What the Hearts and Hibs pundits said about derby drama as ‘joke’ ref call gets unanimous verdict
It was a derby that served up high-drama and plenty have their opinion on what went down at Tynecastle between Hearts and Hibs in a 1-1 draw.
Emiliano Marcondes opened the scoring for the Hibees before controversy struck. Kevin Clancy blew for a penalty kick after Will Fish was deemed to have tripped Kenneth Vargas inside the box.
VAR called him over for a second look but the referee stuck by his call, not a motion everybody agreed with, in a divisive call. Lawrence Shankland stepped up to dispatch the spot-kick.
Hearts are now 12 points clear of Kilmarnock in third place while Hibs are seventh and a point outside the top six. The pundits had their say on Tynecastle matters and The Edinburgh Evening News rounds up the best of the reaction.
Tam McManus (X)
“Abysmal decision that pen to Hearts. Wow. Guy Vargas just throws himself to the ground. Joke.
“I’m sorry but that is never a penalty in a million years. VAR even gave him the opportunity to right it and he still didn’t. Shocking call. Hearts out of jail Hibs by a mile the better team and done by that/poor finishing. Sickener but brighter times are coming.”
Cillian Sheridan (Scottish Football Podcast)
“I think it is probably a bit frustrating that it seems to come quite sporadic in those kind of performances (for Hibs). One week you don’t really know what kind of team is going to show up or how they are going to play. Take away last week’s result against Rangers, Hearts were the in-form team. For them to come away disappointed with a draw is a sign of, in the way both teams are, is a good sign for them (Hibs).”
