Tag: football

Under Pressure: something’s got to give in Edinburgh derby

Tenth vs Twelfth … who could have imagined this at the start of the season?

It’s the derby game neither manager can afford to lose. There’s always added pressure in derby games, but even more so when after five league games Hibs languish in tenth place in the Premiership and Hearts prop up the league on just two points.

And with tough League Cup fixtures coming up in midweek, the pressure’s ramped up ust that little bit higher.

The stakes really couldn’t be much higher for Paul Heckingbottom and Craig Levein – it’s not an exaggaration to say the next two games could well determine the Edinburgh clubs’ seasons – or at least the fate of their managers. Win both, your season’s back on track and the critics are silenced – at least for a wee while. Lose both, and even the most fair-minded fans will be calling for your head.

With both teams out of form, supporters will be looking desperatly for any reasons for optimism. For Hearts, the return of key personnel could be just the lift they need.

Craig Levein confirmed that Joel Pereira, Michael Smith and Steven Naismith should be fit for today’s Edinburgh derby.

The return of the trio eases the manager’s injury list, with Conor Washington joining those on the sidelines after he had surgery on his hamstring through the week.

“We’ve got the likes of Naisy and Michael Smith, who are in rehab mode and they’re getting close to being ready to play. I would expect both of them to be fit for Sunday.

“Joel’s come back up from Manchester United and is feeling good. The problem he had was a thigh strain, so we’ve not done an awful lot of kicking to this point, just to make sure we give him plenty of time to recover. That’ll be the last thing he has to do. If he gets through that, then he will be available as well.”

However, centre back John Souttar has been ruled out.

Christophe Berra thinks that Hearts can take confidence from their performances at Easter Road last season as they head into their first Edinburgh derby of the season.

The Hearts skipper believes there is no better game with which to turn around their fortunes.

“We know it’s a big game. It always is, the derby. There’s a lot of media coverage on it, both teams aren’t doing very well in the league so there’ll be a lot at stake.

“We have got a good squad of players. It’s just about gelling as a team. We are working hard out there and doing our utmost to get that performance and victory first and foremost and build on that with performances.”

Hearts captain Berra played in both games in Leith last season, the highlight being a 1-0 win just before New Year thanks to an Olly Lee wonder strike against the run of play.

“Our last two games we’ve won and we’ve drawn, so we’ll take confidence from that. It is a new season, there’s different demands on both sets of players and it’s always a tough place to go to.

“It’s about us applying our game plan, starting on the front foot and making sure the home fans turn against them, make it a difficult atmosphere for them and make it volatile.”

“Adrenaline will be high. You’ll be up for it – we always are – but it’s live on telly, away to your biggest rivals. Playing at Easter Road is always good. I don’t know what kind of atmosphere it will be. It’s a good game to have – as long as you’re coming out on the winning side.”

For Hibs, this would be the perfect fixture to return to winning ways – but to that they need to recapture the ability to score.

Hibs’ last two performances have been insipid – and goalless. Fans will be hoping the return to Easter Road and a full house against their oldest rivals will be enough to galvanise their favourites into a level of performance that has been sadly lacking this season.

While it’s unlikely to be a game of flowing football – derbies seldom are – there will be no shortage of incidents and talking points. Like their bosses, the players will be feeling the pressure – and it’s those who can handle the pressure best who will triumph on the day.

With so much at stake, both managers would probably settle for a point. As ever, though, the diehard fans of both clubs will be looking for a lot more. Pressure, what pressure?

Online Abuse: kick hate crime out of football

As the Chair of Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC), I and the organisation take any form of racism seriously.  It is deeply saddening to see  such awful language used in regards to the football game. There is absolutely no excuse for this language on or off the pitch or anywhere. 

Continue reading Online Abuse: kick hate crime out of football

Civil Service Strollers offers free season tickets to local Primary School kids

Civil Service Strollers have launched a new initiative that will see the club giving a FREE season ticket to every primary school pupil in north Edinburgh. 
Adults attending matches with the children will get in for half price – just £3.00.

Continue reading Civil Service Strollers offers free season tickets to local Primary School kids

Girls’ football festival at Spartans today

Today is Spartans’ annual girls’ football festival and we are getting geared up for a great day!

This year we are excited to be working in partnership with two international groups – Parikrma Foundation in India and Together in Sport Rwanda. Together we will help to change lives through sport.

Continue reading Girls’ football festival at Spartans today

Capital braced for last derby of the season

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.