Hearts 2 – 0 Hibernian

Hearts kept up their push for Uefa Cup football with an Edinburgh derby win that owed much to the defensive shortcomings of their city rivals.

With the visitors asleep, Michal Pospisil stroked Hearts in front inside the first 30 seconds.

And a shocking mistake from keeper Andrew McNeil allowed Andrew Driver to shoot into an empty net on 22 minutes.

Hibs wasted two good early chances but, despite enjoying a lot of the ball, rarely threatened after the break.

Hearts must now hope Aberdeen slip up in their remaining matches, if they are to nick third place on the last day of the season.

For Hibs it was another miserable day and their winless streak since lifting the CIS Cup continues.

Hibs have made a habit of gifting their local rivals goals in recent seasons and the visitors were at their calamitous worst right from the kick-off.

Chris Hogg and Shelton Martis failed to deal with a long, high punt, letting the ball to bounce between them and Pospisil squeezed past his dithering opponents to slide in an angled shot.

Hibs immediately carved out two wonderful chances to level the game but teenage strikers Damon Gray and Steven Fletcher were both ponderous in front of goal, allowing defenders to close them down.

However, John Collins’ side continued to defend with all the composure of giraffes on ice and Hearts were pouring on the pressure.

McNeil made a great reflex save to keep out a close range Roman Bednar header and the keeper made another fine block to stop a fierce shot from the same player.

The 20-year-old custodian then undid his good work with a catastrophic blunder that led to his team falling further behind.

McNeil advanced to gather a loose ball but, under no pressure, let it squirm from his grasp and Driver was on hand to hook the ball into an empty net from 15 yards.

Guillaume Beuzelin tried his luck with a fizzing long range effort but it flew straight at Hearts keeper Craig Gordon.

McNeil had to look lively to tip over a free-kick from Laryea Kingston and there was a let-off for Hibs on the stroke of half time when Christophe Berra’s header crashed off the crossbar.

The visitors made a bright start after the interval and Hearts defender Christos Karipidis was fortunate to see only one yellow card for violent hacks at Dean Shiels and David Murphy .

Gordon saved free-kicks from Merouane Zemmama and Fletcher but the keeper had little else to do as his defenders kept Hibs at bay with ease.

In the final minute, the goal opened up for Shiels inside the penalty box but the midfielder scuffed his shot, summing up a wretched day for Hibs.

Booked: Fletcher, Whittaker, McCann, Sproule.

Ref: S Dougal

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