Full back says Hibs need to 'wise up'

The Easter Road star's frustration was clearly etched on his face as he struggled to comprehend how naive defending had helped contribute to a result which has left Hibs rooted to the foot of the SPL table.

Hart couldn't believe how Gorgie winger David Templeton was allowed to waltz almost 50 yards unchallenged before slotting home the all-important opening goal, one described as a moment of individual brilliance by those in maroon while he viewed it simply as a gift.

After gathering the ball near the halfway line Templeton ran off both Danny Galbraith and Liam Miller, turning inside Sol Bamba and then Paul Hanlon before leaving goalkeeper Mark Brown helpless with a low shot into the corner of the net.

But, while agreeing he could be accused of cynicism, Hart insisted Templeton should never have been allowed to get anywhere near the home side's penalty area.

He said: "You just don't get to drive from near enough inside your own half to get a shot in without being brought down.

"We had enough players about him, someone should have taken responsibility for stopping him. You give away the foul, take a card for the team if necessary then regroup and deal with the free-kick.

"Unfortunately we just let him go through and score.

If annoyed at that incident, Hart was also less than pleased with Hearts' second goal, Kevin Kyle getting the jump on Bamba to knock the ball on for Templeton to beat him to it as he got the slightest of touches for Stephen Elliott to add a killer second to give Hearts a third successive derby-day win.

The former Aberdeen, Livingston and Preston North End player said: "Kyle up front is an obvious problem for anyone but you have to get on with it but I was disappointed in my part at it.

"At 1-0 you are always still in the game, at 2-0 you are struggling.

"I don't think we played particularly well, but it's frustrating, the same old story we seem to be speaking about every week, we don't take our chances at one end and concede at the other."

While admitting Preston versus Burnley matches could be quite feisty, Hart admitted he'd never quite played in such a match as his first Capital derby, one which was marred by flares thrown from the Hearts end while Kyle and his Jambo team-mate Rudi Skacel were pelted with coins and lighters.

Both Hibs and Hearts are certain to face the wrath of the SFA for those unsavoury scenes, Hart believing the anger and frustration which has been building within the Easter Road support throughout a dismal start to the season had boiled over.

However, he condemned those responsible.

He said: "I can understand the way the fans are feeling, their anger and frustration at what they are seeing on a Saturday but there's no excuse for throwing things.

"As for the flares, we were told before the match something like that was expected and warned not to go near them or kick them but to walk away."

While losing a derby hurts, Hibs were left with further consequences with captain Derek Riordan red carded for a foolish kick at Skacel, catching the Czech midfielder above the knee in full sight of referee Willie Collum.

As a result, Hibs' leading scorer automatically misses Wednesday night's clash against SPL champions and leaders Rangers, leaving boss Calderwood's options strictly limited. Colin Nish has missed the last two matches with an ankle injury while Darryl Duffy remains a few weeks away from a return as he continues to recover from the broken foot which has prevented him pulling on a green and white jersey since his temporary move from Bristol Rovers.

Hart said: "I think Derek just got caught up in the environment, lashed out and was sent off which is a blow with Colin struggling and Darryl out."

Calderwood's only option would seem to be a first start for Lithuanian striker Valdas Trakys, who made his fifth appearance as a substitute as he replaced John Rankin at half-time against Hearts to little effect.

Under such circumstances a trip to Govan appears a daunting prospect for a side which has won just once since the opening day of the season and currently enjoys second bottom place in the table only on goal difference from basement outfit St Mirren.

But, Hart insisted, he and his team-mates won't be heading along the M8 tomorrow night feeling sorry for themselves in any way.

He said: "We have to keep our heads down, to regroup, get back to basics and continue to work hard on the training ground every day as we look to grind out the results. We need to get those clean sheets going and hopefully that will happen at some stage."

Tomorrow night may not look to be that occasion with former Hibs ace Kenny Miller having notched his 15th goal of the season as Rangers went back to the top of the pile with a 3-1 win over St Mirren.

Hart, though, insisted that in the circumstances Calderwood's side can make the journey knowing the weight of expectation is on Rangers as they fight it out with arch-rivals Celtic for the title.

He said: "Maybe it is a good thing we are going there, I don't think anyone outwith Easter Road will expect us to get anything.

"We have to go there, get our passing game together, try to play football and hope to take our chances when they come.

"We'll be aiming to have a go, to give it our best shot knowing all the pressure is on Rangers."