When Russell Latapy scored a quite wonderful goal to take Hibs tally to six, all those memories of New Years Day 1973 must have come rushing back for Hearts manager, Jim Jeffries, who played in defence that day as Hearts crashed 7-0. The Hibees fans made sure he remembered by chanting, ‘we want seven’, right up to the final whistle.

This was a crushing victory. Make no mistake about that. Hearts may have scored two goals but the gulf in class between the sides was vast. Hibernian were in control throughout, played with real passion and at times were sublime to watch. Hearts were abject, could not make two passes, and had it not been for a great performance from Antii Niemi, could have conceded ten goals.

The Hearts fans may have had a vision of what was to come as there were plenty of spare seats in the away end at the beginning of this match. There were a lot more empty seats by the end as only a few hundred hardy souls could stand watching the total humiliation of their team during a second half in which Hibs ran riot.

And yet Hearts took an early advantage in this match, scoring after only five minutes when a low cross from Fulton on the left found its way to Kirk at the front post and he made no mistake. It is the type of goal that Hibs have been avoiding so well this season - a really sloppy piece of defending that Alex McLeish will not be happy about. And Hearts could have doubled their advantage when Gordon Durie robbed Gary Smith and homed in on Nick Colgan but the Hibs keeper made a good save.

After the early fright, Hibs took control of the match and throughout the first half were camped in the Hearts half with the visitors reduced to chasing and hacking the ball clear. As time wore on you could sense the feeling of injustice amongst the Hibs fans. Had we gone in trailing at half-time it would have been a travesty.

We thought we had made the breakthrough when Mixu Paatelainen had the ball in the Hearts net for the first time. He had forced a good one-handed save from Niemi and from the resulting corner, the big Finn nodded home from close range. Referee Dallas thought he had seen a push, however, and the goal was disallowed.

With only a couple of minutes left in the half, Mixu turned the game on its head scoring two goals in quick succession. The first, a close range shot after Pressley had slipped and the second a tap in from a knock down. Both scored from about two yards but both vital. Hibs could now go in having some reward for their total domination.

The one downside from that first half was an injury to Matthias Jack who limped off to be replaced by Lyndon Andrews in a straight swap.

You sometimes worry that your team, when it is on song, will lose momentum after a half-time break. Not so in this match as Hibs, who were excellent in the first half, stepped up a gear in the second and gave Hearts the most comprehensive cuffing I have ever seen.

Six minutes into the second half, David Zitelli got Hibs third and gave us that breathing space. Nice interpassing in the midfield led to Latapy slipping a ball in behind Pressley. Zitelli was on to it in an instant and even though his shot was half stopped by Niemi it still ended up in the back of the net.

Hibs were a joy to watch during this 45 minutes and at times were almost showboating. Hearts could not touch Latapy or O’Neil and they showed all their class in orchestrating much of Hibs forward moves. To be honest though, this Hibs side is so good at retaining possession with every player looking comfortable on the ball. Lyndon Andrews fitted in well and showed that he will not be overawed by playing for the first team.

The chances came thick and fast for Hibs with Paatelainen next up to score, completing a remarkable hatrick. This time it was a sweeping move with Lovell breaking down the right and swinging in a perfect cross which Mixu met first time before setting off for the now customary somersault celebration.

Easter Road was in full party mode by this time with the atmosphere reaching euphoric levels. Hibs were cutting Hearts to ribbons with the kind of quick, flowing attacking football that is a joy to watch. The boys in maroon were literally reduced to chasing shadows and lunging in to crude challenges.

Next up to score was John O’Neil. What a signing he has been. What a tremendous, consistent, energetic and clever player he is and he revelled in this Hibs performance. How coolly he took his goal as well, side stepping the outrushing Hearts defenders before firing high into the net. If ever a player deserved a goal for his performances, not just in this game, but throughout the season to date, it was John O’Neil.

Not long after this, with the Hearts fans streaming out the exits, Russell Latapy incredibly made it 6-1 to Hibs and this was probably the best goal of the lot. A quick one-two with Paatelainen let Latapy through on goal and he crashed a first time volley past Niemi and into the Hearts net.

This scoreline in no way flattered Hibs. Niemi, during this half, saved the Tynecastle men on several occasions. I can remember at least three one-on-ones: with Latapy, Zitelli and Lovell. The Finnish keeper saved each time as well as making countless other interceptions. He was the one Hearts player who could hold hid head up after this game.

The chants of, ‘we want seven,’ continued but with nearly the last kick of the match it was Hearts who snatched another goal. Colin Cameron pouncing on a loose ball and firing across Colgan into the Hibs net for a goal that Hearts little deserved.

This minor interruption could not dampen the atmosphere that had built up around the ground and that continued as the final whistle went and the routed Hearts team and support beat a hasty exit. The Hibs players stayed on the pitch taking the tumultuous applause from the stands for several minutes. It was a night I will never forget. It goes down in my list of treasured memories.

There were twelve men of the match for Hibernian but if I were to single out one player it would be big Mixu. What a night he had. He left the field clutching the match ball after a fantastic performance.

Hibs Team 3-5-2

Subs not used : Franks, Bannerman, Murray, Lehmann