HIBERNIAN were put out of the Scottish League Cup last night but did not go quietly.

There would have been little chance of that anyway given their quarter-final was played out against city rivals Hearts, with the frustration of defeat becoming focused on Pat Fenlon as supporters chanted for the Hibs manager to be removed during an ad hoc protest outside Easter Road. It was a storm which was contained in a cup tie but one which has been brewing for some time.

Derbies between the clubs are opportunities to open old wounds and matches with Hearts have become particularly sore points for Fenlon - the Irishman overseeing that 5-1 defeat in the Scottish Cup and another loss against the Tyne­castle side earlier this season. A goal by Ryan Stevenson and a red card for James McPake informed last night's tie but it was the future of Hibs' manager which was the main talking point, among the fans at least. "I'm not going to discuss that here," said Fenlon. "I don't have a problem with the fans; you understand that the supporters are disappointed."

It allowed Hearts to enjoy their night in peace. This was a tie which had nothing to do with romance of the cup for them; it was a one night stand against the odds facing them. The Tynecastle club are staring at relegation having been left adrift at the bottom of the SPFL Premiership to the tune of 15 points, one which was picked up by Hibs supporters.

A few dittys about Hearts financial troubles would present the Easter Road side as the surly neighbour and they played the part well in the first half; the ball was in their backyard and they were not too keen to give it back. Paul Hanlon sent one header against a post after just five minutes and later put a lob over the crossbar; Scott Robertson thumped a volley at goal which Jamie MacDonald somehow deflected on to the bar; then the Hibs midfielder had another go before James Collins got in on it. It seemed as though the hosts had invited their rivals outside to give them a doing.

This term had already left its mark on this Hearts side. Their league form has been enough to put years on those at Hearts, even a team so green - perhaps an unfortunate choice of words given their opposition - and there will have been a concern that they would become worn down by Hibs' abrasive opening. It took 19 minutes for Hearts to escape out of their half but a matter of seconds to surrender their intent, with Scott Robinson's loose touch allowing McPake to tidy up.

The Tynecastle side were nowhere in the tie, and it was from there that they conjured a lead. A punt towards the Hibs penalty area was met by McPake but his header fell at the feet of Holt. The winger shifted a pass to Stevenson and he spun on the edge of the area and thumped the ball high into the net. The Hearts midfielder had not seemed certain of a start after suffering a knee injury in a defeat by Kilmarnock at the weekend, but he showed a spring in his step as he took off towards the visiting supporters. "He had his knee strapped up . . . maybe we'll have to strap him up every week if he is going to score goals like that," said Gary Locke, the Hearts manager.

Now it was Hearts fans' turn to gloat and they remained in good spirits during break, the appearance of Leigh Griffiths on the pitch inviting the visiting support to tell him where he could go. The former Hibs loanee was back at Easter Road as a guest of his favourites, and for the most part sat quietly in the stand. The presence of the Wolves striker would resonate loudly, though, since his trend of scoring during two loan spells at Hibs - including a couple of notable ones in derbies - has not quite caught on with those now in the side. In would not help that current top scorer Paul Heffernan was also in the stand having played for Kilmarnock in an earlier round.

There was a hole left in attack, then, and last night both Rowan Vine and Collins fell through it. The stock of the latter is dropping faster since it is burdened by the £200,000 fee which was forked out to Swindon Town and he was removed midway through the second half. A spot on the bench was at least more comfortable than the place Liam Craig found himself after 74 minutes - the ball breaking to the Hibs midfielder inside the box, only for him to then dawdle and shoot tamely at MacDonald.

A meek attack meant Hearts were able provoke their hosts without making their lead vulnerable and McPake seemed to succumb to that agitation when he clattered rashly into Callum Paterson to be shown a red card with seven minutes to go. The Hibs captain trudged out of tie and his side follow soon after.

"I think that's one of the best derby results, given the age of the squad," said Locke. "We played well, apart from maybe the last 15 minutes, and we just need to start taking that into the league. If we can get that level of performance every week, we'll give ourselves a wee chance."