Jonnyboy
27-05-2023, 04:29 PM
Undone by familiar failings, Hibs failed to get the three points required to overhaul Hearts and jump into fourth place. Despite enjoying the bulk of possession after Hearts were reduced to ten men, a combination of poor finishing by Hibs and solid goalkeeping from Zander Clark, meant that honours were even at the end of a match short on quality play and high on poor decision making. That poor decision making spilled over after the final whistle when Lee Johnson and Steven Naismith clashed before a general melee broke out on the pitch with players from both sides involved in some unsavoury behaviour.
Prior to kick off, every single player on the park knew their goal. Hearts only needed a draw; Hibs needed a win, and it showed in the first minute when Shankland clattered into Lewis Miller, leaving the Hibs man in a heap on the ground. Referee Don Robertson had stern words for Shankland but no card. Moments later, Nisbet fouled Haring and once again Don Robertson settled for a word of warning. A Hearts corner failed to trouble Hibs whilst a corner at the other end found the head of Hanlon who steered the ball to Will Fish, but Clark was equal to the resultant effort on goal.
An eighth minute Hearts corner was cleared only as far as the edge of the box where Yutaro Oda was given time and space to take a touch and fire in a low shot that went through Stevenson’s legs before flying past Marshall. It has to be said that Youan was close enough to Oda to make a challenge but failed to do so, allowing the Hearts man all the time and space needed. In the aftermath of the goal, James Hill was booked for gestures towards the Hibs support behind that goal.
An injury to Lewis Miller looked like it might mean he had to be replaced but he soldiered on before Shankland clattered into Youan, again without the punishment of a card. A horrible clash of heads had both Peter Haring and Jake Doyle-Hayes requiring treatment. Disappointingly but not surprisingly, Hearts players swarmed around Don Robertson trying to get the Hibs man booked but it was a genuine coming together and their requests were blanked by the referee. As a result of the head knock, Haring was unable to continue and was replaced by Kiomourtzoglou before Shankland once again fouled an opponent without punishment. A couple of minutes later, Doyle-Hayes was correctly booked for a poor challenge on Barrie McKay and that was followed soon after by a yellow card for Lewis Stevenson who, rightly in my view, felt aggrieved at that decision.
Hearts were trying to stop any chance of Hibs developing a flow to their game but in the twenty fifth minute, Don Robertson awarded Hibs a penalty when Alex Cochrane cleaned out Chris Cadden at the edge of the box. Cochrane was issued with a yellow card whilst VAR checked the play that led to the card and penalty. Robertson was called to the side of the pitch to review the decisions and returned to the field to cancel Cochrane’s yellow and upgrade it to a straight red. The first contact in the challenge had come outside the area and so the revision of the award of the penalty and the grade of the card was correct. Once things had settled down, Kevin Nisbet fooled Zander Clark by going low and hard into the corner of the net whilst the keeper probably expected a shot hit over the wall. It was a fine strike by Nisbet and all of a sudden, the scores were level and Hibs had at least an hour to secure a second, win the game and jump up to fourth in the league – well that was the plan, anyway.
As a result of the dismissal, Hearts replaced McKay with Sibbick, ensuring they would not be light in defence. Lewis Miller found Hanlon free on the left around twenty yards from goal, but Paul’s excellent strike was well saved by Clark at the expense of a corner. When that corner was delivered, Jeggo cushioned a header to Doyle-Hayes whose shot on goal was blocked. Lots of niggly fouls and time delaying tactics saw Hearts reach the interval level, but not before Clark made a fingertips save to deny Newell and Lewis Miller somehow missed a free header at the back post with Clark stranded.
At the break, Jeggo was replaced Harry McKirdy and Miller by Ewan Henderson as Hibs looked to get more men forward in pursuit of a second goal. A Newell corner was met by Fish, but his header went straight at the keeper and then Nisbet should have done better after a Cadden cross picked him out, but the ball flew wide of the target. A Devlin foul on Doyle-Hayes led to the Hibs man having to be replaced due to what looked like a shoulder injury. Josh Campbell was his replacement in the middle of the park. Next, Cabraja replaced Stevenson as Hibs looked to stretch the Hearts rear guard, but the substitute’s first touch was a pass that found Will Fish offside.
