HAVING long since eclipsed the present-day version, Hearts yesterday trumped a more celebrated Hibernian team of the past when they set a new points record for the second tier.
Hibs' tally of 89, set in 1999, had been in the sights of those from Tynecastle since the Championship was wrapped up with plenty to spare last month and yesterday's last-gasp victory at Cowdenbeath ensured another feat was ticked off the season's wish-list.
That it took a Brad McKay penalty deep into injury-time may have been surprising but was, at the same time, fitting, given the way Robbie Neilson's team have marched unflinchingly towards promotion back to the Premiership. Maintaining intensity may have been a problem since the silverware they will receive against Rangers next week had been clinched, but there was no questioning the desire at Central Park as they, yet again, went right to the end in search of the points.
The waspish Jamie Walker ensured Hearts would have a further reason to celebrate a remarkable campaign when he danced into the box and was allegedly felled by Colin Marshall. McKay, who will leave for St Johnstone this summer, was cool from the spot ensuring another layer of icing can go on the cake ahead of next weekend.
"We spoke about it a few weeks ago," said Neilson, about trying to get that points record and take it back to Tynecastle, and we've managed to do it. Hibs had a fantastic season in 1998-99 but we've managed to match that and surpass it. It's great for the players and great for the club."
The beautiful game took on an ugly hue back in February for Cowdenbeath when they lost in record manner at Tynecastle. Yet, the allure of the sport is that their 10-0 thrashing captured a moment unlikely to be repeated an they showed tremendous character in battling manfully against their more illustrious visitors through.
On a playing surface deemed not conducive to the passing game that swept them to promotion, Hearts fielded defender Callum Paterson as a makeshift striker in a repeat of the tactics that earned the Gorgie outfit a key victory in the depths of winter two days before Christmas. Within 15 seconds the temporary target man had rattled the top of the crossbar after expertly cheating down a long diagonal from Alim Ozturk and wrapping his left boot around the bouncing ball.
Cowdenbeath found the perfect response when they took a shock lead in the 14th minute. Proving the pitch was not as unsuited to playing on the deck as Neilson clearly felt, Kudus Oyenuga's deft touch sent Jon Robertson careering down the right flank and the birthday boy's pinpoint cutback was lashed into the net by the supporting Marshall.
Thereafter, with frustration growing in the Hearts support at their approach to the game, the men in maroon struggled to assert the kind of authority you would expect from the runaway champions, but the identity of the scorer was less surprising when the equaliser did come in the 33rd minute.
Cowdenbeath almost earned the break of the ball as they cleared a Hearts corner but when possession was retained Walker's lifted cross was nodded in by Paterson from just four yards.
Colin Nish struck a drive too close to Jack Hamilton in the Hearts goal just before the break but it was home keeper Robbie Thomson who was busiest after the interval as he repelled Walker and Osman Sow twice. However, just as it seemed Cowdenbeath had earned a morale-boosting point, Hearts took all three with McKay's spot-kick.
Third-bottom Cowdenbeath now face a nervy final-day shoot-out with Alloa Athletic for Championship survival but know a victory will be enough and manager Jimmy Nicholl is confident in his players.
"I'm in the state of mind now that I honestly believe our boys will be confident that they can retrieve the situation and keep us in the Championship," he said. "The way they're talking and the way they are at the minute is good."
Man of the match: Robbie Thomson.
Cowdenbeath: Thomson; Toshney, Brownlie, Armstrong, Wedderburn (Miller 64); Robertson, Marshall, O'Brien, Milne (Johnston 82); Oyenuga, Nish. Subs not used: Sneddon, Campbell, Kane,, Callaghan, Halsman.
Hearts: Hamilton; McGhee (Keatings 64), McKay, Ozturk, McHattie; Walker, Gomis, Anderson (El Hassnaoui 77), Sow; Paterson, Zeefuik (Nicholson 54). Subs not used: Gallacher, Oliver, McKirdy, Smith
Referee: C. Charleston.
Attendance: 2,394.
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