcher missed a great early chance to give Hibs the advantage, then was sent off after half an hour for a reckless challenge on Hearts skipper Christophe Berra.

Hearts rubbed salt into their opponents' wounds as Andrew Driver's inch-perfect cross was turned home by Christian Nade.

Grzegorz Szamotulski made vital saves from both Nade and Driver to keep his side in the contest but Gary Glen sealed victory in the dying moments when he took Christos Karipidis' defence-splitting pass around the Polish keeper and rolled the ball home.

HIBS 1, HEARTS O (SPL, 14 March, 2009)

MIXU PAATELAINEN recorded his first derby win as a manager after five attempts.

The home fans had to wait just 14 minutes for the winner, in a move started by Denes Rosa. The midfielder picked out Alan O'Brien and the Irishman's cross allowed Steven Fletcher to send the ball looping over Janos Balogh and into the net– albeit with his attempt at a header coming off his shoulder.

Before half-time, the match exploded with two quick-fire red cards, the first coming as Balogh was sent off for clattering into Fletcher just outside his box before Sol Bamba was also sent for an early bath after a challenge on Christian Nade.

HEARTS 0, HIBS 1 (SPL, 7 May, 2009)

HIBS arrived at Tynecastle missing seven first-choice players but still came away with all three points.

Hearts passed up chances to open the scoring before Hibs got their reward for standing firm. As the game entered the last 11 minutes, Christos Karipidis brought Derek Riordan down inside the box and received a red card from referee Steve Conroy.

Riordan kept his cool to calmly send Marian Kello the wrong way from 12 yards. Things turned ugly as some Hearts fans made a bee-line for the goalscorer although Tynecastle stewards and Robbie Neilson dragged them away.