Elie Youan had been a bit wasteful when in possession and seemed to find it very difficult in dealing with his marker, Atkinson. Elie did get past him on one occasion but the shot on goal that followed was blocked by Rowles. Just past the hour mark, Shankland was looking to break away and was felled by Cadden who was rightly booked for the challenge. Seconds later, Cadden seemed to land awkwardly in a challenge for a high ball and after some treatment he had to be taken off on a stretcher, to be replaced by Delferriere.
As the game moved into the last quarter hour of normal time, Hibs seemed to be getting more and more anxious in looking for a second goal and everything was rushed or hoisted into an area where the height of the Hearts defenders would always come out on top. A Youan shot was blocked and then Hanlon saw a header saved after a fine cross from Joe Newell. Josh Campbell fired over the bar and then McKirdy was picked out at the back post by Hanlon, but the striker guided his headed attempt wide of the target. Next, a Fish header struck the foot of Clark, struck the post and flew clear as Hibs were becoming more and more desperate.
After Josh Campbell became his latest victim, Shankland was finally booked following a whole string of unpunished fouls and then the Hearts man was the victim of a challenge by Campbell that also brought a yellow card. There had been numerous stoppages for injuries in the second half and when added to the time wasted by Hearts players, a minimum of nine added minutes prompted Lee Johnson to replace Henderson with Devlin, the defender making his first team debut and starting it off with a stupid booking for scuffling with Atkinson for possession of the ball at a throw in. Hibs were now playing with as many men as possible in the Hearts box, but the truth is that more often than not they just got in each other’s way. With just seconds remaining, the ball reached McKirdy at the edge of the box, but rather than pick out the unmarked Will Fish to his right, he elected to try a volley which cleared the bar by some distance.
The players
Marshall – Didn’t have one save to make and was probably unsighted at their goal as the ball passed through a little crowd of players.
Miller – Was already struggling with his fitness and took a few hefty bumps from Shankland in particular so it was no surprise when he was subbed at the break.
Fish – Pretty steady throughout and refused to be bullied by Shankland. Struck a couple of wonderful cross field passes so he’s anything but the normal centre half who might just lump the ball forward.
Hanlon – Steady as ever, he joined the attack in the latter stages and his header had me dreaming of another Hanlon/Tynecastle song, but Clark was up to the challenge.
Stevenson – I’m not sure Lewis deserved a booking, but I am sure he was his usual solid dependable self until he was subbed off.
Jeggo – In recent games I’ve spoken up for Jimmy as I felt he did lots of good things in terms of filling holes in the midfield, but he was pretty poor today.
Cadden – Delivered several excellent crosses into the area but none found a team mate busting his gut to get on the end of them. Injury looks a bad one, so I hope he is ok.
Doyle-Hayes – Was having a good game, the egg sized bump on his forehead not slowing him down but like Cadden, looks to have suffered a bad injury.
Newell – Buzzed around as usual but when we decided to push everyone forward, I felt his passing ability was wasted as he sat in a centre half type position.
Youan – As brilliant as he was in the Celtic game, he was less than average today. Earlier, I mentioned poor decision making and unfortunately, Elie was the guiltiest of them all.
Nisbet – Led the line really well, buried the free kick and won my man of the match award.
Henderson – I can understand why Johnson put him on as he generally thinks about what he trying to achieve as opposed to lumping the ball into an area. Didn’t work though.
McKirdy – Had an annoying habit of running into dead ends and really should have done a lot better with that last gasp chance.
Campbell – Replaced Doyle-Hayes but didn’t offer as much as Jake had.
Delferriere – Game kinda passed him by I’m afraid.
Devlin – Booked seconds after coming on and I never seen anything more of him after that.
