Edinburgh derby ends in stalemate

Neither side was able to find a breakthrough as the Edinburgh derby finished in a dissapointing stalemate at Tynecastle.

Hearts were dominant in the first half as Hibs failed to find a spark without wingers Zemmama and Riordan. And despite a more attacking approach from the away side in the second half of the game, neither looked likely to find the back of the net as the game ended goalless.

Hearts started the game aggressively, with Driver and Wallace looking dangerous on the left wing. The home sides first real chance came after nineteen minutes when captain Michael Stewart's shot from twenty yards was only marginally wide after some attractive passing with Novikovas.

Ian Black had another opportunity six minutes later, but his shot from the edge of the box was deflected over Graham Stack's crossbar for a corner. The home side continued to have the lion's share of final third possession, with Hibs' attempts to play the high balls up to Nish and Benjelloun proving fruitless.

Hearts looked to pile more pressure on the Hibs defence at the start of the second half. Driver had a chance to open the scoring a minute after the restart as he raced through the middle, but his shot lacked power and was easily gathered by Stack.

Black was on the end of a Jason Thompson ball seven minutes later, but his glancing header went just wide of Stack's left-hand post, whilst the midfielder's swerving strike just outside the box a minute later was easily taken by Stack.

Benejelloun was replaced by Riordan after fifty-six minutes, with the 26 six year-old providing the visitors with more pace at the front.

Hibs came close to opening the scoring in the sixty-forth minute after a Wotherspoon strike from 25 yards hit Hearts keeper Balogh's left-hand post. The ball fell into the middle of the box with Riordan charging in for the rebound but Balogh was quick enough to smother the ball.

The pace of the game picked up with Hearts creating an opportunity a minute later. Nade looked to play the ball for Novikovas, but Stack was off his line quickly and headed the ball to safety from just outside his box.

Hibs looked poor from setpieces and squandered a number of free kicks, as high balls were easily claimed by Balogh.

Riordan looked the most threatening for the away side after coming on and had a shot parried wide by Balogh after sixty-eight minutes. He came close again nine minutes later with a left-footed strike from inside the box, but Balogh was again on hand to gather the ball.

As the final whistle approached, both sides pressed forward but neither looked likely to score. Mole went down in the box as he chased a Glen shot parried by Stack a minute into added time, but in spite of calls for a penalty the game ended goalless.