You’re not swinging any more
Hearts had too much punch for us but we don’t fear a dig in Hibs now
Lewis Stevenson has warned Hearts that Hibs won’t be bullied now they have the muscle to match their city rivals.
Neil Lennon’s men proved they were made of sterner stuff when they stood up to the physical Jambos in the Scottish Cup last weekend.
And Stevenson reckons the Leith stars still have plenty of craft to go with the graft.
Lennon claimed after the bore draw at Tynecastle that there had been a psychological shift in favour of the Hibees.
They can stretch their unbeaten run in the capital derby to seven matches if they beat Hearts in Wednesday’s fifth-round replay.
And it’s likely to be a different game for the cup holders back at their own gaff in midweek – away from the threadbare Tynie turf.
Long-serving defender Stevenson insists Hibs can outplay their Premiership rivals but he isn’t afraid of another battle.
Stevenson said: “The derbies have changed a lot, especially this year.
“We’ve got in a few more physical players and we have matched Hearts in that aspect – and I’m sure we will do it again in the replay.
“If it becomes more of a football match, we still have players who can go and play football as well. We’re prepared for all manner of games.”
The televised first clash failed to live up to its billing.
And Stevenson insists the fear of making a mistake on a badly cut-up pitch outweighed any desire to be adventurous going forward.
The veteran defender said: “Both teams would be a bit disappointed with the way they played. It wasn’t the way we wanted to play and the pitch there wasn’t great. It was tough to play on.
“It was a bit uneven and nobody wanted to take chances or be the one remembered for playing a square ball and losing it.
“Nobody was taking chances but both teams could have been a bit braver and played a bit more.
“It’s hard for groundsman. I can’t speak for him but I’m sure they don’t real ly get the budget they’re supposed to get – then there’s the weather not being great in Scotland.
“I’m sure the surface at Easter Road will be a bit better and it will probably suit both teams.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a very dif ferent game of footbal l and hopefully one where football gets a chance to show.” Stevenson won the League Cup in 2007 and, after last summer’s Hampden heroics, is the only player ever to have won both domestic cups at Hibs.
With Ayr United awaiting the replay winners in the quarter-finals the Hibees will feel they have a fighting chance of keeping a grip on the Scottish Cup this May.
But Lewis knows Hibs’ unbeaten run in the derby will count for little when the rivals face off again.
He says that record will mean nothing to the nine Hearts players who joined the club last month.
Stevenson was part of a Hibs side that failed to win the fixture in 12 matches between 2010 and 2012.
And he said: “I’ve been on the other end, having been on a long run without beating them.
“The pressure does mount up, even
more so when you’re on the end of a losing streak.
“But they have a lot of new players and I’m sure a lot of them don’t even know that’s the case.
“I feel confident though. It’s a oneoff game, you are always confident with the players we have that we can go and win a game.”
Stevenson made his first derby appearance in April 2007 in a 1- 0 defeat and is now far more relaxed than he used to be heading into tussles against the Jambos.
Bragging rights will again be at stake on Wednesday when a crowd of over 20,000 descends on Easter Road but the 29-year-old insists he wi l l be able to blank out the enormity of the occasion.
He said: “I enjoy the games now more than ever. I used to get too nervous when I was younger.
“Before I probably couldn’t sleep for the week in the build up – now it’s probably just the night before.
“It’s probably more excitement rather than apprehension. You still get the same buzz as you did when you played in your first.
“Yet as soon as the game starts it can just feel like a normal game.
“You can’t get too carried away or you might end up doing something daft and get sent off. You have to be level headed.
“There are the usual f lare ups but you probably notice it’s a derby more during stoppages in play. And when you win a derby they’re the best – but when you lo s e them they are the worst.”