Mowbray's revitalised Hibs in good heart ahead of the derby

EDINBURGH derby matches are much-anticipated affairs at the best of times. The fact that Hibs are closing up to the bumper of Hearts this season suggests that next Sunday's encounter could be a classic.

The Tynecastle side have been head and shoulders above their Easter Road counterparts in recent years, but under Tony Mowbray the balance of power may be about to swing back.

He has managed to harness the energies of his youngsters in a positive manner and his central defensive partnership of Ian Murray and Gary

Caldwell looks solid. Up front Garry O'Connor is playing to his potential at last, while Derek Riordan is his perfect foil.

Against Dundee United, Mowbray's team was rarely troubled and when Steven Fletcher scored in 55 minutes, to complement a first-half strike by O'Connor, Hibs were home and hosed.

The Leith club have now gone eight games undefeated, which is excellent news for Mowbray, who was straight out of Easter Road on Saturday evening to see his wife, Amber, and his new baby, Lucas.

''It's been a perfect week,'' said Mowbray, whose son is healthy despite being born premature.

However, it has been a less than perfect start to the season for Ian McCall, the United manager, whose side have lost their last four games. There is a spark missing from his team, and the fact they missed two great opportunities was a major worry, especially as the defence continues to leak goals. United are struggling in two of three key areas and will need to start turning things around soon.

Grant Brebner, the former Hibs player, has been a good acquisition in the middle of the park, but those around him are lacking in confidence.

''Hibs are playing very well at the moment and have a lot of potential for the future,'' said Brebner. ''Dundee United are a team for the here and now. We have good players, older guys, and we should be doing better and picking up more points.''

From a Hibs perspective, the fluency which they are playing with is delighting Mowbray, as well as the more experienced players, like Caldwell. The

victory was a timely boost for the defender after the blow of two poor results playing for Scotland and Caldwell hit back at critics of the national team.

''To say the current Scottish team is the worst ever is harsh and over the top,'' he said.

''I don't remember any of the great Scottish teams of the past making the later stages of a major tournament.''

The Hibs defender is gaining confidence with every match and is the calming force in a side which is starting to live up to the manager's promise of playing fluent football.

The same can't be said about United, however, and the fact that McCall took solace in the manner of this defeat, after recent humblings by Celtic and Kilmarnock, seems to suggest that the only way is up for the struggling Tannadice outfit, who currently sit second

bottom of the table.

''We started ever so well but gave away a bad first goal at a bad time and then also a bad second goal,'' said McCall.

''The manner of the defeat was different from what it has been recently and I really feel that we should have scored goals. Hibernian had a lot of possession but our goalkeeper didn't have a save to make.

''I was pleased with the application and spirit but there is a little bit of confidence lacking defensively. We have to stick together to get there.''

Sticking together is something the young Hibs team is good at and next Sunday's Edinburgh derby is one which they will be looking forward to with youthful enthusiasm.