| . |
 |
| The Greatest Game in History the hibs' fans favourite |
| The buildup to and the impact of Hearts 0 Hibs 7 |
| WHEN Hibs supporters talk of "the great team of the early seventies" it is two events they are most likely remembering; the League Cup triumph over Celtic followed by the 7-0 thumping handed to Hearts. Hibs entered season 1972/73 with a sense of optimism, manager Eddie Turnbull had brought together an impressive side, and there was hope that Hibs could build on their runners up place in the league from the previous season. Early league form was impressive, and Hibs and Celtic swapped the top place in the league in the opening weeks. Hibs were also going well in the League Cup, having qualified from a section of Aberdeen, Queens Park and Queen of the South, and then came from a goal down to Dundee United at Tannadice to score five in the second half at make the return leg a mere formality. Much the same thing happened at Broomfield against Airdrie in the return leg in the next round. Hibs trailed a goal at half-time; O'Rourke equalised from a penalty only for Airdrie to go ahead from a similar goal a minute later, but then Hibs went on to score another five, with Arthur Duncan hitting a hat-trick, and triumph 6-2. One of John Brownlie's many cantrips into Rangers' penalty area led to him scoring the only goal in the Hampden semi-final, and Hibs were poised to take on Celtic in the decider. After the excitment of the two previous finals in which they had met, the first hour of this one was largely cat and mouse, but the key issue was Hibs were dominating midfield, where Pat Stanton was immense. It was the Hibs' skipper who broke the deadlock on the hour, taking a chipped free kick from Edwards and driving home, and minutes later flighting a perfect cross for O'Rourke to head home at the near post. Celtic's Billy McNeil knew little about his block off the line from Alan Gordon, and Stanton hit the post as Hibs' tried to finish it off, but although the only further score came from Kenny Dalglish to make it 2-1, Hibs had won well. Hibs were also cruising in Europe, having beaten Besa from Albania, who had lost 7-1 goals at Easter Road in a complete mismatch, with O'Rourke getting a hat-trick. The second round was tougher, against Sporting Lisbon, and dispite one of their best performances in their first appearence in a purple strip, Hibs lost 2-1 in Portugal. They struggled in the first half at Easter Road to break down a very competent-looking defence, and at half-time were only level at one apiece, having lost the important away goal. The second half was a different story, with another five goals down the slope, including a thunderbolt from Brownlie which went in off the post. Jimmy O'Rourke had another hat-trick, one of six he would score that season. Going into the festive season, Hibs were going strong in the league, and scored eight goals against Ayr United when thye displayed the League Cup, and then for once were dissapointed with a draw at Parkhead when awin against Celtic was expected. So they remained two points behind Celtic at the turn of the year, and when the Old Firm Celtic/Rangers clash was cancelled they had the chance of going top - if they could beat Hearts at Tynecastle by six goals, a feat that seemed scarcely believable as Hearts had conceeded only three goals at home all season, or 13 and a half hours of football, and yet Hibs needed six in ninety minutes. It seemed inprobable, but they went one better. For a full match report, click here. However, after the game, suddenly that was that. Hibs season fell away in dramatic style. The following week, when playing East Fife at Easter Road, John Brownlie broke his leg and was out for a year, and Alex Edwards obtained a booking that gave him an eight week suspension for accumulated misdoings. The following game, Hibs lost dissapointingly at Tannadice. Hibs league challenge faltered, and crashed out of the Cup Winner's Cup, a competion that could and indeed should have won, to Croatian side Hajduk Split, after losing 3-0 in Croatia, dispite taking a 4-2 lead from Edinburgh. Hibs' end of season woe continued, losing in the Cup to Rangers, after seeming to have done the hard bit by drawing at Ibrox. However, it is wrong to give the impression that the 0-7 game had a negative effect on Hibs, far from it. It represented one of Hibernian's finest ever teams at their peak, and the ultimate representation of how skillfull, flowing football will always beat the typical "punt up the park", which was the norm at the time.As long as supporters start up the cry of "Oh wev'e played in South Morroco....." the legend of Hearts 0 Hibs 7 lwill live on. |