Hearts 2 Hibernian 0

Gavin McCafferty, Tynecastle

Ryan Stevenson and Andy Webster were on target as Hearts inflicted Hibernian's third consecutive league defeat to keep their rivals bottom of the table.

Hibs struggled to cope with the attacking play of Jamie Hamill and Stevenson down the right and the pair combined to open the scoring six minutes before the break.

Webster later headed Hamill's 68th-minute corner over the line despite Akpo Sodje's attempts to clear as Hearts dominated the second period.

Hearts restored their experienced players after a youthful side secured a goalless draw at Tottenham in the Europa League, with Scott Robinson and Gordon Smith spending the afternoon on the bench despite their impressive displays at White Hart Lane. Hibs handed Leigh Griffiths a debut off the bench following his loan move from Wolves.

Kick-off was delayed for several minutes as balloons and a smoke bomb were thrown from the Hibernian support.

There was little goalmouth action in a frantic first quarter. Hibernian winger Ivan Sproule was booked for a poor challenge on Danny Grainger before felling the same player with a clumsy challenge, but Craig Thomson was right to wave away calls for another card.

The action increased as the half progressed and the first decent chance fell to Garry O'Connor, who looked to have room to head home Sproule's cross but Webster recovered to challenge the striker and force him to send the header wide.

Andrew Driver quickly drew the first save when he dribbled past Towell and was handed a chance to shoot when Sproule tried to back-heel a clearance after initially stopping the winger's run, but Graham Stack got down to save at his near post.

Hearts took the lead after Hibs lost the ball deep inside their half. Matt Thornhill was dispossessed by Hamill, who exchanged passes with Ian Black and sent in a low cross that Stevenson swept home.

Thornhill almost made amends when he burst through the home defence but he could not curl the ball enough as he shot wide from 18 yards. Stevenson was booked for a hard and late tackle on Ian Murray and Hearts pressed hard for a second after the break.

Hearts' pressure soon paid off when Webster got his head to Hamill's corner and Sodje was unable to prevent the ball going over the line before clearing, with Eggert Jonsson making sure anyway by forcing home the rebound.

Thomson handed the fourth official missiles, including a coin, immediately after Kello had received treatment in front of the away support.

Hearts: Kello (MacDonald 84), Hamill, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger, Obua (Jonsson 62), Black, Mrowiec, Driver, Elliott, Stevenson (Novikovas 82). Subs: Templeton, Skacel, Gordon Smith, Robinson. Booked: Stevenson.

Hibernian: Stack, Towell, Hanlon, O'Hanlon, Booth, Sproule (Griffiths 59), Thornhill (Scott 81), Murray, Osbourne, O'Connor, Agogo (Sodje 59). Subs: Brown, Wotherspoon, Galbraith, Palsson. Booked: Sproule, Griffiths, Murray, Sodje, O'Connor.

Referee: C Thomson.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk