If John Robertson was the 'Hammer of the Hibs' in the penalty box during a series of successful Edinburgh derbies in Hearts colours down the years then Alim Ozturk must now be the 'Howizter of the Hibs' in the wake of his devastating batter in the latest battle of Auld Reekie at the weekend.

Robertson was the pesky poacher of Tynecastle who scored 27 times against the men from Easter Road during his playing days in Gorgie but none of them came from the distance Ozturk managed one from on Sunday as the Turk salvaged an injury-time point for Hearts with the kind of raking, thunderous strike that could have flattened a military fortification.

It was a 35-yarder that maintained Hearts' 11 match unbeaten start to the league season and kept their lead at the top of the SPFL Championship to seven points. For Robertson, it was another sign of the derby day resolve and fortitude that has been ingrained in Hearts teams over the years.

"When Alex MacDonald arrived as manager, he and Sandy Jardine installed a certain belief of how to approach and play in the derbies," reflected Robertson, who was speaking at the Scottish football Hall of Fame as an ambassador for McCrae's Battalion, the First World War battalion of the Royal Scots that was raised from a host of volunteers including 16 Hearts players.

"They looked at our attitude and thought process in these games and it worked. We had 17 in a row, then 22 in a row. Our decision-making in games, our mentality, how we approach them and the way we go about the actual match itself . . . it's been passed on through the years and it's been successful.

"If you look at Hearts' record over the last 32 years, it's frightening how far ahead we are in derby wins. In a lot of those games, Hibs have mostly played the better football at times. But Hearts have won the games.

"From a Hearts perspective it was not surprising we got the equaliser because we do not give up. There is a mentality thing that we do not lose to Hibs and we keep going. It can't be luck all the time.

"For years people talked about the Old Firm scoring last-minute goals and people say it is not luck because they keep going and keep going. It is bred into the players and the fans that you never know what is going to happen."

Callum Paterson, meanwhile, has apologised to his team-mates and the supporters after being sent off in Sunday's derby. The right-back was shown a straight red card by referee Bobby Madden after his reckless tackle brought down Hibs goalscorer Dominique Malonga.

Paterson has been handed an automatic two-match suspension and will miss the forthcoming league matches against Raith Rovers and Falkirk. The 20-year-old has vowed to learn from his mistake after saying sorry on Twitter. "I can only apologise to the fans and team for the tackle," said Patersopn. "Very disappointed. Won't happen again. But good to get the draw in the end."

Robbie Neilson, the head coach, might be forced into another change for the visit of Rovers. Centre-half Danny Wilson was replaced by Jordan McGhee after a muscle problem, picked up during the October 11 win at Alloa, resurfaced.

"Hopefully we'll get him back for the Raith game," said Neilson.