Semi is perfect cure for derby sickener
EDINBURGH DERBY FALLOUT
HIBS and Hearts have each failed to register a home win in the last seven derbies.
There have been five wins for the visitors, with two draws.
You need to go back to Hearts’ 2-1 success in May 2018 for the last time one of the Edinburgh sides won on their own patch.
SPORTS VIEW
GREG DOCHERTY insists the Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts is the perfect opportunity for Hibs to avenge their “sickening” derby drubbing.
Second-half strikes from Sean Clare, Oliver Bozanic and Conor Washington sunk the Hibees on Tuesday before Melker Hallberg’s late consolation.
The Jambos picked up just their second away league victory of the season – both have come in Leith – as they recorded back-to-back wins for the first time under Daniel Stendel.
Docherty has impressed since making a deadline-day loan switch from Rangers, managing three goals and five assists in his six appearances.
But he admitted he and his team-mates were nowhere near it against their bitter rivals.
Their chance for redemption on the big stage will come over Easter and the midfielder hopes
BY ROSS PILCHER the backyard battering they took will act as a timely wake-up call for Hampden next month.
Docherty said: “The semifinal, when it comes around, will be our full focus. It will be a massive chance for us to make up for Tuesday night.
“It is really disappointing, so that’s the obvious one. There would be no better place to do it.
“It is disappointing. It’s a derby defeat, it’s not nice. It’s sickening. You’re gutted for the supporters and everyone at the club.
“Maybe it’s a bit of a wake-up call for us. Yeah, we have been playing well and going OK but these things go out the window.
“We’ll learn from this, go to Hampden and maybe that’s the extra motivation we need.”
There is plenty to work on before then as a similar display at the National Stadium in April could go the way of the previous two capital clashes at the venue – 4-0 and 5-1 romps for the Jambos.
On Tuesday’s loss, Docherty said: “We maybe got dragged into it. We didn’t get the ball down, we didn’t play football as much as we would have liked. We didn’t play to our strengths which is extremely frustrating.
“Things went against us, like the penalty, but we’ve got to bounce back.
“We concede such a sloppy goal and it’s a time we need to regroup. That’s the time for calm heads and there was still plenty of time but we shot ourselves in the foot and they scored another breakaway goal. It’s really disappointing.
“I wouldn’t say we didn’t create anything but it’s difficult. Hearts defended. They came here from where they are (in the league) and they’re fighting for everything.
“It’s a shame because we played really well on Friday night (in the Cup against Inverness).
“It’s hard to put your finger on. We have to show a different side to us now and really come back from this and continue the good work.
“We need time to reflect on it and look back but we’re all hurting after this.
“We will bounce back from this, that’s for sure.”