Graham Stack has lavished praise on Hibernian team-mate David Wotherspoon after the 17-year-old helped him keep a clean sheet on both their Edinburgh derby debuts.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Stack and Wotherspoon were two of five Hibs players handed their first taste of the fixture in Saturday's goalless Clydesdale Bank Premier League draw at Tynecastle. Nominally a midfielder, Wotherspoon has been fast-tracked into a right-back role from the all-conquering under-19 squad this season.

Stack said: "I thought he did excellently. The writing was on the wall when Driver went over to the other side; it speaks volumes for someone playing out of position, playing against someone who is being touted around at the moment as possibly part of the Scotland squad."

He added: "He got taken off at Ibrox a couple of weeks ago but he's shown a lot of character and came back and did extremely well."

Hearts dominated for much of what was a poor spectacle yesterday, mainly bombarding their arch-rivals from a succession of corners and long throw-ins.

But the goal-shy Jambos failed to once seriously test Stack, thanks in part to Wotherspoon and his defensive cohorts.

And the teenager almost inspired a smash-and-grab victory when he burst forward and unleashed a 25-yard shot that clipped the head of team-mate Colin Nish and forced a superb save on to the post from Janos Balogh.

Stack, who described his first Edinburgh derby experience as "great", applauded the performance of the entire back four, adding: "I dread to think how many corners we gave away during the game.

"We're not the biggest side either.

"They had a big side, a physical side, with the long throw as well - that can sometimes cause a problem. But I think we nullified that."