Hearts 0-0 Hibernian: Edinburgh derby ends goalless after Oliver Shaw 'goal' not given

Hearts and Hibernian played out a goalless draw in Wednesday's Edinburgh derby after an Oliver Shaw shot that appeared to be over the line was not ruled a goal.

The incident came in the ninth minute and was the closest either side really came to breaking the deadlock, but despite replays showing the whole of the ball did cross the line, the assistant referee could not judge it in real time and the effort was not given.

There were half chances at either end for the remainder of the game, but the sides were mostly evenly matched with Hearts now extending their recent unbeaten run to nine Scottish Premiership games.

Hibernian remain above their Edinburgh rivals in the table by one place and five points after the points were shared at Tynecastle.

It was a fast start and Hearts had the first chance of the game in the sixth minute as Esmael Goncalves got away down the right flank before putting a cross into the box. It found Jamie Walker and, after receiving the ball back from Manuel Milinkovic, his curling effort just went over the crossbar.

Hibernian should have gone ahead three minutes later as Shaw chipped an effort onto the underside of the crossbar that appeared to bounce down over the goal line before Hearts 'keeper Jon McLaughlin collected the ball. However, the officials did not flag for the goal to stand, much to Hibs' dismay, and with no goal-line technology in use, the decision could not be overturned.

While Neil Lennon's side dominated much of the first-half possession, they struggled to create many other clear-cut chances with a number of their forward players being flagged for offside, while Hearts saw little of their attacking end.

But the hosts came racing out of the traps in the second period and had their best chance of the game in the 50th minute. Walker flashed an inviting cross into the box but Lafferty could only slash at the ball as it ran past him, with Lewis Stevenson doing well to see it out past the back post.

Martin Boyle twice came close for Hibernian as the clock struck the hour mark, with a cleared corner finding him at the edge of the box but he could only lift his effort over the bar before he flashed another shot low past the upright not long after.

And it was the visitors who could also have nicked a late goal in the 80th minute too as Anthony Stokes delivered a corner that was unconvincingly punched away by McLaughlin, landing at the shins of Paul Hanlon but the pace of the ball meant he could not direct it into the net as the game ended scoreless.

Man of the match - John McGinn

It seemed as if McGinn was involved in every move for Hibernian, whether offensive or defensive, and was pulling all of the strings for the visitors as well as getting involved with a scrappy, tackling game in the middle of the park.

He also delivered some good set-pieces although they could not be converted, but his work rate in the derby could not be questioned.

What's next?

Both sides are next in action on Saturday with a 3pm kick-off as Hearts travel to Aberdeen and Hibernian welcome Kilmarnock.