Hearts look for derby revenge

Hearts went into today’s Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle intent on revenge for their defeat by Hibs at Easter Road earlier in the season.

In August a late Garry O’Connor goal gave 10-man Hibs a welcome victory, their first over Hearts since manager Bobby Williamson arrived in February 2002.

Hearts recovered from that blow to climb into third place in the Scottish Premier League and have a UEFA Cup second-leg tie against Bordeaux on Thursday to look forward to.

But Jambos manager Craig Levein had his players focused solely on this derby in which they will be without the services of the suspended Phil Stamp.

Levein made four changes to the side which beat Aberdeen a fortnight ago. Andy Webster and Dennis Wyness dropped to the bench, and Scott Severin and Austin McCann were left out of the squad altogether.

In came Patrick Kisnorbo, Robbie Neilson, Neil McFarlane and Jean Louis Valois.

Williamson’s Hibs side grabbed a late draw against Dundee United in their last outing, and he kept faith with same starting line-up – with O’Connor and Derek Riordan leading the attack.