The Form Book and the Window

[Greentinted]

Was having a blether with a reasonable Hearts man about the so-called form meaning little in terms of derby games and had a wee look at the derby results since 1999-2000 season.

Since cash became king and player migration became an integral part of European, if not global, football, it appears to be a myth held over from the days when more local players supported and represented local clubs. Yes, there has been the odd aberration (Our victory in the 'unbeatable' game 2005 and arguably the 1-0 '81%' League cup QF 2007, and their 2-1 win in May 2000 spring to mind) but over the piece, the bookies pretty much get it right.

So in the manner of the eternal optimist (laced with a touch of pragmatism) that I am, I'm going for a 0-0 draw on Monday (not based on blind loyalty, more a case of us having been woeful recently particularly in derby games and they have the worst away record - in terms of goals scored (4)- in the country.)

[ChilliEater]

Sad thing is - I'd take a 0-0 right now I'd throw their 1-0 after the League Cup win into the examples, but I'd agree with you about the theory being pretty crap.

[Sir David Gray]

League positions and number of points of both teams going into every derby that has had a winner since 1999-2000;

1999-2000

Hearts 0-3 Hibs (Hibs 5th, Hearts 6th. Hibs 21 points, Hearts 20 points.)

Hibs 3-1 Hearts (Hearts 3rd, Hibs 6th. Hearts 36 points, Hibs 30 points.)

Hearts 2-1 Hibs (Hearts 3rd, Hibs 6th. Hearts 51 points, Hibs 41 points.)

2000-2001

Hibs 6-2 Hearts (Hibs 2nd, Hearts 5th. Hibs 26 points, Hearts 16 points.)

2001-2002

Hibs 2-1 Hearts (Hibs 5th, Hearts 8th. Hibs 14 points, Hearts 13 points.)

Hibs 1-2 Hearts (Hearts 7th, Hibs 11th. Hearts 39 points, Hibs 31 points.)

2002-2003

Hearts 5-1 Hibs (Hearts 8th, Hibs 11th. Hearts 1 point, Hibs 0 points.)

Hibs 1-2 Hearts (Hibs 4th, Hearts 5th. Hibs 18 points, Hearts 17 points.)

2003-2004

Hibs 1-0 Hearts (Hearts 5th, Hibs 6th. Hearts 3 points, Hibs 3 points.)

Hearts 2-0 Hibs (Hearts 3rd, Hibs 8th. Hearts 23 points, Hibs 16 points.)

2004-2005

Hearts 2-1 Hibs (Hibs 4th, Hearts 7th. Hibs 15 points, Hearts 12 points.)

Hearts 1-2 Hibs (Hibs 3rd, Hearts 5th. Hibs 53 points, Hearts 48 points.)

2005-2006

Hearts 4-0 Hibs (Hearts 4th, Hibs 8th. Hearts 3 points, Hibs 1 point.)

Hibs 2-0 Hearts (Hearts 1st, Hibs 3rd. Hearts 32 points, Hibs 25 points.)

Hearts 4-1 Hibs (Hearts 2nd, Hibs 3rd. Hearts 47 points, Hibs 41 points.)

Hibs 0-4 Hearts (Hearts 2nd, Hibs 5th. Hearts 62 points, Hibs 49 points.)

Hibs 2-1 Hearts (Hearts 2nd, Hibs 4th. Hearts 68 points, Hibs 53 points.)

2006-2007

Hibs 1-0 Hearts (Hearts 2nd, Hibs 8th. Hearts 21 points, Hibs 16 points.)

Hearts 3-2 Hibs (Hearts 4th, Hibs 5th. Hearts 30 points, Hibs 29 points.)

Hibs 0-1 Hearts (Hearts 4th, Hibs 5th. Hearts 48 points, Hibs 43 points.)

Hearts 2-0 Hibs (Hearts 4th, Hibs 6th. Hearts 58 points, Hibs 46 points.)

2007-2008

Hearts 0-1 Hibs (FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON)

Hearts 1-0 Hibs (Hibs 8th, Hearts 11th. Hibs 28 points, Hearts 21 points.)

2008-2009

Hibs 0-2 Hearts (Hearts 4th, Hibs 6th. Hearts 32 points, Hibs 27 points.)

Hibs 1-0 Hearts (Hearts 3rd, Hibs 6th. Hearts 48 points, Hibs 36 points.)

Hearts 0-1 Hibs (Hearts 3rd, Hibs 6th. Hearts 54 points, Hibs 42 points.)

2009-2010

Hearts 2-1 Hibs (Hibs 5th, Hearts 6th. Hibs 47 points, Hearts 37 points.)

Hibs 1-2 Hearts (Hibs 5th, Hearts 6th. Hibs 50 points, Hearts 44 points.)

2010-2011

Hibs 0-2 Hearts (Hearts 6th, Hibs 11th. Hearts 14 points, Hibs 8 points.)

Hearts 1-0 Hibs (Hearts 3rd, Hibs 9th. Hearts 36 points, Hibs 16 points.)

2011-2012

Hearts 2-0 Hibs (Hearts 8th, Hibs 12th. Hearts 5 points, Hibs 3 points.)

There have only been 6 times in the past 12 years that we have won a derby when we've gone into the game behind Hearts in the league table and only once when their lead over us has been larger than it is just now.