James Wilson and Josh McPake enhanced their chances of earning Scotland call-ups greatly tonight by pitching in with goals in a comfortable Hearts’ victory over Hibernian in the first Edinburgh derby of the new season at Easter Road.
Wilson, the teenage Tynecastle striker who has two caps to his name, opened the scoring in the first half with his fourth goal in five outings while midfielder McPake, who had provided the assist for that strike, wrapped up the William Hill Premiership victory in the second.
Sebastien Pocognoli, the new national team manager who will name his squad for the Nations League matches against Slovenia, Switzerland and North Macedonia soon, was an interested observer in the Main Stand and is sure to have been impressed with the duo’s significant contribution to the away win.
His fellow Belgian coach Wouter Vrancken, who was experiencing the fixture for the first time, extended Hearts’ unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions and saw his men leapfrog Rangers, Dundee and Motherwell into third place in the top flight table. Here are five talking points from an incident-packed encounter.
Hot streak
Hibs manager David Gray had strengthened his squad with Marko Ivezic, the Serbian centre half who was brought in from German second tier side Holstein Kiel, and Alex Williams, the young Welsh wing-back who has come in on loan from West Bromwich Albion, in the final hours of deadline day.
But neither man made the match day squad. This was not a fixture to experiment in and exactly the same side which had defeated Dundee up at Dens Park on Sunday took to the field. Their familiarity with each other, though, did not prevent them from falling behind early on.
McPake cut in from the left touchline, burrowed his way past right-back Felix Passlak far too easily and forced his way into the opposition penalty box before cutting back to Wilson. His team mate had time and space and side-footed beyond Raphael Sallinger clinically.
It was not the first time the young forward had netted at Easter Road. He scored a late equaliser at the venue on his derby debut two seasons. But he clearly enjoyed the moment. He ran over to the corner flag, gesticulating at the fuming Hibees as he went, before being mobbed by his jubilant team mates. He is a man in form.
Double trouble
Vrancken made three changes to the starting line-up which had taken to the field against St Johnstone in Gorgie on Sunday; Calvin Miller returned in attack, Blair Spittal got the nod in midfield and Oisin McEntee slotted in at the back as Christian Borchgrevink, Tomas Magnusson and Sabah Kerjota all dropped out. But there was no drop in standards.
Seeing Claudio Braga in a maroon jersey gladdened the hearts of those who filled every available seat in the South Stand. There had been fevered speculation about the Portuguese forward moving on in the final days of the window and they were relieved and delighted to see him on the field.
But the Jambos may have a new hero in Mendy. The £500,000 summer acquisition from Forest Green Rovers is starting to look like money very well spent. He doubled the visitors’ lead two minutes before half-time when he rose and headed a Spittal free-kick just inside the left upright.
Hibs’ heart
It was a fine finish by the Frenchman. But Gray must have despaired at the ease with which the defensive midfielder was allowed to get on the end delivery and find the net. His unhappiness with what he had witnessed during the opening 45 minutes was obvious when play resumed.
Callum Wright and Jacob Devaney failed to reappear for the second half. Their places in midfield and defence were taken by Miguel Chaiwa and Adam Mayor respectively. The changes had an immediate impact.
Mayor pulled a goal back just five minutes after the restart when he burst forward and rifled an unstoppable left foot into the top left corner. It was quite a way for the Englishman to open his account for his new club. The stunning goal visibly lifted the home side and support.
Red mist
However, Hibs’ hopes of salvaging a result were promptly deal a hammer blow when Jack Iredale, who had come on for the injured Jordan Obita during the first half, was sent off for a second bookable offence.
He caught Sallinger by surprise with a passback and the keeper panicked and chopped straight back at him. The defender caught Miller clumsily as he attempted to control the loose ball. Referee Don Robertson had no hesitation in showing him another yellow card and then a red.
Hearts capitalised on their numerical advantage instantly. McPake danced in from the left flank and slotted in off the right post. There were still over 20 minutes of regulation time remaining but it was difficult to see the demoralised 10 men hosts staging a comeback at that stage in proceedings. They could have no complaints about the final outcome.
Pyro plonkers
There were numerous green and white flares and strobes set off by Hibs fans in the Famous Five Stand as both teams took to the field before kick-off. It would have been stupid in any circumstances. But with everyone around them taking part in a tifo display and holding up coloured cards it was especially moronic.
The SPFL have cracked down on mass pyrotechnic displays in the past couple of seasons and the Leith club were issued with a suspended reduced ticket allocation by the governing body in January.
That punishment came after a number of their travelling supporters breached Rule H37 and threw lit devices at Motherwell players and staff during a match at Fir Park in November. The sanction expired in June, but they could, and really should, find themselves back in the dock after this.
Hearts fans, who goaded their hosts over their Conference League exit with a banner which read HMFC – We’re Going International, set off smoke bombs before the game, when Wilson broke the deadlock and when Mendy scored. Pyro is a problem which is not going away.