Lee Johnson – Daft behaviour on the final whistle aside, I’m not sure he can carry all of the blame for our inability to win as to me the players are the ones who have to answer that.
Referee – Don Robertson was, I understand, a very busy man after the final whistle as he dispensed numerous cards of different colours.
Prior to kick off, every single player on the park knew their goal. Hearts only needed a draw; Hibs needed a win, and it showed in the first minute when Shankland clattered into Lewis Miller, leaving the Hibs man in a heap on the ground. Referee Don Robertson had stern words for Shankland but no card. Moments later, Nisbet fouled Haring and once again Don Robertson settled for a word of warning. A Hearts corner failed to trouble Hibs whilst a corner at the other end found the head of Hanlon who steered the ball to Will Fish, but Clark was equal to the resultant effort on goal.
An eighth minute Hearts corner was cleared only as far as the edge of the box where Yutaro Oda was given time and space to take a touch and fire in a low shot that went through Stevenson’s legs before flying past Marshall. It has to be said that Youan was close enough to Oda to make a challenge but failed to do so, allowing the Hearts man all the time and space needed. In the aftermath of the goal, James Hill was booked for gestures towards the Hibs support behind that goal.
An injury to Lewis Miller looked like it might mean he had to be replaced but he soldiered on before Shankland clattered into Youan, again without the punishment of a card. A horrible clash of heads had both Peter Haring and Jake Doyle-Hayes requiring treatment. Disappointingly but not surprisingly, Hearts players swarmed around Don Robertson trying to get the Hibs man booked but it was a genuine coming together and their requests were blanked by the referee. As a result of the head knock, Haring was unable to continue and was replaced by Kiomourtzoglou before Shankland once again fouled an opponent without punishment. A couple of minutes later, Doyle-Hayes was correctly booked for a poor challenge on Barrie McKay and that was followed soon after by a yellow card for Lewis Stevenson who, rightly in my view, felt aggrieved at that decision.
Hearts were trying to stop any chance of Hibs developing a flow to their game but in the twenty fifth minute, Don Robertson awarded Hibs a penalty when Alex Cochrane cleaned out Chris Cadden at the edge of the box. Cochrane was issued with a yellow card whilst VAR checked the play that led to the card and penalty. Robertson was called to the side of the pitch to review the decisions and returned to the field to cancel Cochrane’s yellow and upgrade it to a straight red. The first contact in the challenge had come outside the area and so the revision of the award of the penalty and the grade of the card was correct. Once things had settled down, Kevin Nisbet fooled Zander Clark by going low and hard into the corner of the net whilst the keeper probably expected a shot hit over the wall. It was a fine strike by Nisbet and all of a sudden, the scores were level and Hibs had at least an hour to secure a second, win the game and jump up to fourth in the league – well that was the plan, anyway.
As a result of the dismissal, Hearts replaced McKay with Sibbick, ensuring they would not be light in defence. Lewis Miller found Hanlon free on the left around twenty yards from goal, but Paul’s excellent strike was well saved by Clark at the expense of a corner. When that corner was delivered, Jeggo cushioned a header to Doyle-Hayes whose shot on goal was blocked. Lots of niggly fouls and time delaying tactics saw Hearts reach the interval level, but not before Clark made a fingertips save to deny Newell and Lewis Miller somehow missed a free header at the back post with Clark stranded.
At the break, Jeggo was replaced Harry McKirdy and Miller by Ewan Henderson as Hibs looked to get more men forward in pursuit of a second goal. A Newell corner was met by Fish, but his header went straight at the keeper and then Nisbet should have done better after a Cadden cross picked him out, but the ball flew wide of the target. A Devlin foul on Doyle-Hayes led to the Hibs man having to be replaced due to what looked like a shoulder injury. Josh Campbell was his replacement in the middle of the park. Next, Cabraja replaced Stevenson as Hibs looked to stretch the Hearts rear guard, but the substitute’s first touch was a pass that found Will Fish offside.
