Hearts: Robinson hopes to emulate fellow youth Smith with derby goal

Published on Friday 1 April 2011 14:53

SCOTT Robinson saw his good friend strike a treasured goal against Hibs last season – and tomorrow the Hearts striker hopes to create a lasting Easter Road memory of his own.

Robinson, 19, lost his place in the Jambos attack for the game in January last year after sustaining an injury in training, and he cut a frustrated figure as his replacement, 18-year-old Gordon Smith, opened the scoring in a 1-1 draw in Leith.

"You're delighted for him – he's my mate – but you think: 'Could that have been me?'," he said. "Scoring against Hibs was probably the highlight of Gordon's career. He did brilliantly and I was really happy for him. To do that at any age would be a great feeling.

"I had got an injury that week in training, so I missed the game. Gordon stepped in and took my place and scored."

While Robinson had anticipated a starting role in that match, he is content to be merely in the frame for a place in tomorrow's squad after working hard to regain a place in the first-team plans of manager Jim Jefferies in recent weeks.

"We went on a good run after (the last derby], so it played a part in seeing us towards third place. I've just worked hard and knuckled down during the season. It's pleasing to know I'm still in the manager's eyes, and hopefully I can be included in games to come.

"We'll maybe go in as slight favourites, but Hibs are doing really well just now. They've won five out of the last six, their manager has brought in new players, and they're looking like a more solid unit."

Robinson has already helped to slay Hibs this week as Hearts won 1-0 in an under-19 league match on Tuesday, while he also scored as the Jambos youth team trounced their Capital rivals 4-0 earlier this season.

Well versed in the cross-city rivalry but having never featured in a senior duel with Hibs, he hopes to maintain his season's fine derby form on the grander stage of Easter Road tomorrow.

"Any win is a great feeling," he says. "It'll definitely be a much harder game at first-team level, but I'm looking forward to it if selected. I've been at Hearts since under-14s, and whenever I've played in a derby it's been a big occasion.

"Obviously the players want to win and know what it means to the club. But, at first-team level it's a much bigger occasion, and I'm sure with the new stand at Easter Road it'll be a massive game."

Robinson will bear the signs of a rough-and-tumble derby even before a ball is kicked tomorrow lunchtime. A conspicuous cut just below the bridge of his nose is the result of a swinging elbow of a Hibs defender that caught him square in the face during the youth clash at Riccarton on Tuesday.

"You've got to go in for everything," Robinson explained. "I think it's just swollen, just a wee scar.

"I'd like to think it wasn't deliberate, but I'm not sure. Obviously derbies are hard-fought games and you can't hold back. In any game you've got to give your all, but derbies are that bit more important."