Hibs 1-3 Heart of Midlothian
From Hearts Media at Easter Road.

Hearts produced a stylish performance as they ran out 3-1 winners over city rivals Hibs in Sunday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at Easter Road.

Hearts edged the first half and would have gone into the break on the front foot had Graham Stack not saved Ian Black's penalty late on. Ryan McGown then put the Jambos ahead in the second half, only for a Marius Zaliukas own goal to level the score a minute later.

Andy Webster then put the Jam Tarts back in front before Rudi Skacel wrapped up the win with an injury time strike.

Following the whole-sale changes made at Aberdeen in midweek, Paulo Sergio reverted to the same line-up which swept Motherwell aside at Tynecastle last Saturday.

This meant a return to the starting eleven for Jamie Hamill, Ian Black, Stephen Elliott, Mehdi Taouil and young Scott Robinson as the Jambos looked to extend their unbeaten derby record to nine games.

The game kicked off in its usual frenetic tempo and it was the hosts who registered the first chance as Leigh Griffiths picked the ball up on the edge of the box. The on-loan Wolves striker fed the ball to Danny Galbraith just inside the area but the winger's effort trickled harmlessly wide of the left post.

The Jambos then went mightily close on the fifteen minute mark thanks to some fine play down the left by David Templeton. The youngster outpaced Paul Hanlon before cutting inside the box and unleashing a low drive which clipped Graham Stack's far post.

The Gorgie side gradually began to impose themselves and were causing the Hibs back four some trouble in the wide areas. Templeton let fly from 25 yards but the ball sailed over the crossbar, before some fine link-up play between Elliott and Taouil saw the latter drag a shot wide from eight yards out.

The Moroccan then picked up a knock on 25 minutes and was duly replaced by Andrew Driver. The latter was soon in the thick of it as he latched on to a teasing ball from Robinson but the ball got away from him just as he looked to be in on goal.

Hearts looked comfortable throughout the first half, their movement in the final third enabling them to get in behind the Hibee defensive line on numerous occasions. This proved to be key shortly before half time as they were awarded a penalty after Elliott was hacked down by Stack as he bore down on goal.

As has been the norm this season , however, the Jambos were once again unable to convert from the spot as Stack dived to his right to push Ian Black's effort wide for a corner kick.

A third Hearts penalty miss in five games was to be the last incident in a half which the visitors controlled for large periods, but with little to show for their efforts.

There must have been stern words in the home dressing room during the interval, as Fenlon's men played with far greater purpose and conviction at the start of the second period.

Despite their initial dominance it was the Jambos who threatened first as Black dispatched a thumping shot from 25 yards out which forced Stack into an acrobatic save to tip the ball over for a corner.

The resulting set-piece on 57 minutes found the head of Marius Zaliukas who flicked the ball on towards the back post where an unmarked Ryan McGowan was left with the simple task of nodding the ball over the line in front of the jubilant away end.

The lead was short-lived however as Hibs levelled almost immediately. The ball was worked down to the left side of the box where Galbraith swung in an inviting cross which deflected off the boot of Zaliukas and into the roof of the net past a helpless Marian Kello.

The game burst into life at this stage with playing ebbing from end to end, Ivan Sproule going close after weaving past several Hearts defenders but his cross failed to find a green jersey.

With the game wide open, Sergio opted to bolster his attacking options as John Sutton replaced Robinson and thus enabled the Gorgie side to go with two up front as they sought to regain the lead.

The high tempo which ensued after the two quick goals eventually died down, but both sides were still threatening at every opportunity. Black burst through the middle on 70 minutes only to see his snapshot evade the upright by inches.

Skacel replaced Templeton shortly after as Hearts went all-out for the win with fifteen minutes remaining.

The attacking gamble paid off with eight minutes to go as the Jambos got themselves back in front. It started with a catapult-like throw from McGowan deep inside the Hibs half which found Sutton on five yards. The big Englishman laid the ball off for Andy Webster who calmly guided the ball into the far corner as the maroon contingent behind the goal erupted.

The home side responded by making a couple of substitutions, but it was the Jam Tarts who very nearly put the game to bed a minute later. Andrew Driver was released on the left side and found himself one on one with Stack but his finish lacked the necessary power and was cleared off the line.

As the game entered injury time, however, Hearts got their third. John Sutton raced clear down the right and squared the ball for Skacel who turned inside the box before producing a stunning volley which swerved into the right corner to effectively put the tie to bed.

Referee Calum Murray brought proceedings to an end shortly after, sparking wild celebrations in the away end as the Jambos made it nine games without defeat against their cross-city rivals.

Hibs: Stack; Palsson, Hanlon, O'Hanlon, Booth; Galbraith(O'Connor 85), Murrary, Scott(Doyle 85), Stevenson; Sproule, Griffiths. Subs not used: Brown, Hart, Wotherspoon, Stephens, Towell.

Hearts: Kello; Hamill, Zaliukas, Webster, McGowan; Black, Mrowiec, Robinson (Sutton 61), Taouil(Driver 25), Templeton(Skacel 74); Elliott. Subs not used: MacDonald, Barr, Hamilton, Novikovas.

Referee: Calum Murray

Top man: Ian Black

Hearts World