Glory Days: Hearts send Leipzig loko

FANS have debated it for years – now it's your chance to help us decide once and for all.

Which is the greatest game your team has ever played?

Each day this week, we'll be looking back at classic matches involving Hearts and Hibs, selected by the Evening News. We'll recall all the action and speak to stars of the games.

Once all five match choices have been revealed, we'll print details of how you can vote for your team's most memorable match. Did your proudest moment come during a glorious Cup final victory? Or did a thumping derby win bring you more joy?

The choice is yours.

Once all the votes are in, we'll reveal which two games are considered the greatest by you the fans.

And all readers who vote will enter a prize draw to win either a new Hearts or Hibs shirt signed by the current team.

HEARTS 5, LOKOMOTIVE LEIPZIG 1
European Cup Winners Cup, first round
September 29, 1976
HAVING lost the first leg of this tie 2-0 in the then East Germany, Hearts effected a quite mesmerising demolition of Lokomotive Leipzig at Tynecastle in the return match with their most emphatic European victory.

The now-defunct European Cup Winners' Cup could scarcely have witnessed two more contrasting matches than the first and second legs, but a 5-1 victory on home soil saw John Hagart's side progress on a 5-3 aggregate scoreline.

Thanks to goals from Roy Kay, Willie Gibson (2), Jim Brown and Drew Busby, the hosts overwhelmed their opponents with a sparkling performance on a night that epitomised Tynecastle's unique atmosphere.

Indeed, the match stands alone in the eyes of many as Hearts' finest display in continental competition.

"Everything went right for us that night, everybody was up for it and chasing glory and we got some. It was certainly the best European game of my time at Hearts," said Busby. "It was a midweek game under floodlights, the crowd was electric and made for a frightening atmosphere.

"Their stadium was a big open place with a poor atmosphere. Their players came to Tynecastle and were clearly affected by the noise and the tight crowd around the pitch.

"We had actually got off lightly in the first leg because we were 2-0 down after ten minutes and then they missed a penalty.

"Their centre forward was an Olympic sprinter and we never knew beforehand that this guy could run like a deer. That gave them the advantage over there but at a packed Tynecastle they were a different side." The first goal arrived on 13 minutes when Rab Prentice lobbed the ball inside to Kay for a low finish, and Hearts were 2-0 ahead shortly before the half-hour when Gibson deflected Kenny Aird's shot away from the German goalkeeper.

Lokomotive scored through Joachim Fritsche four minutes from the interval and were reinvigorated until the closing stages of the game, when Hearts scored three goals inside 11 breathtaking minutes.

Jim Brown sprinted inside from the right flank and his deceptive lob curled into the net. Within 60 seconds, Busby nodded home the fourth to put Hearts ahead on aggregate for the first time in the tie.

Five minutes from time, a powerful drive across goal from Busby was converted by the head of Gibson, securing a momentous triumph for the Edinburgh side.

"I met Gary Mackay recently and he showed me a Hearts book that had pictures of that night," said Busby.

"One of them showed John Hagart on the bench at full-time and you could see the celebrations taking place. That game is one of my best memories."

Hearts: Cruickshank, Brown, Kay, Callachan, Gallacher, Clunie, Aird, Busby, Gibson, Park, Prentice. Subs: Shaw, Jefferies.