Hibernian 1 Hearts 2

Last updated : 03 November 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Hearts plundered three points from a dramatic Edinburgh derby at Easter Road with two goals in the final four minutes.

Canadian international Kevin McKenna headed an 86th minute equaliser and two minutes into stoppage time Phil Stamp lashed in a left-foot shot to give Hearts an unlikely three points.

It was another painful experience for Hibs fans after the 5-1 mauling by their arch-rivals earlier in the season and the result denied them a club record sixth successive SPL win.

Hearts had the first chance after just five minutes when Jean-Louis Valois played a free kick into the path of Stamp but the midfielder's shot was deflected into the arms of Nick Colgan.

Stamp had another opportunity nine minutes later when Stephen Simmons rolled a Paul McMullan cross back to him but his effort was directed straight at Colgan.

Chances were few and far between in an untidy first half in which neither side controlled the midfield.

Andy Kirk should have done better after 30 minutes when he took an Andy Webster pass in his stride but shot wide of target.

But it was Hibs who made the breakthrough five minutes later. A corner from Jarkko Wiss was headed back by Ian Murray for Mixu Paatelainen to stab the ball home from just a yard out.

Simmons responded with a long-range effort a minute before the break but Colgan touched the ball past his right-hand post.

Hibs took a firm grip on the game at the start of the second half and Garry O'Connor had a chance to score a second but his attempted chip was easily gathered by Roddy McKenzie.

O'Connor had another opening after an hour but McKenzie was again well positioned to block his 16-yard shot.

Paatelainen was next to try his luck four minutes later after Craig James had played the ball across the face of the goal but his left-foot shot was too high.

In response, Valois shot tamely from 30 yards as Hearts struggled to offer much to threaten Colgan.

Substitute Kevin Twaddle had the best chance to level the game seven minutes from time when Valois put him through but his shot lacked power and Colgan was untroubled.

But then came the drama at the finish with McKenna heading in a cross from Neil Janczyk and then Stamp scoring the winner with an angled shot