Source: Team_Talk
Jefferies sees derby justice
Jim Jefferies revealed his Hearts side were spurred on by a burning sense of injustice after they came from behind to win 2-1 at Hibernian.[LNB] The Jambos stole the final Edinburgh derby of the season on Saturday to keep their faint European hopes alive.[LNB]Hibs looked set to apply the coup de grace to the Jambos' Europa League ambitions when Anthony Stokes netted his 22nd goal of the season from the penalty spot early in the second half.[LNB]But visiting boss Jefferies produced two inspired substitutions in Calum Elliot and Suso Santana, the latter levelling 18 minutes from time before David Obua's 89th-minute winner saw Hearts close to within three Scottish Premier League points of their arch-rivals with two games remaining.[LNB]Jefferies accused referee Dougie McDonald of jumping the gun by pointing to the spot when John Rankin went down under a challenge from Marius Zaliukas.[LNB]"It was a very, very soft award," he said. "For a game that tight, you've got to be 100%, and he never hesitated for a minute.[LNB]"I was worried about that before the game."[LNB]Admitting his players were fired up by the decision, he added: "The good thing for me is that they didn't go and feel sorry for themselves."[LNB]Desire was one of several factors that led to Hearts' comeback, another being Jefferies' substitutions.[LNB]"I went virtually 4-2-4 the last half-hour," he said.[LNB]"It came up trumps for us because Suso's chipped in with a goal.[LNB]"But you've got to say the other substitute made a contribution as well, because Calum Elliot had a really good spell when he came on."[LNB]Jefferies was "raging" with his side after last weekend's defeat to Motherwell but hailed their "desire" here.[LNB]He insisted Hibs, who are in freefall after losing their last six matches, remain favourites to finish fifth and seal a possible European spot.[LNB]He added: "A lot of fans out there would probably rather take a win here today on their patch than go for Europe.[LNB]"The fact that we've done both today has given ourselves an outside chance."[LNB]Michael Stewart was axed from the Hearts squad today, fuelling speculation he has played his last game for the club.[LNB]Jefferies revealed he had a bust-up with the out-of-contract midfielder after stripping him of the captaincy before, and substituting him during, the Motherwell game.[LNB]"Something happened last week after he was substituted that I wasn't happy about," said Jefferies, who insisted Stewart could yet return for the final two matches of the season.[LNB]"Nobody's taken the captaincy away from him.[LNB]"He wasn't made captain for that day but the reaction I got after it shouldn't have happened.[LNB]"If anybody thinks that they can get away with anything, I can tell them that they won't."[LNB]It is now Hibs who are sweating on Europe, having thrown away what appeared a certain third place, as well as an 18-point lead over Hearts.[LNB]Manager John Hughes accused his side of cowardice after they took the lead as they crashed to a sixth successive defeat, their worst run for 13 years.[LNB]"I think it scared us and I think we were scared to go and win the game," he said.[LNB]"We sat back too deep, we stopped the things that we were doing the first half. When you do that, it's a recipe for trouble."[LNB]He added: "We never got hold of the football second half. Nobody put their foot on it, nobody influenced it, and we didn't pass it enough, so the inevitable happened."[LNB]Hughes blasted the manner of Hearts' two goals, which both included what appeared to be errors from Graeme Smith.[LNB]The goalkeeper himself was reluctant to blame the Easter Road pitch after seeing team-mate Derek Riordan fined recently for doing just that.[LNB]"A couple of lads say it took a nasty bounce, but I'm not saying anything," he said.[LNB]There was more bad news for Hibs when Hughes revealed captain Chris Hogg may have broken his wrist during the second half.
