FOR OLLY LANG SYNE
Lee stars as Hibees miss episode of Neighbours
Edinburgh derby history was turned on its head as Hibs were left to lament the loss of their key players Down Under.
Hearts won at the home of their arch rivals for the first time since April 2014 in a breathless and captivating capital clash.
There hadn’t been an away victory in an Edinburgh derby in the 14 previous meetings but Olly Lee’s stunning f irst- half strike was a fitting winner to grace any game.
The Jambos support stayed long after the final whistle, drums beating and flags flying as they savoured a win that was as hard fought as any they’ve achieved in this fixture.
How Hibs missed the presence of Mark Milligan in the middle, Jamie Maclaren up front and, especially, the pace of Martin Boyle out wide.
They’re on duty with Australia at the Asian Cup and this was an episode of Neighbours in which they were so badly missed.
Hibs battered the door of Hearts late on but Christophe Berra & Co. refused to budge, repelling wave after wave of Hibs attack. On the rare occasion they were breached Irish keeper Colin Doyle stood tal l, with one outstanding fingertip stop to deny Steven Whi t ta ker highlighting his contribution. When he f lopped on a Stevie Mallan effort deep into injury time, Hibs fans headed for the exit , thei r f ine unbeaten six-game run at an end as the Jambos earned the bragging rights to take into the winter break. Craig Levein will head into January in fine fettle, just six points behind the Old Firm at the top and bolstered by the prospect of more key players returning from injury. There will be fireworks popping above the castle tomorrow night to bring in 2019 but it will all be squibs and bangers in comparison to the cacophony here at kick-off.
It was glorious pandemonium with both sets of fans creating an atmosphere not for the faint hearted but clearly loved by the battle-hardened of spirit in both squads.
It was as breathless on the pitch as it was raucous off it.
Hibs enjoyed the bulk of possession but Hearts were keen and alert on the counter. Steven Naismith almost nipped the ball from the toes of Efe Ambrose to connect with Lee’s cross from the right – but the defender recovered to make a saving tackle.
Lee’s delicious delivery minutes later, again from the right, brilliantly picked out Naismith and he cushioned a header into the path of Peter Haring but his first touch was too heavy and the chance was lost.
Stung, Hibs drove up the park and Daryl Horgan skipped past Marcus Godinho before picking out Oli Shaw who nodded over from six yards.
Emboldened, the Hibees began to look lively and their confidence was underlined when Ambrose cut inside and tested Doyle with a low shot.
The game was beginning to swing g back and forth like a Hogmanay carry out on Princes Street and d Hearts carved out the best chance midway through the first half.
Hibs were caught on the hop by Lee’s short corner to Michael Smith and his shot with th the outside of his right boot was saved brilliantly byy Adam Bogdan. The Hungarian keeper was utteutterly helpless, however, when Hearts took the lead in 29 minutes with one of ththe finest strikes witnessed in recent EdiEdinburgh derby history. ThThere appeared to be little danger whwhen Lee received the ball with his bacback to goal 30 yards out, with Paul HanlonHa touch tight and seemingly no place to go. SomeoneS forgot to tell the former LutonLu star though, as he brilliantly turnedtu his marker before letting rip withwi a scorching left-foot shot that flewfle into the top corner. The goal sparked bedlam among the HeartsH support although the flare thrownthrow on the pitch was a spectacle theh match could have done without. The Jambos were almost silenced in 34 minutes when Mallan picked out Whittaker but Doyle was again alert to keep out the full-back’s header.
Hearts were dealt a huge blow eight minutes into the second half when Haring, the game’s most influential player, limped off injured.
Two minutes earl ier Shaw’s half-volley had kissed the top of the bar as Hibs pushed for a leveller. The absence of Haring upset the rhythm of the Jambos as Sean Mackie twice went close from long range. However, Hearts steadied again with the influence of Naismith, Berra and Arnaud Djoum coming to the fore. Jambos fans were then irate when a penalty shout was turned down. Naismith sent Sean Clare free but when he tumbled under Ambrose’s challenge as he prepared to pull the trigger, ref Kevin Clancy flashed yellow for the dive. Hibs rallied again but must have known it was going to be one of those days when Doyle pulled off the save of the match. There were 10 minutes to go when Whittaker let fly with a 25-yard shot the keeperke brilliantly tipped on tot the post. ThreeTh quarters of Easter Road rrose to acclaim an equaliser bbut the ball spun along the line before going out of play.