Hibs meet Hearts for the second time in three weeks today at Easter Road. The capital pair clashed at Tynecastle earlier this month with the visitors picking up a welcome victory, coming from behind to triumph 2 -1 thanks to a Daryl Horgan double.
Hibs have enjoyed a tremendous run since coach Paul Heckingbottom replaced Neil Lennon in February. The Easter Road men have gone nine games without loss in the Premiership, their only defeat under their new boss coming in a disappointing Scottish Cup tie with Celtic, Hearts cup final opponents.
The Hibees have no new injury problems ahead of today’s clash and are looking to extend their unbeaten run. They currently sit three points above their city rivals in the league table and, with a superior goal difference, victory would almost assure Hibs of finishing the season above Hearts – something that would have seemed very unlikely a few short months ago. There’s even a possibility of another European campaign should Hibs secure a fourth place finish.
Given their blistering start to the league campaign, it’s been a sorely disappointing season down Gorgie way. A series of injuries to key players has taken it’s toll and the Tynecastle men have struggled to find consistency. It’s been a season to forget for Hearts supporters – unless, of course, Hearts lift the Scottish Cup next month when all will surely be forgiven!
Craig Levein hopes to have the services of Sean Clare for today’s Edinburgh derby but admits Peter Haring won’t make it in time.
Clare was a late casualty ahead of the Jambos Ladbrokes Premiership defeat to Rangers last week, pulling out of the starting XI during the warm up.
The midfielder has trained this week and could be in contention for an appearance at Easter Road today, but the manager has revealed that Haring will be absent for the final capital clash of the season though he should be fine for the remainder of the campaign.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Craig Levein said: “Peter had an injection this week. He’ll miss this weekend and all being well he’ll be available for the rest of the matches.
“Sean’s better. He’s trained this week. Clevid (Dikamona) is better. He’s been training and I consider him back in the frame as well. He’s obviously building his fitness up but he’s injury free, which is good.”
The manager isn’t expecting too many differences in the way the teams will approach the game, but he points to the December win at Easter Road – courtesy of Olly Lee’s superb strike – as evidence that the men in maroon have what it takes to regain the city’s bragging rights.
“I go into this game with the same feelings I have with these matches all the time, which is one of excitement,” he said. “We need to do what we do and we need to do it with a calmness that allows us to think clearly during the match and that will help us to win.
“You don’t have to go back too far to see us winning at Easter Road. If we do manage to get a victory then it’ll be the first time in 22 years or something that we’ve gone down there twice and got all six points.
“I’m going into this game hugely positive. Our supporters are rightly angry if we don’t play well and if we do play well then they’re happy. This is a game that is as pure and simple as that.”
Pure and simple? Hearts may have one eye on that Cup Final, but their fans will not forgive them for a below-par performance against their oldest rivals today. In this particular fixture, the result is more important than playing well; the best team on the day doesn’t always win. It’s seldom an occasion for silky skills and the team with the bigger hearts are likely to prevail. Who wants it more?
The game kicks off at 12.15pm.
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