Former Hearts player and manager Sandy Clark reckons the passion surrounding Sunday’s capital derby will just be as strong despite it taking place in the Championship.
The sold-out Tynecastle clash is live on Sky Sports, kick-off 12.30pm, and Clark said: “When I joined Hearts in 1984 they had actually been a First Division side the year before. Hibs were in the First Division in 1980 and were also relegated towards the end of the 1990s so it is not unheard of for either side to be outside the top flight.
“That can happen to most clubs but what is new of course this season is that both sides came down and that is pretty incredible.”
“Hearts are there by default, if you wish, due to off-field issues whereas Hibs are there through a poor run of games that was well-documented throughout the second half of last season. That will all be forgotten about and I would imagine this will be a cracker of a game.”
Clark, who started his career at Airdrie and had spells with West Ham United and Rangers before becoming a Hearts player for a five-year spell in 1984, added: “The two Edinburgh clubs might be in the Championship but the passion will be the same.
“Tynecastle is a great venue and the Hearts fans last Sunday at Ibrox were amazing as they always are. They gave their team tremendous backing and appreciated their efforts come the end of the game.
“The Hibs fans are behind Alan Stubbs as he appears to have the club going in the right direction. They will be optimistic about the season ahead and this has the makings of a great spectacle.
“Having these two sides in the Championship, along with Rangers, means that you can easily describe it as the best league in the country at the moment.
“Tactically last week against Rangers I thought that Robbie Neilson had them prepared well as Hearts were excellent. The big lad who scored the winner, Osman Sow, really impressed me and they were strong defensively.
“If they were troubled at the back, Neil Alexander calmed things down and he was having a great game until he was injured. Even that did not really hurt Hearts as Scott Gallacher is a good young goalkeeper.
“In front of them the defence looked solid and, while Danny Wilson is only a young lad, he played a captain’s role.”
As for this weekend, Clark said: “My heart tells me my old club will win but I think that it will be a really close affair.”
Hibernian go into the game on the back of a 2-1 win over Livingston in their opening Championship fixture, with keeper Mark Oxley scoring one of the goals.
Craig Stewart
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