Hibs 0 - 4 Hearts 8 September, 1962: Performances of Paton and Hamilton give Hearts hope for the future

AFTER Hibs lost their Famous Five and Hearts saw the break-up of the team that brought so many honours in the 1950s, this was a transition period in the Capital.

And, after this display, Hearts boss Tommy Walker could afford the luxury of sitting back and thinking that he was at least more than halfway towards bringing back the glory days. And so it proved, with Hearts clinching the League Cup just a month later.

This dramatic result saw Danny Paton net a hat-trick, the last time the feat would be achieved against the Easter Road side until Mark de Vries struck in August 2002. Before the kick-off there was a great deal of speculation that, after ten years of winning at Easter Road, the law of averages would count against Hearts. And, just before half-time, Joe Baker had an opportunity to put Hibs ahead but scoffed at the most open chance of the day when Gordon Marshall was out of play and the goal wide open.

The season before, Hearts could not find an inside man. This term, Tommy Walker had Paton and Willie Hamilton, who looked like becoming something of a headache for opposition defenders. In midfield, they blended together and were always trying to find extra spaces. On the ball, they both had the beating of their men and Joe Davin and Joe McClelland were kept working overtime as Hearts' wing men were kept furnished with a regular supply of the ball. After John Cumming had given Hearts the lead, Paton's three goals were taken in excellent fashion - the second after putting Ronnie Simpson the wrong way on a dummy.