Hearts 1-0 Hibernian

By Colin Moffat

Goalkeeper Ma-Kalamby fumbles Velicka's header into the net

A header from Andrius Velicka ended Hearts' 10-game run without a win and claimed the Edinburgh derby honours.

The Lithuanian's nod from six yards after 20 minutes was straight at Yves Ma-Kalambay but the Hibs keeper could only flap the ball into his own net.

With both sides struggling at the wrong end of the table, there was a real shortage of quality play.

However, Hearts posed more threat in attack, while Hibs seldom caused the home defence any trouble.

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Hearts will be delighted with a rare victory and to have kept just their second clean sheet of the season.

Hibs, who last won a league game on 10 November, saw a lot of the ball in the second half but could not craft any meaningful chances.

A congested midfield and some typically robust tackling made for a scrappy opening but Hearts looked the more menacing side, with the visitors frequently gifting them possession.

With 11 minutes gone, Ruben Palazuelos rode a poor tackle from Hibs skipper Rob Jones on the edge of the penalty box and his deflected shot was brilliantly clawed away by Ma-Kalambay.

Hibs countered with a quick break but Abdessalam Benjelloun's shot on the turn from 18 yards was easily gathered by Steve Banks.

Another deflected strike troubled Ma-Kalambay but Eggert Johnsson's powerful effort looped narrowly wide of the target.

The opening goal came via a deep corner kick, which was nodded back into the danger zone by Christophe Berra, and Velicka's close range header was fumbled over the line by Ma-Kalambay.

Hibs winger Filpe Morais fizzed a low delivery across the Hearts penalty area but Benjelloun completely missed the ball with a swipe when he was perfectly placed to score.

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Fellow Moroccan Merouane Zemmama then had a shot blocked by former Hibee Michael Stewart, who was guarding the post from a corner.

Hibs were growing as an attacking threat but a swift counter from the home side saw Andrew Driver's low strike saved by Ma-Kalambay and Hearts were once again in the ascendancy as the first half drew to a close.

The visitors made a bright start after the interval and had Hearts pinned back for long spells, although Banks was not called into action thanks to some resolute defending from his team-mates.

Hibs were also undone by poor decision making and the final ball from midfield often left the forwards frustrated.

Half time replacement Steven Fletcher, back from a lengthy injury lay-off, did engineer some room on the edge of the penalty box after 73 minutes but his shot was well blocked by the lunging Johnsson.

Hearts came close to a late goal when substitute Saulius Mikoliunas was presented with a free header in a central position but Ma-Kalambay got down smartly to keep it out.

And there was another scare for Hibs when full-back Kevin McCann shaved the outside of his own post with a clearance.

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Hearts: Banks, Neilson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves, Jonsson, Stewart (Wallace 65), Palazuelos (Nade 81), Driver, Velicka, Cesnauskis (Mikoliunas 70). Subs Not Used: Bjornsson, Thomson, Beniusis, Ksanavicius.

Booked: Velicka, Driver, Nade.

Goal: Velicka 20.

Hibernian: Ma-Kalambay, McCann, Hogg, Jones, Murray, Morais (Gray 81), Kerr, Beuzelin, Zemmama (Rankin 68), Benjelloun (Fletcher 46), Shiels. Subs Not Used: McNeil, Chisholm, McCormack, Hanlon.

Booked: Jones, Beuzelin.

Att: 17,131

Ref: K Clark