Hibernian boss John Collins didn’t have much luck in Edinburgh-derbies as a player, so last night’s (Wed, Nov 8) CIS Insurance Cup win over Hearts must have been all that much sweeter.
Not only did Hibs win the match 1-0, thanks to a first-half Rob Jones goal, but the players completely outplayed troubled Hearts over every blade of grass at Easter Road.
After the match, Collins, who only won Edinburgh derbies out of 24 as a player, hugged each of his players and he now knows that he has a golden opportunity to lift some silverware so soon after becoming manager.
After the win, Collins said: ‘We made it very difficult, as soon as they got possession we hunted in packs, that’s what we had been working on, pressing and making it difficult for them when they had possession.
‘When you press together as a unit then inevitably they give the ball back to you. For me the team played fantastically, all of them. I would not like to pick anyone out, it was a team performance and, at the end of the day, that’s what will win us things and help us climb up the table, not individual performances.’
Hibs now face First Division St Johnstone, who stunned Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox, in the semi-final at Hampden Park on January 30, while Falkirk will face Kilmarnock in the other semi on the following day. It is the first time since 1979 that neither Rangers or Celtic have reached the semi-finals of the League Cup
CIS Insurance Cup semi-final draw
Kilmarnock v Falkirk (January 30 at Hampden Park)
St Johnstone v Hibernian (January 31 at Hampden Park)
Hibs v Hearts – teams and stats
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a great result that puts you through to the semis.. something to cheer about !!!