Hibs 0-0 Hearts: Kevin Dabrowski the hero in thrilling derby; Hibs nearly win it; Hearts penalty claim is turned down

Hibs goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski has waited a long time for his competitive Hibs debut, but rose to the occasion in a pulsating Edinburgh derby with an inspired performance.

The 23-year-old Polish goalkeeper, handed a baptism of fire starting place due to Matt Macey’s injury, pulled off three superb saves in a man-of-the-match display to deny Hearts striker Ellis Simms in the second half.

He then stopped Rocky Bishiri scoring an own goal by getting his hands to a wayward back-pass five minutes from time. That was a moment of controversy that the derby often throws up.

From the resultant in-direct free-kick inside the box, Lewis Stevenson blocked Alex Cochrane’s shot with an outstretched arm. Robbie Neilson felt it was one of two penalties Hearts should have been awarded against the Hibs stand-in captain, who had barged down Simms in the first half.

Lewis Stevenson barges down Hearts striker Ellis Simms but no penalty was given. It was a huge moment

Hearts were the better team in the second period, but Hibs were presented with the best chance of the night to win it in injury time.

Josh Campbell’s close-range shot from Euan Henderson’s knock-down beat Craig Gordon, but the excellent Toby Sibbick scrambled clear on the line to keep it 0-0.

Both sides of the city will be reasonably satisfied with a point. It means third-placed Hearts remain 12 points clear of their rivals, but Hibs will take some satisfaction from avoiding defeat in a fixture they have not been faring well of late. This was a much-improved performance from the drab displays of the last couple of weeks, with Ryan Porteous the standout performer along with Dabrowski.

Hibs made the brighter start, survived two big penalty claims, denied Simms when it mattered and nearly won it at the end. It was pulsating stuff. The 285th Edinburgh derby was like every other. Atmosphere crackling, pace frenetic.

Hearts defender Toby Sibbick battles with Hibs forward Chris Mueller in a frenetic derby at Easter Road

Identical 3-4-1-2 formations meant it was pretty much man for man from the start, placing huge emphasis on individual battles.

Chris Cadden won his against Andy Halliday in the first half, helping his team edge the first half hour and causing the visitors problems out wide.

Hearts, lining up with an untested back three of Taylor Moore, Sibbick and Stephen Kingsley after John Souttar failed a fitness test, also looked vulnerable defending set pieces.

Kingsley turned the ball into his own net from one of them, but was let off when Porteous was flagged for offside. It was a tight call, but the big calls went Hibs´ way on the night.

Hearts slowly grew into the first half, had the best chances – Cammy Devlin hooked a decent opportunity wide after just a few minutes – and had a huge claim for a penalty turned down by referee Don Robertson when Stevenson barged Simms to the ground.

The Hibs captain for the night had already been booked and would surely have seen red in his 44th derby appearance had the penalty been given.

As it turned out it was Hearts boss Robbie Neilson who was shown a yellow card for his protest.

The surprise in the Hibs line-up was the absence through injury of Macey, presenting back-up Dabrowski with a baptism of fire debut.

Hearts didn’t test him until the 43rd minute, Liam Boyce’s strike parried away rather unconvincingly by the 23-year-old Polish keeper.

But Dabrowski did come up with three huge saves in the second half to deny the increasingly dangerous Simms on the inside right channel. The fist came from McKay’s threaded pass, the second and third instinctive reaction stops at his near post.

Hearts were on top, but it was a war of attrition at times, meaty challenges rousing the fans and resulting in a few injury-enforced changes.

At the other end the lively Kevin Nisbet had an opportunity when released Demitri Mitchell by hesitation to take the shot on with his left foot allowed Sibbick to get back and make the block.

In the end, either team could have won it. Both will be satisfied with a point.

Hibernian (3-4-1-2): Dabrowski; Porteous, Bushiri, Stevenson; Cadden, Doyle-Hayes, Newell (Campbell 68), Doig (Mitchell 45); Mueller (Wright 59); Nisbet, Doidge (Henderson 79). Subs: Mitchell, Jasper, Allan, McGregor, Scott.

Hearts (3-4-1-2): Gordon; Sibbick, Moore, Kingsley; Atkinson, Devlin (Haring 90+2), Baningime, Halliday (Cochrane 68); McKay (Woodburn 68); Boyce (Ginnelly 80), Simms. Subs: Stewart, McEneff, McKay-Steven, Henderson, Pollock.

Referee: Don Robertson

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