THAT’S MY BOY
Teenager Hickey rescues Levein in a dramatic finish
WITH 20 minutes to play in the 99th game of Craig Levein’s second spell as Hearts manager, this began to feel like a final innings.
A dramatic, late turnaround ensured one of the old stagers of the Scottish game will make it 100 not out when Aberdeen visit Tynecastle in the quarter-finals of the Betfred Cup on Wednesday.
Whether Hibs rival Paul Heckingbottom will still be in place for their trip to Kilmarnock is anyone’s guess.
His team were leading a tense, critical encounter thanks to Stevie Mallan’s 47th-minute thunderbolt, only for strikes from Hearts duo Uche Ikpeazu and Aaron Hickey to turn the match on its head.
Heckingbottom described the final outcome as ‘a sickener’. As Hibs fans made their feelings known outside the main stand at Easter Road, there was a sense there is worse to come. Face burning with joy and relief, Levein’s first thoughts were for his opposite number. In recent days, both men have been through the wringer and, after one win in 11 league games, the Hibs boss finds himself in a dangerous place.
‘It’s a horrible business and it’s difficult for all of us, but you’ve got to handle the pressure that comes with the job,’ said Levein.
‘I’ve got empathy with every guy who has been brave enough to sit in the manager’s chair and take the heat.’
For four or five years Hibs had managed to reinvent themselves. They bulked up, acquired a new attitude and even managed to win a Scottish Cup. Under Alan Stubbs, then Neil Lennon, they managed to become a new Hibs. Hibs on steroids, if you like.
By 5pm last night, it was farewell to that new Hibs and welcome back to the old. Leading a must-win derby through Mallan’s wonder strike, Heckingbottom was on course for a managerial reprieve. The home support poked Levein with a chant of ‘sacked in the morning’ and, in a rare show of unity, the Hearts fans joined in.
Yet, with his back against the wall, the Tynecastle boss is a dangerous opponent. Melker Hallberg missed a glorious chance to double Hibs’ lead shortly after Levein changed from a 3-5-2 formation to four at the back and threw on winger Callumn Morrison.
By the end of a stunning, rollercoaster afternoon, the former Scotland manager was strolling around the pitch, grinning from ear to ear — his job saved by a 17-year-old kid.
Aaron Hickey became the youngest Hearts scorer in an Edinburgh derby since World War II, claiming his first senior goal when his strike took a deflection off Josh Vela and dropped into the top corner of the net six minutes from time.
The goal followed some unlikely showboating by Ikpeazu after the striker had outmuscled the Hibs defence to equalise with 20 minutes to play. The celebrations were lengthy and unrestrained, reflecting the huge pressure on Hearts going into the game.
‘This is a different type of pressure,’ admitted Levein.
‘All credit to the boys, they plugged away and kept going.
‘Big Uche got us back in the game and young Aaron (Hickey), who had another smashing game, managed to score the winner in an Edinburgh derby with the numbers five and one on his back — not bad at all.
‘We have a hugely difficult game on Wednesday night against Aberdeen and I’m sure this result and performance will help us in that match.’ It was a very typical Edinburgh derby in the end. Fast, frantic and, at times, nervous. The first half was a non-event. Utterly forgettable.
The game was transformed two minutes into the second half following a moment of magic from Mallan. There was nothing on when the midfielder gathered 25 yards from goal. He smashed an optimistic strike which moved from left to right in mid-air, deceiving Hearts keeper Joel Pereira.
Back after injury, the on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper only had one real effort to save in the end. He couldn’t get near it.
Unexpectedly finding themselves a goal down, Levein (left) had to change things to save his job. In Glenn Whelan, he also had the best midfielder on the pitch.
‘I felt we had lost a grip on the game for a wee while,’ conceded the Hearts boss.
‘Listen, tactical changes do make a difference at times and I could sit here and say they made the difference, but I don’t think it was that. I think the players’ desire to show they are better than they have been up to now was the biggest thing in our favour today.’
Nevertheless, Hibs will reflect on a key moment in the game.
Florian Kamberi’s drive from the edge of the area struck Hearts defender Craig Halkett’s body, falling perfectly for midfielder Hallberg 16 yards out. A terrific — and rare — chance to put the game beyond doubt, the Swede slashed wildly at his effort, the ball fizzing high and wide. Head in hands, he knew what he’d done.
How costly it proved for Hibs in the end.
Hearts began to gain territory and, from a short corner, Ryotaro Meshino threw a cross into the area. The ball was knocked down into the territory of Ikpeazu. The formidable striker was surrounded by defenders and shouldn’t have got near the ball.
Somehow he managed to stretch out a right leg and guide a scrambled effort under the right hand of keeper Chris Maxwell. The jubilation of Hearts was unbridled and understandable.
It was nothing to the hysteria to come, of course.
Heckingbottom bemoaned his team’s failure to deal with Ikpeazu before the ball landed at the feet of Hickey, who sent a superb strike looping into the top corner.
Hibs gave it everything in search of a point. On-loan Rangers winger Glenn Middleton almost got one, denied a stunning solo equaliser after a mazy run when his shot was saved by the fingertips of Pereira.
Scott Allan’s low strike was then pushed round the post by Pereira.
There followed a moment of temporary panic when home sub Christian Doidge had the ball in the net after punching it out of Pereira’s hands, but there were few complaints when John Beaton blew for a foul.
For Hearts, the joy and relief was enormous. For Hibs, the despair absolute.