Gary Mackay: Giggs-esque strike got ball rolling for dominant display

As he got the ball, he had one thought and one thought only and that was driving and committing defenders. No matter what team you play for, no defender in any league likes people who are going to drive at him. Templeton did that with conviction.

The only downer I had from a Hearts perspective was that, apart from the goal, I don't think we got the ball out wide to David often enough. That's being very picky to be honest but I just felt he had the potential to cause more damage. But don't worry, I'll settle for his goal and Stephen Elliott's for a comfortable 2-0 win.

Hearts vs Hibs: Edinburgh Derby in pictures

I've seen a lot of individual goals in derby games. However, I was so impressed with Templeton's youthful exuberance. He picked the ball up one yard inside the opponents' half and went past five Hibs players en route to goal. Then he produced such a composed finish that you really thought you were watching a player with much more experience.

His goal was the pick of the day without question, but I felt all over the park Hearts were impressive and they had a lot of good performers.

Heading towards Easter Road before kick-off, the main talking point for all the Hearts supporters yesterday was what the management were going to do after last weekend. I have to say they got it absolutely right in terms of personnel. I was critical of Kevin Kyle last week. I was critical of Elliott because I didn't feel he was ready on the evidence of his substitute appearance. Templeton came in and was outstanding alongside those two. Ian Black had a great game in midfield and Eggert Jonsson was solid at right-back.

People were talking about whether Hearts would go with the forward thinking of Craig Thomson or the diligent defending of Jason Thomson, but the management decided Eggert was the man. Everyone who was asked to play in different positions did so well. Ruben Palazuelos doesn't want to play left-back, for example, and doesn't hide that, but he was another positive. All these things prove that last week against Kilmarnock was only a hiccup.

We got on the front foot right from kick-off and pinned Hibs back without creating an awful lot of chances ourselves. I think the midfield had a lot to do with that because they didn't allow the opposition to play or get time on the ball. Each time a Hibs player had it, he had a Hearts player harassing him and putting him under pressure.

What we need to do is try to build momentum now and continue our fairly decent good form of late. The loss to Kilmarnock has to be used as a wake-up call and I think it looked that way at Easter Road. Hearts now have a run of very important fixtures if they are to continue chasing European football for next season.

On Wednesday night it's Celtic at home and the players will be buoyed by a dominant performance against their Edinburgh rivals. Marian Kello really didn't have a save to make from open play yesterday and that won't have been said very often of an away goalkeeper in a derby.

After Celtic on Wednesday, it's St Johnstone away on Saturday, so all the games coming up have an importance attached to them. I always say the end of November is the time to start judging teams and it looks like Dundee United, Motherwell and Hearts could be, in the fullness of time, locked in a race for that third position in the SPL.

Cashing in on a great day

I used to love leaving Easter Road with a tidy bonus in my playing days after collecting one point or two points in an Edinburgh derby. Yesterday I experienced that feeling again. As I headed out of the stadium, I collected a tidy wee sum as I had 5 on Hearts to win 2-0 at 9-1.

I think the closing stages yesterday were the first time I've ever been desperate for us not to score any more goals. My tipping isn't great, it never was, but I came away with a nice profit and it made a great day all the more enjoyable on a personal level.

With my winnings, I might be able to buy myself a ticket for the game on Wednesday.