John Robertson is nicknamed ‘the Hammer of the Hibs’.
The Hearts legend played in an era when the Jambos had complete domination over their rivals and famously went unbeaten for 22 derbies in a row.
The little goal poacher scored a record 27 goals in the fixture and has always said that was because he was on the path for vengeance after the Hibees pulled out of a deal to sign him when he was a youngster.
That earned him the moniker and also his status as a true Tynecastle legend.
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Hearts legend John Robertson on Hibs derby trait
A veteran of the fixture and someone who has an unquestionable record in them, Robertson knows a thing or two about what it takes to win.
The former Inverness Caley boss says he and his teammates always knew that if they scored first they’d win the game. And on the flip side if they conceded first, there was always the belief they’d get back into it.
And, speaking ahead of yesterday’s 1-1 draw, he talked about a trait of Hibs fans to start panicking towards the end of a game if the were either drawing or held a slender lead and Hearts could get back into it.
Eerily, it turned out to be an accurate description of what happened on the day as 17-year-old James Wilson did his best Robbo impression to rescue a draw on 87 minutes.
Speaking on The Warm-Up, Robertson said: “Our mentality at the time was that Hibs could not beat us if we scored first.
“And even if we didn’t score first, the mentality was that we’ll get a goal.
“It’s funny because if there’s one trait that remains in the derbies to this day, is when it goes to the death of the game, and it happened last year with Shankland, Hibs fans panic.
“With five minutes to go, if it’s all square and they’ve been the better team, of they’re a goal ahead and they’ve been the better team, they always start going ‘oh no, oh no, it’s coming, it’s coming and they go quiet.
“And that’s when the Hibs fans need to get behind their team and see it through but they can’t because they think ‘we’ve seen this movie too many times’.
Hibs record against Hearts
Robertson was proved right and there have been other recent examples with Lawrence Shankland striking a brilliant late winner at Easter Road last season.
Hearts enjoy the superior all-time record in the fixture and also in more recent times.
Of the last 15 games between the sides, the Leith men have just one win with their rivals taking seven and a further seven ending in draws.