Hibs ace in Hearts 'driving seat' admission as derby vow underlines wrecker ambitions for Euro hopefuls
Attention already switches to first post-split fixture - resumption of local hostilities at Easter Road
Hibs defender Warren O’Hora has revealed how Hearts being involved in a title challenge is providing an incentive for the Easter Road side ahead of the season’s final derby. But the Irishman says David Gray’s men will need no extra motivation for the best game on the fixture card.
Yesterday’s 10-man defeat against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, in a game heavily influenced by VAR interventions and refereeing decisions, saw Hibs fail to close the gap on fourth-placed Motherwell in the race for European qualification. The Steelmen were losing to Hearts at Tynecastle in dramatic fashion at the same time as Gray’s men were slipping to defeat in the Granite City.
Scotland defender in ‘double jeopardy’ claim
O’Hora, who felt that central defensive partner Grant Hanley suffered from “double jeopardy” when he was red carded after conceding a penalty just 15 minutes into yesterday’s loss, is already looking ahead to the resumption of local rivalry on Sunday week. And he admits that Hearts sitting top of the Scottish Premiership does change the dynamic around the contest.
“Look at the table and they are in the driving seat,” he said, adding: “If we can put a bee in their bonnet and stop them from doing what they want to do, then that is what we want to do, naturally.
“It is the best game to play, in in my opinion. It is an unbelievable game to look forward to at Easter Road with the fans behind us. The atmosphere is amazing.
“To win those games is the best feeling, to win those games. It is one we are looking forward to.
“It is one we need to pick ourselves up for. We have a bit of time to recharge and get some training into us.
“The staff have always been brilliant for us in terms of getting ready for games. We will be going in with the intent to win the game, like we do with every game.”
Acknowledging that Hibs fans will view this game with extra importance, given their desire to prevent Hearts from winning the title, O’Hora added: “It is at every club because it is a derby. That is why I came to this club, to play in games like this, with the pressure and expectation to beat your local rivals.
“That is why I have come to play for Hibs. The whole city loves these games and we want to go and win it. If we can win it, it is the best feeling in the world.”
Motherwell slip at Tynecastle helps Hibs
Motherwell throwing away a lead in Gorgie keeps Hibs just three points off fourth place. With only the top four guaranteed a crack at UEFA Conference League qualification next season, the prize cannot be overstated – least of all for Hibs, who haven’t been involved in back-to-back European campaigns for half a century.
Asked if he thought the battle for fourth might go down to the last day, when Motherwell visit Easter Road, O’Hora said: “Football, anything can happen. Who knows?
“All we can do is concentrate on ourselves. Control the controllable and we look forward to the Edinburgh derby in a couple of weeks.
“Motherwell dropped points. We have five big games. We still have a chance and the split will be interesting, no doubt about that.”
Too busy playing to focus closely on the two big decisions that impacted on the game, Hanley’s deserved red card and Aberdeen star Emmanuel Gyamfi somehow escaping with a booking for a violent conduct offence against Owen Elding, O’Hora said he’d be reserving final judgement until taking time to review both incidents.
“Initially, as I was running back, I thought that Granty got shoulder-barged over to be honest,” he said of the penalty call. “The referee said Genty pulled him back. I haven’t seen it back, but that is why he got the red card and the penalty.
“I will have to watch it back and then I can give my own opinion. It is difficult because it happened so quickly on the pitch and there are voices everywhere.
“For me, double jeopardy is harsh. I don’t know how he has pulled him down, if he has fallen over. That’s my initial reaction from the game at the time.
“There were 10,000 things going on in the game. I haven’t seen that one (the Gyamfi smackdown) back either.
“From Owen’s reaction, it seems there was a fair bit of force. I am hoping that the ref checked the monitor and it was a yellow.
“He said there was an arm out but didn’t think it was violent intent. I will have to take his word for that on the pitch.
“I will watch it back but I don’t want to be saying things that I shouldn’t be saying. From Owen’s reaction, it sounded like it was a bad one.”
Insisting Hibs had still shown fight despite being reduced in number by Hanley’s dismissal, O’Hora said: “It is difficult when you go down to 10 men. I didn’t feel like we threw it away or gave up or anything like that.
“I thought the lads were brilliant in terms of work effort. We probably could have shown a bit more quality but it was difficult conditions. I didn’t feel we threatened enough or put the ball in the box enough.
“Ten men and 1-0 down was a bit of a disappointment. Going 2-0 down was a bigger disappointment for us.
“I didn’t feel like we threw the towel in or accepted we would get beat at 1-0 with 10 men. Once we figured out how we were going to play, because we switched to a back four and we made some changes, I felt we got to grips with it and we had spells on the ball.
“But we missed that last bit. When we got into areas could we get a good action in the final third? I just felt we struggled a bit with that. We lost 2-0 so it was disappointing.”