Hibernian 2-2 Hearts

Hibs went in front early when striker Garry O'Connor swept home a low Scott Brown cross from close range.

But Hearts hit back with Lee Miller crashing in powerful strike after good work from Mark Burchill.

Hibs regained the lead in the second half when Derek Riordan thundered in a wonderful shot but Webster nodded the ball in after 88 minutes.

The home side stay third in the table but Aberdeen, who won at Motherwell, have closed the gap to two points in the race for a Uefa Cup place.

Hearts remain eight points behind their city rivals and will find it hard to make up ground in the four remaining games.

Hibs looked eager to make amends after last week's surprise loss to Livingston and started the game in a very positive fashion.

Hearts were pinned back and found themselves trailing after just eight minutes.

A Riordan corner was cleared as far as Scott Brown on the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder quickly slipped the ball back between Hearts defenders, allowing O'Connor to slide in and force it into the net.

The visitors came close to an equaliser soon after when Burchill headed a Paul Hartley free kick against the base of the post.

But Miller had the ball in the net on 23 minutes after a neat flick from Burchill was met by the striker and lashed high into the net from a tight angle.

Webster almost put his side in front a minute later but his header was well saved by Simon Brown.

Hibs appeared stunned by the Hearts comeback and completely lost their way, giving the ball away cheaply and losing out in every midfield challenge.

Tony Mowbray's side survived a sticky spell and thought they had regained the lead three minutes before half-time when Gary Caldwell rose to meet a Riordan corner.

The Scotland defender's header was thumped clear by a Hearts player, with the home team protesting that the ball had crossed the goal-line.

Striker Amadou Konte, making his first start for Hibs, did well to create space for a shot early in the second half but his poked effort was tipped wide by Gordon.

From the resulting corner, Konte diverted in a Dean Shiels shot but the linesman's flag cut short the home fans' celebrations.

Gordon then had to make another great save to stop Riordan's powerful shot across goal.

However, the Scotland 'keeper had no answer to Riordan's next effort.

The young forward cut in from the left flank after 63 minutes and thundered the ball inside the far post from the edge of the penalty area.

Riordan created an almost identical chance minutes later, but this time Gordon was able to stop the shot.

Hibs had a lucky escape when keeper Brown put the ball down to kick it clear without noticing Miller behind him.

The Hearts striker nipped in to steal the ball and Brown appeared to impede the opponent who had embarrassed him.

However, referee Mike McCurry did not see any infringement and the ball was cleared.

Hibs were punished for not making the most of their second half chances when a Hartley free kick was forced in by Webster.

Hibernian: Simon Brown, Whittaker, Caldwell, Smith, Glass, Shiels, Scott Brown, Antonio Murray, Riordan, Konte (Fletcher 82), O'Connor (Morrow 72). Subs Not Used: Alistair Brown, Hogg, McCluskey, McDonald, Sproule.

Booked: Scott Brown. Goals: O'Connor 8, Riordan 63.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Webster, Pressley, Wallace, Hamill, MacFarlane (Simmons 85), Hartley, Mikoliunas (Cesnauskis 70), Burchill, Miller. Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Wyness, Berra, Stewart, Sives.

Booked: Miller, Hartley, Simmons. Goals: Miller 23, Webster 88.

Att: 16,620

Ref: M McCurry

Taken from the BBC