[ritchiebaby]

The build-up for the second Edinburgh derby starts here! The 12.15 kick-off time ensures that the fans of both teams will be able to attend their local church services beforehand.    For those that cannot make it to Easter Road, the game will be live on BT Sport.

This game is one of the most nerve-racking in the fixture list, with high-flying Hearts dreading the distinct possibility that Hibs will be the team to end their impressive start to the season, and Hibs contemplating yet another underwhelming performance at Easter Road to hand Hearts chance after chance to win the game. Hearts have had it all too easy so far, with only a goalless draw against Dumbarton being the only blemish on their record. Hibs, on the other hand, have had a poor start, but are now beginning to show what they might be capable of, being unbeaten in their last 4 league games (5 in all competitions). The first derby saw Hearts record a fortunate 2-1 victory after Hibs had missed a first-half penalty and had a player sent off when only 0-1 down. Unfortunately, as is often the case, football finesse came a poor second to reckless passion. This time round, the gods have decreed that Hibs have the chance to become the first team to get 3 points against Hearts and it's up to the Hibs players to make sure it happens.

Judging by the team that Alan Stubbs sent out at Livingston, there doesn't seem to be much depth in the defensive positions. The subs bench was full of midfielders and attackers, with one goalkeeper. Jordon Forster is definitely out and it seems a 4-4-1-1 system might be employed on Sunday. Based on the Livingston team, I'd be inclined to go with the following players.

Oxley,
Gray, Hanlon, Booth, Stevenson,
Kennedy, McGeouch, Robertson, Allan,
Cummings,
Malonga.

Handling, Stanton and Heffernan to be the used substitutes, all being well.

I'm sure there will be plenty of more news and views in the following few days. I hope the Jambos on here can tell us all about their young guns and if it's true that Osman Sow will take the field with his arms strapped to his side to stop him being sent off. If not, I hope that the referee and his assistants are paying particular attention to his antics.

GGTTH

PS - there's a new guy on here who goes by the name of 0762. If he's even as half as good as that other respected Hibs fan, 0-7magic@tynie, he'll still know far more than me about the Easter Road scene. All other Hibbies wandering across from the other site are most welcome to join in as well.

[TIN TIN]

Cracking post Ritchie only spoiled by reference to a total zoomer- 0-7 magic@tynie. Great to have some new blood with 0762 and welcome his/her input but Tynie a- FFs. Not sure the last time he actually attended a game at Easter Road, by his own admission because the Scottish game is shite, yet he has all the answers and you guys get sucked in to his totally biased propaganda.

---

Ps- sow disnae need his elbows on Sunday. Petty point scoring IMO- no differnt from nish on saturday who elbowed everything in sight and took about 2/3 offences similar to Sows before he was even booked. Sums up pish poor refs IMO. Keep yer eye on his feet when he sticks one in the top corner of the net.

[ritchiebaby]

Just looking for a reaction, TinTin, (much the same as you), and you didn't disappoint.

[TIN TIN]

Nice one- where is Fred, maroon, Tynie, Torquay, Exeter, HFC, Benin, Wattie when you need them.

[Fredstersafool]

I'm always here and post when someone else posts,don't care how big Osman uses his frame as long as we win lol nah hopefully he keeps cool 11on the park is best policy

[ritchiebaby]

BBC Sport quotes from Neil Alexander, the keeper that keeps the Hearts team average age high.
"We are that scalp that everyone wants to take because we are playing well.
"So there is pressure on us, but, with Hibs being the home team in a derby, it's probably even.
"We've brought that on ourselves with how well we've done. There's been pressure in every game this season and we've come through with flying colours.
"We have nothing to fear and Sunday can't come quick enough.
"The manager has made some really good signings, adding to the youth we had last season. We have a fantastic blend of experience and youth.
"I'm not surprised by our start. We are matching our expectations."

