Lenny blasts ‘natural order restored’ dig in wake of his first derby defeat as Hibs boss
HIBERNIAN boss Neil Lennon has branded Craig Levein “disrespectful” after the Hearts manager claimed natural order had been restored in the Edinburgh derby.
Don Cowie scored the only goal in a scrappy 1-0 win at Tynecastle to put the Jambos in the hat for the fifth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
It was a first win in nine in the derby for Hearts – who historically have the better record in the fixture – which moved Levein to claim he wanted to “restore the natural order”.
An angry Lennon hit back at the former Scotland boss, blasting: “What does that mean? Restoring natural order? I don’t understand what that is – Hearts beating Hibs every time?
“It’s just a crock of c***. I think it’s a pretty poor statement to make and disrespectful to the club, players and me.
“We have two games to come so we will see if natural order is restored then.
“They haven’t won in nine, it’s my first defeat in five and we should have won the game here [last time when Oli Shaw saw a legitimate goal not given in a 0-0 draw].
“There’s a lack of humility in that statement, I don’t think I’ve ever made a statement like that.
“I have to congratulate my players. It’s been a hell of a run in the derbies and it’s come to an end so we will have to accept it and pick ourselves up for an intense few weeks.”
Levein had earlier admitted that ending the winless run against Hibs had been crucial, and the relief was reflected in his celebrations at the full-time whistle when he turned to celebrate in front of the main stand.
“It’s a massive win for us,” Levein said. “The longer the run goes on the more difficult it becomes and the more steely Hibs become. We had to break it as soon as possible.
“A lot of it [the celebration) was relief because Hibs were gaining some momentum (in the fixture] and I wanted to restore the natural order of things.”
The Hearts manager was mischievously celebrating a giant Scottish Cup win against their city rivals courtesy of an 87th-minute flick from Don Cowie which trickled inches over the line before the despairing efforts of John McGinn.
An obsession with 10-in-arow is more frequently observed at the other end of the M8 but how Hearts revelled in this one.
It allowed them to say cheerio to their rivals’ hopes of stretching their unbeaten run in this fixture into double figures. It is Hearts, without having conceded a goal in seven outings, who live on to face Albion Rovers or St Johnstone in the fifth round.
FOR all the romance of the cup, there is no love lost between these two. Remarkably, this was the seventh meeting in cup competitions since that fateful day in May 2012 when Hearts routed their rivals 5-1 at Hampden.
But Hibs have got their own back with a vengeance, famously claiming the cup for the first time in 114 years then compiling a lengthy unbeaten run in this fixture.
There was some novelty factor, though, arriving in the form of Steven Naismith, who was pitched into action after agreeing his loan deal from Norwich City.
With Kyle Lafferty suspended and Jamie Walker departed for Wigan, there was never any likelihood of Levein breaking his big new signing in gently. Demetri Mitchell, recruited from Manchester United, also started at left back and grew into a fine game.
Hibs had a more settled look to them. But they were almost in arrears early as Naismith – lining up off the front – produced the kind of stealthy run which has become his trademark. David Milinkovic’s clever pass found him perfectly and the Scotland player tiptoed past Ofir Marciano before sending in a low finish which trundled inches past the gaping goal.
Shaw got a touch on a Martin Boyle cross only for Jon McLaughlin to claim, then Boyle himself really should have opened the scoring after Vykintas Slivka had helped on the striker’s low cross. Instead of using his left foot to roll the ball into the empty net, the normally sure-footed Boyle opted for his right and sent it into the hoardings.
If the two teams had carved out one glaring chance apiece in the first period, the second half belonged to Hearts. New boys Naismith and Mitchell worked a smart free-kick routine which led to the on-loan Man United youngster blazing a shot wide.
Perhaps sensing this match was getting away from them, Lennon introduced Simon Murray for Marvin Bartley, the attacking ambition leading to a purple patch which almost led to a goal, as McLaughlin saved well from a Boyle volley. But it was the boys in maroon who were to be the talk of the toon. When Hibs got caught up the park and conceded a corner, Harry Cochrane swung over a deep set piece, Christophe Berra won a header at the far post, and the combined efforts of Marciano and McGinn on the line couldn’t keep out sub Cowie’s flick.
“It took an eternity,” said Cowie. “It bobbled along the line and John McGinn trying to clear and he maybe didn’t move his feet and it’s just nicked off the post and has fallen over by a couple of inches.”