It's a new game!
Time to forget about the last encounter and make a fresh start…

LOOKING AND LISTENING TO THE VARIOUS SUPPORTERS ARGUMENTS ahead of this afternoon's fixture, you'd think that this was the second leg in a play off match!  The reality of it is that it's a brand new fixture with the scores reset and no prize at the end of it other than three points towards a 36-game league and the ability to gloat over our nearest footballing neighbours for the next eleven weeks or so until we meet again.  While that may seem like a trivialisation of the facts, this game probably does carry the most important three points of the season to date for both clubs although once referee Hugh Dallas blows for full time at the end, that's it - no-one progresses any further than the other.

One player who is aware more than anyone else in the Hibs squad of the importance of those three points though is Edinburgh-born Ian Murray.  The Hibs captain kicked up a storm of controversy the last time the sides met at Tynecastle when he had the numbers '1973' dyed into the back of his hair, a move which saw one outraged Hearts fan throw a glass bottle at him from the stand.  With Bobby Williamson appealing for calm from the Hibs fans and Hearts looking to increase security around Tynecastle, a repeat of the move will not be welcomed, nor will the emotional scenes that greeted the end of the last meeting between the Capital's clubs.  "Every Derby is like that and that is why you play football, to be involved in games like these.  When you win the emotions just take over, some fans spilled on the pitch the last time and that happened at Tynecastle as well, there was a lot made of it but really there was not too much - it was not good to see but there was not any riot on the pitch because both sets of fans are generally very good."

Emotions run high

Emotions are already starting to run high in some quarters and no doubt will continue to rise to fever pitch and beyond as 3pm comes this afternoon.  Hibs fans, myself included, have had to remind friends, family and colleagues of that eventful game at Easter Road over the last couple of weeks but Murray has had other things on his mind meaning that he only just started to think ahead to it at the end of this week!  "I was with the international squad last week but we did not talk about the Derby, we had two big games anyway so I probably did not even think of the Derby until Wednesday."  Being from Edinburgh himself, Ian knows plenty of Hearts fans and whilst on international duty, had to work together with some that will be looking to turn the tables on him this time around, something that doesn't faze him in the slightest.  "Every team you play against you know someone in the opposition, and everyone gets on well but once you start the game it is different - you are not friends then, but at the finish you are back to being friends again!"

Hibs were quoted last night by Ladbrokes at 11/5 as opposed to the evens that has been listed beside Hearts, a situation that Ian accepts as being correct!  However, with these games, form and past games are no longer represent an accurate guide as to how the next one will go.  "I think it's probably right that we are considered underdogs for this game, they are above us in the league at present and we are away from home.  Derbies of course are different, it is a one-off game and they don't really go to form."  Of course, Hearts were the favourites for the Easter Road encounter given that they had won there just two weeks previously in the Festival Cup but that can work both ways.  But we were underdogs last time and when we went down to ten men even more so, but we still managed to come away with a win.  And there have been times when we have gone into a Derby as favourites and got beat, so I don't think that Hearts would dwell too much on their favoritism either."

The Behind the Goals bar will be open from 12.30 on Sunday, allowing fans heading to Tynecastle to enjoy the facilities beforehand while those not heading for Gorgie can remain in the bar and watch the game in the company of other Hibees.  Ahead of the main event, the famous 6-2 win over Hearts will also be shown on the big screen.

Entry is Free, and offers available include 4 pint pitchers from £6.00, 3 bottles of Carlsberg for the price of 2, Carlsberg Lager for only £1.50 a pint and "a whiskey nip and a half" only £1.50. Food is also available for purchase both before during and after the game.