Hibs 2 - 1 Hearts, 11 April, 1998: Harper strikes as Hibs end Hearts' title bid

NERVES played a massive part in a drab and uninspiring first half but, after the interval, the final derby of the season turned into a rip-roaring affair as the match see-sawed one way and then the other.

Hibs boss Alex McLeish, facing his first Edinburgh derby, returned skipper John Hughes and striker Lavety to the team after suspension, to the surprise exclusion of Jimmy Boco, while Paul Tosh also dropped out.

Kevin Harper, as expected, was declared fit, but he could only find a seat on the bench.

Hearts manager Jim Jefferies brought back flu victim Ritchie into the centre of his defence with Dave McPherson dropping into a substitute's role, while Colin Cameron was also back in the starting line-up as Lee Makel found no part to play in the final derby of the season.

Hibs striker Barry Lavety, back after a two-match suspension, claimed the game's first goal in the 56th minute, cutting inside Gary Naysmith and Paul Ritchie before unleashing a terrific shot which flew into the net.

But John Robertson, so often the hammer of Hibs, stepped off the bench to claim his 27th derby goal with his very first touch of the ball.

Hearts went for broke in the 68th minute with a triple substitution, McPherson, Robertson and Jose Quitongo replacing Murray, Salvatori and Adam. And, within a matter of minutes, their brave gamble paid off as Robertson claimed his goal. Grant Brebner was penalised for a challenge 25 yards out and Robbo stepped up to curl home a superb right-foot shot in the 72nd minute

Hibs rode their luck, with Darren Dods taking a Neil McCann shot off the line, before roaring back to snatch the winner in the 80th minute.

Harper set off on a superb run and capped it with a shot from the 18-yard line which sped past the helpless Gilles Rousset. It was the substitute's first goal of the season.

Even then Hearts didn't admit defeat and Willie Miller came from nowhere to nod a Steve Fulton header off the line.

As the match wore into injury time, the Hibs fans called desperately for the final whistle and when referee Willie Young eventually sounded it they took that as a signal for wild celebrations.

But, as they celebrated, the distraught Hearts fans streamed out of Easter Road many of them in tears, knowing that their title dream had been ended at the cruellest of venues - the home of their arch rivals.