NEIL Critchley’s perfect start as Hearts manager came to an end in his first Edinburgh derby at Easter Road this afternoon – but the Englishman had teenage replacement James Wilson to thank for his team avoiding a painful defeat against Hibernian.
Critchley went into the William Hill Premiership match in Leith looking to make it a hat-trick of wins after overseeing impressive victories against St Mirren and Omonia Nicosia.
However, the Tynecastle club were extremely fortunate to earn a draw against David Gray’s side and remain above their city rivals on goal difference at the bottom of the top flight.
Hibs, cheered on by the vast majority of the 20,011-strong crowd, took the lead through substitute Mykola Kuharevich in the second half and looked all set to leapfrog Hearts in the league table.
But young Hearts substitute Wilson struck a leveller with just three minutes of regulation time remaining and honours finished even. Here are five talking points from the first Edinburgh derby match of the season.
Super subs
Hibs were starting to take control of proceedings when Gray made a double substitution after an hour. His changes, he took off Dwight Gayle and Elie Youan and put on Nathan Moriash-Welsh and Kuharevich, made a real difference. The latter put his side in front with his first touch of the ball to open his account in this fixture.
But the real super sub was Wilson. He took over from Malachi Boateng after Hearts had fallen behind and was in the right place at the right time when the ball broke to him in the area.
The 17-year-old netted off the inside of the post to ensure his men had a point to show for their efforts when referee Don Robertson blew his final whistle.
Hibs hope
Hibs had recorded just one win in their previous 14 meetings with their city rivals before today – their 1-0 home triumph in April last year – and one win in the Premiership this season were under pressure to deliver a result which would end their wretched run and kick start their campaign.
They ultimately failed to record an elusive victory. But these 90 minutes provided a little evidence they are might be about to turn a corner. Junior Hoilett, the Canada winger, and Dwight Gayle, the former Crystal Palace, Newcastle United, West Brom and Stoke City striker, certainly showed the level they have plied their trade at previously at times.
The former was involved in all of their best passages of play and took the free-kick which led to the deadlock being broken in the 65th minute. Lewis Miller flicked his delivery on, Marvin Ekpiteta had his header pushed onto the crossbar by Craig Gordon and Kuharevich buried the rebound.
The Hibs players will have their confidence lifted by this display despite the final scoreline. They could and should have prevailed.
Toothless Hearts
Critchely freshened things up following Hearts midweek exertions – Daniel Oyegoke replaced Adam Forrester at right-back, James Penrice came in for Stephen Kingsley on the other side of the defence and Yan Dhanda took over from Alan Forrest on the right wing.
His men probably had the better of the opening 45 minutes. But they failed to create any clear cut chances. Blair Spittal had a shot blocked by O’Hora after good work by Penrice, Lawrence Shankland forced a save from Josef Bursik and Ekipiteta slid in and denied Kenneth Vargas.
After half-time, the visitors hardly laid a glove on their hosts. They desperately need their captain Shankland, who has been on target just once in the 2024/25 campaign, to get his mojo back in the final third. But Wilson once again showed he has much to offer despite his tender years.
Gordon class
Hibs were dangerous on the counter in the first half and Hearts had Gordon to thank for keeping them level. The veteran goalkeeper punched a dangerous Hoilett cross cum shot clear and kept out a downward Gayle header at a Hoilett free-kick with an instinctive reaction.
The former Sunderland and Celtic man was untroubled when Martin Boyle supplied Gayle in his penalty box early in the second half and was quickly off his line when the English forward broke through on the hour mark.
Could the 41-year-old have done better at the Kuharevich goal? He tipped the Ekipiteta attempt onto the woodwork at full stretch so it would be harsh to blame him. His team would have lost if he had not been on the field.
The 41-year-old returned to the Scotland side during the international break earlier this month due to Angus Gunn being injured and kept a clean sheet in the Nations League draw with Portugal at Hampden. He will be difficult to displace in the forthcoming matches against Croatia and Poland if he maintains this form.
Scotland’s No 1 derby
Celtic and Rangers have finally, after years of squabbling behind the scenes and taking public potshots against each other in the media, settled their differences over away ticket allocations for Old Firm matches at Parkhead and Ibrox.
The Glasgow clubs have agreed, after satellite broadcasters Sky Sports intimated their unhappiness over the bizarre spectacle at their grounds during derby games, to give the away team five per cent of the capacity when they meet.
But that will, due to a stooshie over the delayed redevelopment work at Ibrox this summer, only kick in in March. Their encounter in Govan on January 2 will once again take place with only home supporters in attendance.
The Edinburgh derby continues to be the best in the country by a distance. Hibs gave Hearts the entire South Stand and the presence of so many Jambos inside the ground helped to generate an intense atmosphere when hostilities commenced.
The match was high on endeavour and low on quality – their wealthier west coast counterparts still manage to serve up superior fare on the park – but with the teams both being cheered on by their passionate followers at least it felt like a proper derby.
The pyrotechnics which were thrown onto the playing surface after both goals were the only negatives.