Elie Youan had been a bit wasteful when in possession and seemed to find it very difficult in dealing with his marker, Atkinson. Elie did get past him on one occasion but the shot on goal that followed was blocked by Rowles. Just past the hour mark, Shankland was looking to break away and was felled by Cadden who was rightly booked for the challenge. Seconds later, Cadden seemed to land awkwardly in a challenge for a high ball and after some treatment he had to be taken off on a stretcher, to be replaced by Delferriere.
As the game moved into the last quarter hour of normal time, Hibs seemed to be getting more and more anxious in looking for a second goal and everything was rushed or hoisted into an area where the height of the Hearts defenders would always come out on top. A Youan shot was blocked and then Hanlon saw a header saved after a fine cross from Joe Newell. Josh Campbell fired over the bar and then McKirdy was picked out at the back post by Hanlon, but the striker guided his headed attempt wide of the target. Next, a Fish header struck the foot of Clark, struck the post and flew clear as Hibs were becoming more and more desperate.
After Josh Campbell became his latest victim, Shankland was finally booked following a whole string of unpunished fouls and then the Hearts man was the victim of a challenge by Campbell that also brought a yellow card. There had been numerous stoppages for injuries in the second half and when added to the time wasted by Hearts players, a minimum of nine added minutes prompted Lee Johnson to replace Henderson with Devlin, the defender making his first team debut and starting it off with a stupid booking for scuffling with Atkinson for possession of the ball at a throw in. Hibs were now playing with as many men as possible in the Hearts box, but the truth is that more often than not they just got in each other’s way. With just seconds remaining, the ball reached McKirdy at the edge of the box, but rather than pick out the unmarked Will Fish to his right, he elected to try a volley which cleared the bar by some distance.
The players
Marshall – Didn’t have one save to make and was probably unsighted at their goal as the ball passed through a little crowd of players.
Miller – Was already struggling with his fitness and took a few hefty bumps from Shankland in particular so it was no surprise when he was subbed at the break.
Fish – Pretty steady throughout and refused to be bullied by Shankland. Struck a couple of wonderful cross field passes so he’s anything but the normal centre half who might just lump the ball forward.
Hanlon – Steady as ever, he joined the attack in the latter stages and his header had me dreaming of another Hanlon/Tynecastle song, but Clark was up to the challenge.
Stevenson – I’m not sure Lewis deserved a booking, but I am sure he was his usual solid dependable self until he was subbed off.
Jeggo – In recent games I’ve spoken up for Jimmy as I felt he did lots of good things in terms of filling holes in the midfield, but he was pretty poor today.
Cadden – Delivered several excellent crosses into the area but none found a team mate busting his gut to get on the end of them. Injury looks a bad one, so I hope he is ok.
Doyle-Hayes – Was having a good game, the egg sized bump on his forehead not slowing him down but like Cadden, looks to have suffered a bad injury.
Newell – Buzzed around as usual but when we decided to push everyone forward, I felt his passing ability was wasted as he sat in a centre half type position.
Youan – As brilliant as he was in the Celtic game, he was less than average today. Earlier, I mentioned poor decision making and unfortunately, Elie was the guiltiest of them all.
Nisbet – Led the line really well, buried the free kick and won my man of the match award.
Henderson – I can understand why Johnson put him on as he generally thinks about what he trying to achieve as opposed to lumping the ball into an area. Didn’t work though.
McKirdy – Had an annoying habit of running into dead ends and really should have done a lot better with that last gasp chance.
Campbell – Replaced Doyle-Hayes but didn’t offer as much as Jake had.
Delferriere – Game kinda passed him by I’m afraid.
Devlin – Booked seconds after coming on and I never seen anything more of him after that.
Lee Johnson – Daft behaviour on the final whistle aside, I’m not sure he can carry all of the blame for our inability to win as to me the players are the ones who have to answer that.
Referee – Don Robertson was, I understand, a very busy man after the final whistle as he dispensed numerous cards of different colours.