WITH ten minutes to go of the latest chaotic and intriguing episode of the Edinburgh derby, Hearts did something really odd. They did a 'Hibs.'
They were 2-0 up, had seemingly seen off a storming second-half performance from Hibernian and were all-but in the quarter final of the Scottish Cup. That they failed to see out the win was as much to do with the never-say-die attitude of the men from Leith who will deservedly get a second chance to beat their old rivals as anything else - but they should never have drawn having been in such a strong position.
Isn’t that what Hibs do, particularly in the Scottish Cup? Over the years, and it is almost one million hours since they club won that competition in 1902 – now there is a statistic – and from the olden days to more recent seasons, their fans have watched defeat being grasped from the jaws of victory more times than any support should have to endure.
At Tynecastle, it was Hearts who gave up a commanding lead, they scored both goals in the first-half, and those wearing green and white bounced back across the city. Indeed, Sunshine on Leith was heard coming out of one of the dressing room’s after the game. You win no prizes for guessing which one.
So they get to do it all over against at Easter Road, which is a good thing because Scottish football has missed the Edinburgh derby. The last ten minutes was wonderfully bonkers. You didn’t want it to end.
Hibs had been the better side after the break but by the 80th minutes Hearts were 2-0 up and you got the feeling it wasn’t going to happen for them. Then Liam Henderson’s cross found Jason Cummings and his header looped into the corner past a helpless Neil Alexander. Game on.
Hibs kept going, they won a corner literally as the match moved into extra-time, the wonderful John McGinn delivered a good cross, Darren McGregor got his header on target, Hearts goalkeeper Alexander made a brilliant save only for Paul Hanlon to send the loose ball into the net from six yards.
Incredibly, Hearts twice almost scored in added time after that. Firstly, Hibs defender Niklas Gunnarsson's attempt to deal with a long ball saw him hitting the crossbar and thus by an inch or so avoided a spectacular own-goal.
And then at the death, Kevin Thomson prevented a Hearts goal when he stopped a Blazej Augustyn header on the line. It was enthralling stuff.
That we got any sort of decent game at all was to the credit of all the players. It was a miserable day, wet and windy enough for any high ball to become an adventure.
Hibs started brightly and could have been ahead after five minutes. From a Lewis Stevenson throw-in, McGinn turned and with his right foot executed a superb curling shot which brought out an equally fine save from Neil Alexander.
Hearts lost Prince Bauben early on and then Hibs midfielder Dylan McGeouch pulled up. They were replaced by Don Cowie, who made his debut for Hearts, and Kevin Thomson, a veteran of the derby.
But for all Hibs' good play, it was Hearts who took the lead on 31 minutes and it was a goal worthy of any match. The excellent Callum Paterson, superb at right-back for Hearts all season, sent forward a pass which Stevenson tried to head away when he was an inch off the grass. Arnaud Djoum took a touch, looked up and then sent a superb shot past the despairing Oxley from outside the area.
It was 2-0 before half-time. Paterson spotted that Sam Nicholson has come off his left wing and was in a bit of space at the edge of the box. He pinged the ball over several Hibs players to his team-mate who controlled on his chest and then sent a brilliant shot into the net.
There seemed to be no way back for Hibs at this stage. They kept playing away and were the better side, but as the minutes ticked on, the scoreboard did not change.
Stokes had two forgettable free-kicks, a Gunnarsson header from a fine free-kick by Henderson, he was good at them all day, went close as did Henderson himself when his shot was blocked by Alim Ozturk all around the hour mark.
McGinn has turned into a fine player and was in the middle of everything good Hibs did. On 68 minutes, he turned his man, played a lovely ball to Henderson and his low cross found Stokes who never looked like scoring and his shot, which should have made the target at least, was wide.
The Hibs fans had been in this movie before. Many times. They could never have expected the ending their team gave them. However, these two get to to it all over again a week on Tuesday and we should all be glad of this fact.
Hearts: Alexander, Paterson, Ozturk, Augustyn, McGhee, Nicholson, Djoum (Walker 81), Pallardo, Buaben (Cowie 9), Reilly, Dauda (Oshaniwa 51).
Subs not used: Hamilton, Souttar, Walker, Juanma, Zanatta.
Hibernian: Oxley, Gray (Gunnarsson 54), McGregor, Hanlon, Stevenson, Bartley, McGeouch (Thomson 31), McGinn, Henderson, Cummings, Stokes
Subs not used: Virtanen, Fontaine, Boyle, Keatings, Dagnall,
Referee: Craig Thomson
Bookings: Hearts (Ozturk 37, McGhee 39, Nicholson 44, Augustyn 59, Oshaniewa 75)) Hibernian (Bartley 46, McGregor 59, Stokes 59, Hanlon 90)
Attendance: 16,845
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