Harry Redknapp has Hearts talks with Tony Bloom and Hibs lunch with Malky Mackay in VIP Edinburgh derby visit
The former Tottenham and West Ham United boss was in Edinburgh for Hibs vs Hearts on Sunday.
Harry Redknapp has walked through his VIP Edinburgh derby experience that included chats with Hearts investor Tony Bloom and lunch with Hibs sporting director Malky Mackay.
The former Tottenham and West Ham United boss who recently featured in the new series of ‘I’m a Celebrity South Africa’ was spotted in the stands at Easter Road, alongside ex-Celtic chief Peter Lawwell, as Hearts defeated Hibs 2-1. Martin Boyle put the hosts ahead, before red cards for home duo Raphael Sallinger and Felix Passlack swung the game in maroon favour, eventually winning through a Warren O’Hora own goal and Blair Spittal effort.
Redknapp loved his experience in Leith and got to sample life with some of the powerbrokers at each club. Amongst that crop were Hearts investor Tony Bloom, who travelled to Edinburgh for the game, while Hibs sporting director Malky Mackay also treated the Premier League favourite to lunch.
Harry Redknapp on Edinburgh derby experience
He said on talkSPORT: “I was up in Scotland on Sunday. I was at the Hibs vs Hearts game. I loved it, what an atmosphere, the people were great. I had a great day. Malcom Macpherson is a friend of mine and was the chairman at Hibs at one time. Malk Mackay, I met with them and went for a bit of lunch.
“Peter Lawwell came, the former executive at Celtic, he came and we had a bit of lunch. Went to the game and had a good chat with Tony Bloom as he was up for the game with Hearts. Both manager have done a great job, haven’t they? David Gray’s done a fantastic job with Hibs this year, and Derek McInnes, what he’s done at Hearts has been fantastic.”
McInnes said post-match: "Sabah Kerjota, it's perfect for him in a game like this when you know you're going to have a lot more of the ball because he is somebody who has got that guile, creativity, confidence in the final third. Blair Spittal playing as an auxiliary right-back. You're just trying everything to try and make this go your way. It took a bit longer than we thought.
Manager reaction to Hibs vs Hearts
"It's all about can someone come up with the big moment? Blair Spittal scores goals like that every day in training. He's got such good quality. A lot of people could snatch at it. He keeps his knee over the ball, stays calm, and it could be such an important goal.”
Gray added: "It’s very tough to take. I think, unfortunately, we beat ourselves today. We found ourselves 1–0 up in the derby, and everything I expected the game to be - fast, frantic, a bit nervy - it certainly was. The atmosphere was electric, as you’d expect. But after going ahead, we put ourselves on the back foot by going down to 10 men after 14 minutes.
"I’ve got no complaints about the red card - it was a poor decision at a poor time. Then just after half-time, we went down to nine men. Again, it comes from trying to recover from an error, overstretching, and it’s a definite second yellow card.”