Giant curiosity Hibs finally liberated from the sucker punch

Published4 hours ago

As time ticked on at Hampden, you waited for the Hearts kick to the Hibs solar plexus, the late sickener that became such a huge theme in their clashes last season.

Were Hibs, bottom of the league and incapable of buying a win in recent weeks, really about to beat their city rivals at Hampden for the first time ever? Really?

There were 10 minutes between Hibs and a League Cup final against Rangers, but 10 minutes can be an eternity between these two.

Five minutes left to play now and Hibs still holding a 2-1 lead, but recent history tells us that even five minutes is plenty of time for everything to turn on its head.

Late, late plot twists and late, late Hearts victories came in minutes 86, 88 and 90 in three different Edinburgh derbies last season - all in Hearts' favour, all dropping Hibs to their knees in angst.

Now we enter sniper's alley; two minutes left and Hearts pushing hard.

Hibs edge Hearts in thrilling derby to reach League Cup final

Hibs edge Hearts in thrilling derby to reach League Cup final

Jordi Altena's delivery from the right finds Claudio Braga, one of the chief dangermen in maroon left all on his lonesome a few yards from goal. Braga's already scored one and is about to score two. Hibs are about to Hibs it all over again. Extra time beckons.

But, no, not this time, not today. Braga blows his big chance. He stands there almost in disbelief. Some of his team-mates are rooted to the spot.

Hibs fans, meanwhile, go berserk. A set of fans hard-bitten by late goals costing them dear this season and last, not just against Hearts, but against Midtjylland and Legia Warsaw, Livingston and Dunfermline, Dundee and Motherwell, Gent and St Mirren, now liberated from the sucker punch.

Free of Hearts' gloating. Joy at last in a season that has brought little more than bitterness and rancour about the state of the club, on the field and off.

Marink Reedijk, their manager, is just in the door. Short of handing the Hibs fans the winning numbers in the lottery there is no greater way for him to endear himself to supporters than beating Hearts. Beating them anywhere, anyhow is special. Beating them in a cup semi-final is extra special.

Team of contradictions finally makes sense

Hibs are a giant curiosity. Reedijk will know that only too well by now. An enigma. A riddle.

They have good players but they're bottom of the Premiership. They have goal threat but have delivered precious few goals. They have accomplished players in midfield but routinely get bossed in there.

They have plenty of seasoned pros but have lacked bottle. Potential, for sure, but nowhere enough league points and an underdog's tag coming into this semi-final.

Could they put it together on their biggest day of the season so far? After four minutes the answer was an emphatic no. Braga had scored. Easy header. Point blank range. Nobody alive to his menace. Soft. Again.

You didn't write them off at that early stage, but more Hibs things kept happening. Felix Passlack should have scored, but he didn't. Owen Elding should have scored, but he didn't.

Four goals in their past six games, one of them a penalty. No league wins in six. One win in nine - against Ross County from the third tier - in all competitions.

The signs were not good that Hibs would suddenly metamorphose into a convincing, steely bunch of players capable of rolling with the punches instead of being floored by them. But that's what happened.

For the rest of the half, Hibs were terrific, albeit against a Hearts team dropping like flies. Hibs folk will be sick of hearing the chat about the freakish Tynecastle casualty list - Wouter Vrancken isn't exactly loving it either - but it's reality.

The curse struck again in the opening half - a disorientated Tomas Magnusson removed after a horrible clash of heads and then Calvin Miller succumbing to injury and finishing his day with his knee in a brace.

Vrancken intervened on the touchline when it appeared that Magnusson was about to be sent back into the fray. The Hearts manager could see - as anybody who was watching could see - Magnusson clearly unsteady on his feet and wobbling.

Hearts should maybe explain what tests were done on the midfielder and on what basis they decided he was considered fit enough to carry on. Vrancken's alertness and decisiveness may have saved a vulnerable Magnusson a more troubling fate.

Hibs earn moment but has corner been turned?

None of this was Hibs' concern, but it was Hibs' opportunity - and they took it.

Joe Newell found space and dominance in the middle of the park. The organisation and hunger in their press was compelling. Their big players - the ones who have spent far too long playing way below par - found themselves at last.

When Martin Boyle and Jamie McGrath scored before the break it was only what Hibs deserved. It was the first time they'd scored twice against Premiership opposition since August.

There is resilience in this Hearts side, though. Braga ought to have scored just before the end of the opening half, a reminder of the wonderful psychology of this fixture. It ain't over until it's over.

Even then, winning the midfield and winning the game, how many would have bet their last fiver on Hibs seeing it out?

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This could be a major turning point in their season, so long as Hibs make it so. That's their challenge now. Bottom of the league is ridiculous. They can be - and must be - so much better than that.

Hearts threw everything at them in the second half. They got on top, no question. Hibs became sloppy in those early minutes. Giving away possession easily, inviting Hearts on to them. Again you wondered about Hibs' nerve.

Laurent Mendy lashed one wide, Braga had one saved. Later, Sabri Guendouz had a blast that was tipped over by Raphael Sallinger. Braga had that golden chance at the end.

Hibs always gave Hearts something to think about at the other end, though. They had some counter-attacks and butchered them. Marko Ivezic could have taken away any prospect of a Hearts' revival had he taken a big chance from close range.

It was pulsating stuff. The suspense lasted to the final whistle when Hibs danced their way around Hampden and Sunshine on Leith carried about the stadium. It's been a while since we've heard it. They'd earned their moment.

If it gets another airing next month when Hibs return to face Rangers in the final then a corner will truly have been turned.

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