Lennon left to rue Hearts masterclass
IT might perhaps be wise not to outwardly demonstrate great confidence before a derby match – after all, it may come back to haunt you.
From Easter Road’s Famous Five stand, a banner read: “There’s class, there’s first class and there’s Hibs class.” It’s a fine quote from Eddie Turnbull, a Hibee legend of course.
But an outstanding goal from Olly Lee gave Hearts their first win in Leith since April 2014 and consigned Neil Lennon’s men to bottom of the class.
It happened to be the first away win in this fixture in 14 games and it sent Craig Levein’s side fifth in the Premiership, just six points off the top of the table.
And do you think the Hearts manager in the form he has been was going to allow this to go without a mention?
Levein said: “It was a normal derby match with all the normal things in the melting pot. But I thought there was a little bit better football in this game than there was in the previous one at Tynecastle.
“I’m thrilled to bits for the boys because they took things to a really new level today because there is class, there is first class, there is Hibs class and the one above that there’s Hearts class. It’s brilliant. I’m so pleased about that!”
There were enough players unavailable to Lennon, on international duty with Australia and through injury, for him to ask for the game to be postponed. But the Northern Irishman must have allowed a feeling of regret to cross his mind when, with 10 minutes to go, Steven Whittaker hit a shot from 30 yards, Hearts keeper Colin Doyle got his fingertip to the ball and it hit the inside of the post, crawled along the line while spinning and somehow stayed out.
Lennon admitted: “I thought Steven’s shot was going in. So it was the width of some greasepaint, really. I did think a goal was coming. When Steven hits the post you think, ‘that’s in’ and when it doesn’t you think, ‘bloody hell – it might not be our night after all!’”
There have been better Edinburgh derbies but this was one either side could have won, and was enjoyable. Easter Road was full and the moment that won the game will be remembered by Hearts fans for some time.
With 28 minutes gone, Lee picked up the ball the best part of 30 yards from the Hibs goal and his shot from a supposed weaker left foot sailed past the in-form Adam Bogdan and into the top corner.
Both sides should have scored more but Levein was delighted with a 1-0 win on enemy territory.
He said: “We have been struggling to get Olly as far up the field as that. He had a shot on Saturday, a bit of a rasper that he nearly scored with, but we have been struggling to get him into the last third because of an inability to get the ball to stick.
“I don’t think it’s any coincidence that Steven Naismith is back and that affects other people’s performances. The way he cajoles and barks at people and leads by example and runs constantly and puts pressure on defenders.
“I could go through every player and praise them but that’s just Hearts class, eh?!”
Hibs for 90 minutes got into good positions but their crossing from both wings was dreadful, as was the final pass, something Lennon suggested will be addressed next month.
Lennon said: “Our final ball could be better. It will be something we will look at in January. But I’m not unhappy with the intensity and quality of play. It was good in the first two thirds of the pitch, we dominated the game for periods which we haven’t done against Hearts for a long time.
“But we are not doing the most important thing in the game, which is scoring goals.”
The home team came close to an equaliser four minutes after Lee’s goal when Whittaker f l icked Stevie Mallan’s free-kick towards goal but there wasn’t quite enough power on the header which meant Doyle was able to make a save.
The second half got going straight from kick-off, with Naismith muscling McGregor off the ball and his wellexecuted half volley at head height brought out the best in Bogdan.
Olly Shaw’s dipping shot in 50 minutes grazed the top of Hearts’ crossbar and 20 minutes later came the Whittaker chance.
In between, a lovely pass from Naismith on 69 minutes put Sean Clare through on goal but he never seemed to believe he would score and he didn’t, Bogdan making the save.
Hibs need someone such as Scott Allan who was at the match. Asked if his attendance was significant, Lennon said: “I have no idea. I didn’t know he was here. Was he in the Hearts end?”
Levein wasn’t for hanging around and asked after a few questions: “Can I go now and enjoy myself?”
Edinburgh was maroon last night and will be for a few more days.