Heart of Midlothian 0-0 Hibernian
- Published
Oli Shaw's seventh-minute effort was incorrectly disallowed as Hearts and Hibernian contested a tumultuous but goalless Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle.
The Hibs striker struck the underside of the crossbar, the ball landing over the line and bouncing clear.
Kyle Lafferty scuffed wide a glorious Hearts chance from six yards five minutes into the second half.
And Hearts were denied a late penalty when Lewis Stevenson appeared to control a free-kick with his right arm.
Craig Levein's men are now unbeaten in eight matches, while Hibs have not lost to their rivals in nine encounters.
The Easter Road side remain fourth in the Scottish Premiership, but lost ground on second-placed Aberdeen and third-placed Rangers, both of whom recorded home wins on Wednesday.
Oli Shaw's seventh-minute effort crossed the goalline via the bar, but was not awarded by the officials
The strength of the hosts' defence has been a critical feature in their unbeaten run. Hearts had not conceded a goal in six hours coming into this derby and had conceded only once in nine hours. It was a record to be proud of, but it was also a record that should have been over just seven minutes into the game.
The 'goal that wasn't' started in the middle of the pitch with John McGinn, one of the few players who brought composure amid the madness. McGinn swept it out to the right to Martin Boyle, who picked out Shaw running to the near post. Shaw met it first time, his shot slapping down off the underside of the crossbar and crossing the line by enough inches for it to be obvious to most that the goal was good.
Steven McLean, the referee, and his officials didn't see it that way. To the astonishment of Neil Lennon and his players, it wasn't given. An awful error. For Levein, it was the luckiest of lucky breaks.
This was a terrific occasion, but the football, as is so often the case, didn't measure up to the atmosphere. It was fractious stuff. Tough, but rarely attractive. Intense, but only occasionally incisive. Hibs had the better of the opening half, constantly threatening to undo Hearts' offside trap with runners in behind but never quite managing to pull if off.
Hearts had three men in the book by the end of the half, but they didn't cede much else to Hibs. The visitors might have had most possession, but Hearts goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin was hardly living in fear through it all. If Lennon's side needs one thing it's a penalty-box goalscorer, an established poacher to turn their good stuff into goals.
Proper chances were thin on the ground, but Hearts created one just after the restart when Jamie Walker went by Efe Ambrose down the left and squared for Lafferty. The big striker took a swing at it and miscued it wide. In a game of so few opportunities that was a considerable one. The way Lafferty reacted to the miss suggested that he knew he should have done a whole lot better.
Hearts striker Kyle Lafferty scuffed an effort wide just after the restart
Hibs had one of their own 10 minutes from the end when McLaughlin tipped a corner into the path of the onrushing Paul Hanlon, who could not readjust in time to direct his effort goalwards when he ought to have hit the target.
There was one more moment. In added time, Stevenson looked to have used an arm to deflect away a Hearts cross. The home fans rose as one in calling for a penalty, but again it wasn't given. Another escape.
Hearts weren't within screaming distance of their extraordinary performance in victory against Celtic, but they had enough organisation and physicality to shut down their rivals. Hibs huffed and puffed and met a defence that had too much for them.
This meeting of the Edinburgh rivals had little football quality
In what was a forgettable night, that phantom Shaw goal will be thing that brings out the fury of the Hibs fans. Hearts will points to that late shout for a penalty. The game lacked quality, but not controversy.