Giant curiosity Hibs finally liberated from the sucker punch

Hibernian, for once, avoid late heartbreak to set up League Cup final with Rangers, writes Tom English. As time ticked on at Hampden, you waited for the Hearts kick to the Hibs solar plexus, the late sickener that became such a huge theme in their clashes last season. Were Hibs, bottom of the league and incapable of buying a win in recent weeks, really about to beat their city rivals at Hampden for the first time ever? Really? There were 10 minutes between Hibs and a League Cup final against Rangers, but 10 minutes can be an eternity between these two. Five minutes left to play now and Hibs still holding a 2-1 lead, but recent history tells us that even five minutes is plenty of time for everything to turn on its head.

Late, late plot twists and late, late Hearts victories came in minutes 86, 88 and 90 in three different Edinburgh derbies last season – all in Hearts' favour, all dropping Hibs to their knees in angst. Now we enter sniper's alley; two minutes left and Hearts pushing hard. Hibs edge Hearts in thrilling derby to reach League Cup final Jordi Altena's delivery from the right finds Claudio Braga, one of the chief dangermen in maroon left all on his lonesome a few yards from goal. Braga's