Hearts triumph in passionless derby

The manner of Andrius Velicka’s solitary but winning goal for Hearts in yesterday’s derby victory over Hibs was indicative of the game as a whole. This was not a classic. More than that, it was a derby match curiously lacking in passion, fire, agression, or even any downright niggle. Even the crowd seemed to fade after the kick-off.

Hearts certainly started the stronger and brought Driver and Cesnauskis into the game to good effect early on. The five across midfield stifled any attempts by Hibs to play football. Velicka’s goal, when it came, was hardly a surprise. Corner to the back post; Berra headed the ball back across goal; Velicka was there to nod it goalwards. It lacked real pace but it was from only a yard out and straight at the keeper, who, being a Hibs keeper at Tynecastle, juggled it over the line. It bounced once before being hooked clear by a defender but it was clearly over the line and the official made a correct decision with no help from technology. The Hibs players closest to the incident made no complaints; not even to Ma-Calamity.

The goal scored, Hearts contributed to a scrappy and drab remaining 25 minutes of the first half by sitting back. This allowed Hibs more room to play but they looked short on ideas and unlikely to trouble Banks. And so it proved, more or less for the whole match.

The only excitement in the second period was Michael Stewart’s on-field vomit. He started spraying passes in much the same way shortly after and was substituted. He didn’t get a lot of hugs as he came off.

A victory at last, then. It was solid, it was over Hibs, and we kept a clean sheet. But there was a fire lacking somewhere and it made the win feel less like a win, really. Strange. But we’re up to third from bottom and only one point behins St. Mirren. Hold me back.

Category: Hearts

Tags: Andrius Velicka, Hearts, Michael Stewart

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