This is how it feels (Hearts 22 09 19)

Four stands all singing “You’re getting sacked in the morning,” aimed at Levein after Mallan’s stunning opening goal. I felt great at that point but wind forward forty five minutes and I left Easter Road feeling mightily unhappy. What a cruel game football can be. I mean let’s be honest, Hibs scored a cracker, Levein changed the shape of his side and we didn’t cope with that. Outsmarted by the football genius that is Craig Levein and that was the final straw for me as I am now firmly in the camp that wants Heckingbottom replaced and soon before his damage is beyond recovery by whoever takes his place.

As to the game itself, Hibs made one change from the side that started last time out when Maxwell replaced Marciano in goal. In a way I could understand that as despite making a number of good saves in recent games, Rocky has also in my opinion been at fault for a few of the goals conceded. Essentially then, Heckingbottom started the same outfield eleven that had capitulated at Rugby Park and that made me think of a famous quote attributed to Einstein – “Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.” I cannot believe that the manager, who must surely know the pressure he is under, decided that no changes were required in the outfield positions. That is an insane thought in my eyes. A couple of obvious changes for me were to play Middleton instead of Horgan and Fraser Murray ahead of Vela.

The match started quite brightly and it became obvious that despite the temptation to do so, neither side set up to defend at all costs. Indeed, inside the first ten minutes both Horgan for Hibs and Clare for Hearts had half decent chances but both failed to convert. A Mallan effort was blocked and Vela fired wide whilst Clare had another effort from a header that was miles off target.

The midfield trio for Hibs and the five for Hearts were somehow cancelling each other out and further chances were a rare breed although Hallberg might have earned himself legend status but screwed his left foot effort wide of the far post. As the half time whistle approached, Berra was lucky not to see yellow after an off the ball clash with Kamberi.

Neither manager changed personnel at half time and as fans returned to their seats Hibs went ahead in stunning fashion. A clearance from the Hearts end was intercepted by Vela and the ball broke to Mallan some thirty five yards out when he had his back to goal. Two quick touches had the ball under control and he turned to face the Hearts goal before striking a quite superb effort into the top corner with Pereira beaten all ends up. The roar from the home stands was deafening as Mallan raced along the front of the East Stand to celebrate. Once I’d calmed down I began to think that Hibs could and should go on to add to that lead but Hallberg missed from ten yards and the reality of what came next was so very different from my hopes and expectations.

As the minutes ticked down, Hibs consciously or not started to drop deeper and deeper, giving Hearts plenty of the ball which Levein quickly sussed out and made a couple of telling substitutions whilst reforming his line up to a 4-4-2. Heckingbottom failed to react and Hearts began to take the upper hand with an equaliser looking more and more likely. When it came it was a shockingly disappointing goal to concede. Referee John Beaton gave Hearts a free kick about twenty yards from goal which they took quickly whilst Hibs players fell asleep. Danger was initially averted but at the expense of a corner which, with the Hibs players seemingly still in a slumber, resulted in Mulraney’s cross being knocked down by Berra at the back post and in the ensuing scramble, Ikpeazu forced the ball home whilst he was lying on the ground. Eerily, it reminded me of Hanlon’s equaliser in the 2-2 cup game at Tynecastle.

It was pretty much all Hearts by this time with the young lad Meshino turning in a stellar performance. I feared the worst to be honest and with around five minutes to go the ‘worst’ was delivered when once again a short corner reached the unmarked Hickey near the edge of the Hibs box. The youngster must have fancied trying his luck and hit a shot that took a wicked deflection off Vela, looped up in the air and over the helpless Maxwell.

Having secured the lead, Levein brought on another defender but despite half chances falling to Allan and Naismith and a fine save by Pereira from a Naismith header, Hibs could not find the leveller. There was some booing from the home stands at the end though not nearly as much as I expected in the circumstances.

The players

Maxwell – Came out and gathered corners with some ease but if Marciano is to be criticised for his distribution then so too should Maxwell. He takes and age to kick from hand and I counted at least three occasions today when the ball sailed all the way to the other end into the arms of Pereira.

Naismith – I thought he did pretty well today and could have done with more help when Mulraney and Clare in the first half and the former and Hickey in the second were allowed more time on the ball to cause problems.

Porteous – I was worried for Ryan today as I thought his youth and inexperience might allow Ikpeazu to dominate him. In fact, for the first hour the big striker was kept relatively quiet. Ikpeazu scored the equaliser but that was no fault of Ryan’s who gets my man of the match award.

Hanlon – Not bullied as much as I thought he might be but one or two clearances had me putting my head in my hands. When you play Hearts you expect the aimless punt up the park from them but today Paul did that more than anyone.

Stevenson – Once again the wee man gets pass marks as he was pretty much error free although I predict at least one poster will highlight his poor pass in the twentieth minute that went out for a throw in whilst gleefully ignoring the fantastic run and cross he’d made moments earlier.

Mallan – Seemed to be deployed on the right but was involved in a lot of play and picked out a few decent passes. His goal was wonderful and even earned praise from Levein in his post-match interview.

Vela – Once again Josh kinda milled around in central midfield, often demanding the ball and then doing very little with it.

Hallberg – Busy enough without doing anything particularly eye catching, unless you count a fantastic crunching tackle on Whelan in the centre circle.

Allan – Two quite magnificent passes and a sponsor’s man of the match award pretty much sums Scotty up today. I expect a lot more from him in truth.

Horgan – Why he was started ahead of Middleton is a mystery to me. He was pretty much held in control by a wee laddie playing left back for Hearts and earned a booking by kicking said laddie in frustration. The laddie is Aaron Hickey and for me he is proof positive that given the opportunity, youngsters will deliver the goods. We have Murray, Stirling, Doig and Gullan just itching for the opportunity but Mr Stubborn doesn’t give them a sniff.

Kamberi – Pushed, pulled, grappled, fouled and nearly stripped of his top by Berra and Halkett, all of which went unpunished by John Beaton.

Middleton – Did more in his fifteen minutes than most had done in the game. Twice he went on mazy runs down the right, beat his man/men and either had a pop at goal or provided a cross. Take note Daryl Horgan.

Doidge – Got about ten minutes all told but I don’t recall anything of any great note during that ten minute spell.

John Beaton – Very lenient at times and overly fussy at others.

Heckingbottom – Has he gone yet?

The fans – By and large we got right behind our team after an impressive banner display before the game.