Martin Boyle’s last minute leveller in the Edinburgh Derby salvaged a point but Hibs fans reckon it was a moral victory against their mortal enemies. And Easter Road punters couldn’t wait to stick it to Jambos boss Robbie Neilson and Record Sport columnist Ryan Stevenson.
Neilson took a dig at the big talk from Hibs in the build up while Stevo riled up the green half of the capital last week by insisting the local showdown was almost irrelevant to the superior Jam Tarts. John Scott, Grassmoor hit back and said: “Neilson’s having a laugh. Big talk from Hibs? Hibs supporters have listened for months about how big Hearts have become. He should be asking himself how his mighty team failed to beat a Hibs team in transition. Hearts got more than they deserved. I hope Robbie and Ryan are enjoying a pint together. Hope it's bitter.”
James Wylie, Edinburgh, said: “So Neilson says Hearts should win every derby. Over the game Hibs created the chances and it was a well deserved equaliser by Boyler. Perhaps Ryan Stevenson can now concentrate on his beloved Hearts who were lucky to take three points against Ross County last week.”
Ian Urquhart emailed: “So Ryan Stevenson, the mighty Hearts are bigger and better than Hibs? You said your team was going to blow the Hibees away and show dominance. Your team couldn't blow their nose.”
Hearts fans were left frustrated though and Ian McDonald, Innerleithen, said: “Another example of Robbie trying to hold what we have. He never learns. You have one, you go for two then three – that’s what winners do.”
There was some bad behaviour from the Hibs fans former chief Rod Petrie might have described as, ahem, over-exuberant. And Alfie Mullin, London, said: “Here we go again, Hibs hooligans behaving disgracefully. Have the authorities not learned from the 2016 Scottish Cup Final? Ban them I say. The culprits should not be allowed in a football stadium again.”
Meanwhile Alfredo Morelos is back in business for Rangers ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League shootout with Union Saint-Gilloise. Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, said: “Good to see Morelos back on Saturday. But surely during his five months out he could have signed a new contract. Rangers do not need speculation regarding his future at present and he must sign now or move on allowing Rangers to bring in an alternate.”
But Tam Williamson, Lanarkshire, said: “Morelos taps the ball into the net from two yards and suddenly he is being rated as a £100 million superstar again. My 90-year-old granny could have scored it. Morelos and Kent are still at Ibrox because no one wants to pay any more than £8million for either of them.”
Celtic have been linked with Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley but Stephen Mulhern warned: “After seeing the negative effect and poor displays Arron Ramsey brought to Scottish football I hope Celtic don’t go down a similar route and bring in a supposedly Hollywood signing in Barkley. Friends in London tell me he is nowhere near match-fit and so wouldn’t fit into Ange Postecoglou's we-never-stop mantra.”
Elsewhere, Killie got stick for trying to shut up shop at Ibrox at the weekend. But Jim McClean Rothesay, said: “What do they want Killie to do, just sit back and let Rangers score six or seven goals against us just to please Rangers supporters? It wasn’t pretty but it is up to your lot to get a game plan to beat this system. You are not as good as you think you are.”
Dundee United came back to earth with a bump against Livi and John Davidson, Armadale, said: “After watching the heroics in midweek against AZ and the full capacity crowd, for Dundee United to then go to a quarter full stadium against Livingston you should hang your heads in shame. Support your club.”
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