Bought from Crystal Palace and leading scorer with 7 goals, Osman Sow is another of the old men in the Hearts team at 24. At 6'4" and all arms and legs, not only is he a bit of a handful, he is surprisingly agile and a definite threat to Hibs. Billy King has come through the youth ranks at Tynecastle and has already played 50 games for the first team at the age of 20. In defence, the pairing of Alim Ozturk and Danny Wilson have been miserly giving away only 5 goals so far. Signed on a 3 year contract this summer, 21 year old Ozturk was born in the Netherlands of Turkish parents. Wilson, 22, had an "interesting" start to life with Hearts, arriving on loan from Liverpool in January 2013 and then signing permanently when his Liverpool contract expired in the summer.

But enough of the niceties. We all know Hearts are playing with confidence, sometimes making poor starts in games but still coming through in style. They believe in themselves which is sometimes half the battle, so any team that wants to better them must be prepared to hassle and harry, put them off their stride and strike first, then keep the pressure on. That team, my friends is Hibs!!!  

[ritchiebaby]

Hearts have had their moment in the spotlight in this thread and now it's the turn of the home favourites. One of Hibs all-time favourites, Pat Stanton summed it up perfectly in this BBC piece - Stanton has been playing in and watching these fixtures for 55 years, but never grows tired of them. How could he? "It's the Hearts," said the 70-year-old, as though that alone ought to be explanation enough.

And that should be enough. There are others playing in minor appetisers today and will rightfully have their own importance, tonight there's El Clasico in La Liga, but even that is only a curtain raiser to THE big match on Sunday. All eyes will be on Hibs as they try to end Hearts undefeated run in the Championship. We all know what Hearts can do, but have we yet found out what Hibs can do? In the last few games they have shown great promise, and now they have a chance to make their mark in a game that could define both clubs' seasons.

One of the men who will play their part is Hibs keeper, Mark Oxley, who will be staying for his full loan term. In many games he has had little to do, but can pull out first class saves when he has to. Don't forget he is also Hibs' 4th equal goalscorer!
David Gray can be influential in games as we discovered against Rangers. He and Mr Versatile, Lewis Stevenson, had the time of their lives in the first half at Ibrox, the game only changing when Gray had to go off, leading to a reshuffle on the flanks.
In midfield loanee Dylan McGeouch is a player who looks as though he might provide the missing steeliness for Hibs. He has all the attributes and allied to a cool head, he is one player I'd love to see staying at Easter Road.
Scott Allan was unlucky not to open his account with Hibs when his shot rattled the post against Dumbarton. Sunday would be the best possible game to score in, especially if it turned out to be the winner. An instant hero for the Hibees!
In Jason Cumming and Dominique Malonga, Hibs have two scorers with the same match-winning temperament. Cummings, an ex-Jambo, should be desperate to show the Gorgie men what a great player they let slip through their fingers (if not, he shouldn't be on the park) and Malonga should be fired up for this one, to prove that he might drift in and out of games but he is worth his weight in gold this derby match.

There are others whose displays are important to Hibs but if the above players bring their A game to Easter Road, they can ensure a Hibs victory on Sunday.  

GGTTH

[Maroon 1]

Great post Ritchie, and I'm with you.....this is the BIGGEST game on Planet Football this weekend. Those players you've highlighted are all big improvements on what you've had before and Stubbs looks to me like a manager that can build a squad and a side worthy of your name. Obviously I want (and expect) us to win tomorrow, but I'd love to see you go on a run to match ours and blow Rangers away to make it an all Edinburgh title fight

[0762]

It should be a good match tomorrow unless the pressure and Derby nerves overwhelm the majority of the players and they all suffer from 'stage fright' - it won't be the 1st time that's happened! A big concern for Hibs will be if Booth has to cover the vacant CH position again. I hope the experienced Fontaine recovers from his leg injury to take up that role but if Booth is given that role, he'd better play well and provide adequate defensive cover in this type of match.

[Lord Snooty]

Just seen the goals. What a strike for the equaliser.
Was it a deserved point or should Hibs have held out?