Ryan Stevenson branded disrespectful by Hibs legend as Hearts hero hit with 'foolish and premature' reminder

Graham Mitchell believes Record Sport's Ryan Stevenson has scored the biggest own-goal since Craig Levein claimed to have restored natural order at Hearts.

The Easter Road legend has hit back at the former Gorgie star for claiming the Jambos are now bigger than Sunday’s Edinburgh derby and believes the comment will bite him on the backside just as it did with the ex-Tynecastle boss. Stevenson also insists Robbie Neilson's side are on a different level from their city rivals and should routinely be taking care of a team which finished bottom six last term ahead of Sunday's first collision of the season in Leith.

Levein claimed Hearts had restored "natural order" when they beat Hibs for the first time in 10 games in the Scottish Cup in January 2018 before Neil Lennon's led Hibees moved 12 points above them in the Premiership by March. Mitchell is adamant Stevenson's wide of the mark by insisting Hearts, 'are on a different level from Hibs and has lit the fuse for a fixture which is always too close to call.

He said: "The last person who made a silly remark about the derby was Craig Levein and it came straight back to bite him on the bum. When he said natural order had been restored after Hearts beat Hibs a few years ago, I remember thinking how foolish and premature it sounded. Hibs went on a run and won game after game and moved well ahead of Hearts and Craig was left to regret that statement but he's the last one I remember to show that type of lack of respect.

"If Ryan feels that Hearts are so far ahead that the derby is now less of a fixture in his eyes then fair enough, that's not a problem but these comments do tend to come back to haunt you.

"It may prove to be the case that he's come out and said that far too