[DavidMc]

Hibernian 1-1 Heart Of Midlothian

Hibernian lost further ground on Scottish Premier League leaders Celtic after being held to a draw at home in a pulsating Edinburgh derby with Hearts.

Visiting defender Christophe Berra was fortunate not to concede a penalty when he barged Lewis Stevenson but then deflected a corner into his own net.

Hearts struck back just after the break when Christian Nade diverted home an Andrius Ksanavicius header.

Fletcher and Guillaume Beuzelin had returned from injury, while Filipe Morais was available again after suspension.

Merouane Zemmama, Clayton Donaldson and Ross Chisholm dropped out - and that was matched by the three changes made by Hearts.

Calum Elliot, Ruben Palazuelos and the injured Marius Zaliukas missed out following the fine CIS Cup win over Celtic.

Eggert Jonsson came into midfield, while Nade returned from suspension to partner midweek two-goal hero Velicka.

But the switch to two up front and four in midfield could not prevent Hibs taking the early initiative and Fletcher's 20-yard drive sliced a few yards wide.

Hearts responded and Andrew Driver sent a header a foot over the crossbar following a Robbie Nielson cross.

Driver turned provider and Velicka sent a drive into the side-netting from 10 yards from the winger's low cross to the near post.


Rob Jones claimed he got a touch for the opening goal

Hibs ought to have been rewarded for their fine, passing football with a penalty after 13 minutes, when Berra bodychecked Stevenson.

But justice was done four minutes later, when Berra deflected the ball into his own net from a Morais corner under pressure at the near post from Rob Jones.

Berra redeemed himself with a fine last-ditch tackle to deny Mickael Antoine-Curier.

And it was out-rushing goalkeeper Anthony Basso's turn to save Hearts with a fine one-handed stop that prevented Fletcher chipping home a second after the striker broke clear.

Yves Ma-Kalambay's legs came to the rescue of Hibs seconds later to thwart Velicka's 25-yard drive after Hearts applied some sustained pressure as the first half came to a pulsating conclusion.

Hearts continued where they left off by equalising 46 seconds into the second half.

Driver's cross was headed towards goal by Ksanavicius and Nade deflected it past Ma-Kalambay from five yards.

It was end-to-end stuff now and desperate clearances by Basso and Ibrahim Tall denied Hibs, while Driver squandered a good shooting chance for Hearts.

Velicka cleared a Beuzelin header off Hearts' line and a Fletcher effort entered the net only to be ruled out for a foul.

Mauricio Pinilla turned a Ksanavicius cross wide from six yards, but the match ended all square, moving Hibs into third spot but six points adrift of Celtic after the weekend's games.



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Hibernian: Kalambay, McCann, Hogg, Jones, Murphy, Morais (Zemmama 80), Kerr, Beuzelin, Stevenson, Antoine-Curier (Donaldson 71), Fletcher (O'Brien 82). Subs Not Used: McNeil, Gathuessi, Chisholm, McCormack.

Booked: Beuzelin.

Goals: Berra 18 og.

Hearts: Basso, Neilson, Goncalves, Berra, Tall, Driver, Stewart, Jonsson, Ksanavicius (Elliot 86), Nade (Pinilla 66), Velicka (Pospisil 80). Subs Not Used: Banks, Wallace, Mikoliunas, Palazuelos.

Booked: Jonsson, Elliot.

Goals: Nade 46.

Att: 17,015