Hearts 0-0 Hibs: Jambos better but striking still problem

Published on Monday 9 November 2009 08:55

A POINT will be welcomed more by Hibernian than Hearts after the season's first Edinburgh derby ended in deadlock. That said, the hosts can derive considerable satisfaction from a performance which saw them dominate large periods of play.

Although clear chances remained minimal, the assertiveness of Csaba Laszlo's side left them rightly feeling that victory would not have been ill-deserved had it come their way.

Their probing might have been rewarded in the closing minutes when substitute Jamie Mole tumbled to the turf under a challenge from Graham Stack, the Hibernian goalkeeper. As the home support demanded a penalty, referee Steve Conroy looked to his assistant before ignoring the appeals. He was ultimately proved correct when television replays confirmed no contact. However, the missing final ingredient could not detract from an overall intrepid home display.

Hibs, second in the SPL at kick-off, remained subdued for much of the afternoon. The 57th-minute introduction of Derek Riordan prompted more attacking forays than the visitors had previously been willing to undertake, but their talisman still had plenty defensive work to do with Hearts refusing to retreat and settle for a point.

The hosts' overall attitude represented marked improvement from the previous weekend's insipid display at Motherwell and must have contributed in part to the frustration of the Hibs manager John Hughes. He became embroiled in touchline arguments with both Colin Nish and Riordan during the second half before conceding during the post-match media conference that his team had not produced their best form.

They did, though, come closest to scoring on 65 minutes. Defender David Wotherspoon strode forward to unleash a shot which careered off Nish as it headed for goal. Janos Balogh, the Hearts goalkeeper, produced the necessary acrobatics to touch the ball onto the post and then reacted just as quickly to smother the rebound with Riordan lurking. That attempt and two Riordan efforts represented the sum total of Hibs' attacks.

"With all my respect for the opponents they had one good chance from a deflection. This is all," said Laszlo. "Riordan had one good shot but Balogh was there. We pressed, we recovered the ball back in midfield and this was our strategy. We moved forward but had no luck up front. Christian Nade, Gary Glen and Mole worked hard and did what is necessary but they did not score goals. We had 11 or 12 corners, this tells you everything.

"I was satisfied with the performance after the Motherwell game. It was a performance we needed. But if you don't score goals you don't win games; if you don't have the killer instinct you don't win games. The defence held the 0-0, this is their job, but up front you must score."

While Hughes changed Hibs' shape due to injuries and began with a 4-2-3-1 formation, Laszlo sprung a surprise by relegating 18-year-old Craig Thomson to the bench. His replacement was namesake Jason, making his first appearance of the season. Arvydas Novikovas, another teenager, got his first start at Tynecastle alongside Nade in attack. But, appropriately for a 0-0 draw, the two best players on the field were defenders: Jose Goncalves and Chris Hogg. Both stood as immovable towers and provided the kind of defensive assurance so valuable in derbies when errors can prove so costly.

Closely behind them was Michael Stewart. Laszlo praised his captain's contribution and opined that such a tenacious performance was worthy of international recognition.

"I saw our supporters applause the team for their performance. This was an important moment for the team," he said. "I'm not angry about nobody. It was Novikovas' first derby and he tried. I reorganised the team with Ian Black on the right (of midfield]. At the moment this is all I can do, give my team the necessary energy and protection. That's what I did with Michael Stewart and David Obua.

"With Stewart's performance you can play in the national team. The will and running for 92 or 93 minutes, this gives energy and initiative. Michael had some bad games in the last 16 months. Maybe he was frustrated but you see that we need him. In a derby the most important is to use your brain and control your emotion."

The game began quietly following a minute's silence to honour Hearts and Hibs players who lost their lives fighting in The Great War. The first meaningful attacking move did not arrive until the 19th minute. Stewart linked well with Black, Novikovas and Nade before sending an attempt wide from 20 yards whilst slightly off balance. Eight minutes later Black's volley was deflected for a corner, which Nade subsequently headed wide under intense pressure. Hearts were more forceful than their opponents and played better throughout the opening 45 minutes. Hibs, lacking panache, threatened only once, Anthony Stokes failing to connect cleanly with Colin Nish's knockdown.

Hearts fashioned an opening early in the second period as Nade's glance sent Lee Wallace's cross looping into the air. It fell to the unmarked Novikovas, who was extremely unfortunate to see his acrobatic attempt strike Lewis Stevenson as it headed towards goal. Black then glanced Thomson's cross narrowly wide before sending a left-footed attempt into the palms of Stack from 20 yards.

Hibs emerged from their shell on 65 minutes and came within a fraction of scoring. Wotherspoon collected a wasteful pass by Novikovas, drove forward unchallenged and dispatched a shot that careered off Nish on its way to goal. At full stretch Balogh's fingertips diverted the ball onto the post and back out, where the Hungarian recovered to smother ahead of the waiting Riordan.

Balogh then saved low to his right from Riordan and repelled a volley from the same player as Hibs began exerting themselves on the hitherto largely untroubled home defence. Hughes had reverted to a three-man forward line after Riordan's introduction but the final surging was done by Hearts.

On 90 minutes, Glen's forceful 20-yard drive proved too much for Stack to hold. Mole arrived first to touch it past the goalkeeper and went down as his momentum carried him over the grounded Stack. "If the referee says penalty, it's a penalty," said Laszlo in philosophical fashion, doubtless having seen the TV pictures.

He was then asked if he would be granted the required funds to recruit a striker during the January transfer window having spent most of the season bemoaning the lack of a natural goalscorer. "Believe me, if I talk about this I am not the coach here tomorrow," he replied. For the moment, his priority is hauling Hearts up the SPL table. Saturday's display offered notable encouragement for the task in hand.