HIBERNIAN may have extended an unbeaten run against Hearts which started over three years ago to nine games with a hard-fought draw at the home of their resurgent city rivals last night.

But nobody associated with the Easter Road club, not their manager Neil Lennon, not their players and certainly not their supporters, was in a mood to celebrate as they headed back home last night.

The clear goal which their young striker Oli Shaw scored in the sixth minute which was disallowed by referee Steven McLean left them feeling rightly aggrieved not to triumph at the end of what was a desperately disappointing encounter.

There will be those who will argue for the urgent introduction of modern technology to aid match officials in their decision making following another hugely controversial incident in a high-profile match which was shown like by Sky Sports.

But McLean and his assistant Sean Carr should really have, between them, have been able to determine that Shaw had netted without the assistance of Hawk Eye on this occasion.

Hearts extended their unbeaten run to eight games and kept their fifth clean sheet in succession. They had two penalty claims turned down in the second half. But they were highly fortunate not to finish up on the losing side on this occasion and knew it.

Craig Levein's side certainly started brightly. Esmael Goncalves set up Jamie Walker for a shot wide after skinning Paul Hanlon with a jinking run down the right flank. The midfielder’s attempt sailed well wide of its intended target.

Shaw did far better not long afterwards. John McGinn released Martin Boyle upefield with a perfectly-weighted diagonal ball and the winger advanced before cutting the ball back into the six yard box.

His team mate stole in ahead of John Souttar and chipped a shot which beat Jon McLaughlin, struck the underside of the crossbar and landed comfortably over the goalline. It looked like a clear goal to most of those in the 19,316-strong crowd. But neither Carr or McLean thought so.

That decision outraged Lennon who made his displeasure clear. The referee felt the need to take him aside for a quiet word. But his mood would have improved little as the game wore on and his charges failed to find the target.

This was a game which was, like so many derby matches, high on honest endeavour and wholehearted challenges, but decidedly low on quality play. For a lengthy spell in the first half proceedings resembled a game of head tennis more than an actual football match. Neither side was able to get the ball down an seize control.

Kyle Lafferty, Hearts’ leading scorer this season, failed to make any significant impact. His frustration increased when McLean booked him for what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate tackle on Darren McGregor. This was, as always, a difficult encounter for the match official and there was certainly plenty to keep him occupied, but many of his decisions were perplexing.

Hibs were the better team in the first half and showed why they have had the upper hand in this fixture for so long. They were rewarded for their superior passing and movement off the ball with a couple of half chances.

Connor Randall did well to block an Anthony Stokes cross and into the Hearts area and Boyle shot wide. But McLaughlin was never seriously threatened and the two sides were level as the half-time whistle was blown.

Randall came off shortly after the start of the second half and was replaced by Aaron Hughes. The arrival of the vastly-experienced defender seemed to have a positive affect on those around him. The home team looked far more composed than they had during the opening 45 minutes.

Hearts had their best chance soon after Hughes came on. Walker did well to shrug off the attentions of Efe Ambrose and supply Lafferty. The forward’s shot, though, spun past the right post much to the relief of Ofir Marciano.

Hearts had a penalty claim ignored in the 57th minute after Marvin Bartley appeared to touch the ball with his arm. But it would have been a soft award if it had been given. It was not a deliberate act by the midfielder.

McGinn positively revelled in the intense atmosphere of the derby once again and fully embraced the highly physical nature of the game. He was by far the dominant figure in the centre of the park and looked the player most capable of creating an opening or scoring himself. Boyle was also lively outside him.

However, Christophe Berra, the Scotland centre half and Hearts captain, marshalled his backline superbly. He won any high ball which came near him, and there was no shortage of them, and limited Hibs to long-range efforts.

Lennon made two changes as the game wore on. He brought off Boyle and Shaw and threw on Brandon Barker and Simon Murray respectively. The latter had scored the winner on the last occasion these two teams met at Easter Road back in October. Could he reproduce the heroics of his debut? Not on this occasion.

Hearts were unfortunate not to get a penalty in injury-time when Lewis Stevenson appeared to handle the ball, but justice was perhaps done that no spot kick was awarded given earlier events.