New Year Fireworks in Explosive Edinburgh Derby

The first half was a slow burner as chances were few and far between despite Hearts making five changes to their starting line-up following a 0-0 draw in Aberdeen. O’Connor and new signing Doyle had to be content with a place on the bench for Hibs as Griffiths, Galbraith and Sproule all started as an attacking trio for Hibs.

The first chance fell to Hibs as they pressed on looking for an early goal. Griffiths rolled the ball into the path of Galbraith who hit a tame shot well wide of the upright.

The fast pace of the derby brought about two early bookings for Hibs as both teams struggled to keep up with the rate play and make a serious mark on proceedings.

Templeton had the first real effort on goal as he drifted past the already booked Hanlon and onto his stronger foot and unleashed an effort which hit the post. His firm driven effort had beaten Stack and cannoned out of play off the post as Hearts began to seriously threaten.

And it was right up the other end as Griffiths and Webster battled for the ball in the Hearts box. Webster was fortunate to get away with a clear foul on Griffiths as he held onto his shirt as the striker hit the deck. The referee Callum Murray however waved away the penalty appeals.

Griffiths then headed wide of the target as Hearts advanced up the pitch. Stephen Elliot found some space on the right hand side of the pitch and pressed on into the Hibs box and cut the ball across for Taouil to have a strike at goal. His effort was however sliced high and wide, and that was to be his last contribution as he left the field with an injury to be replaced by Driver.

The next contribution Hibs made was a negative one. Booth laid on a poor pass back to Stack in the goals which the onrushing Elliot knocked past the Hibs stopper who clumsily fouled the striker as Hearts won a penalty. The responsibility lay on the shoulders of Ian Black to open the scoring from the spot.

His effort was well saved by the goalie who was atoning for his foul. The Hearts midfielder looked to place the ball but Stack was alert and beat it away as the half ended with the deadlock still looking to be broken.

As the second half kicked off Hibs were the brighter of the two sides and early on Galbraith fired his effort well wide in an almost identical situation as with his effort in the first half.

Ian Black looked to make amends for his penalty miss as his effort on goal almost caught Stack out. The goalkeeper pulled off a terrific save as the well struck shot looked to be goal-bound from the Hearts midfielder.

It was Hearts who took the lead as McGowan nodded home from 2 yards out. A corner was whipped into the box and Stack saved a header from Webster with McGowan on hand to finish off the job.There were however doubts as to whether the goal should have stood as Elliot was standing in an offside position and interfering with play by blocking the vision of Stack.

Hibs did not dwell and within 30 seconds were back on terms with their rivals. Ivan Sproule’s driving run and cross-field pass found Galbraith who played in a vicious ball with a lot of pace which Zaliukas knocked into his own net.

Ivan Sproule continued to pressure the Hearts defence as he managed to beat three defenders and hit a low cross into the box along the six yard line. Martin Scott was lingering and should have got a touch on the ball as Hibs began to get a real foothold in the game.

Another major talking point was the clash between McGowan and Sproule. The Northern Irishman let his control go as he fouled the young defender who in turn head-butted the Hibs winger in the stomach. Despite Sproule making a meal of the clash the Hearts defender should have been sent off for violent conduct and Sproule booked for such an unnecessary foul. It will come down to the compliance officer to decide in restrospect whether or not to deal with the incident.

Galbraith had two more efforts on goal, the first from a 25 yard free-kick which was blocked by the Hearts wall and his second effort was hammered wide of the target.

Ian Black had a further effort on goal as his strike fizzed just over the bar as Hearts began to slowly tighten the screw and gain the ascendcy in the hotly contested derby match.

Ryan McGowan made an incisive run and was tackled in a dangerous position which in the process won Hearts a throw-in. And it was the defender who threw the ball back into play and from here is where Hearts went for the jugular.

Hearts finally made their pressure pay as Webster fired home in the 83rd minute following a neat lay- off from John Sutton. The Hibs defence failed to deal with the ball as it bobbled about in the box and Sutton used his physical presence to hold off a timid challenge as the napping Hibs defence failed to pick up Andy Webster who lashed his effort into the bottom corner leaving the impressive looking Stack helpless.

Pat Fenlon gambled and threw on O’Connor and new signing Doyle with just over five minutes of the game left and all any could muster was a timid appeal for a penalty as O’Connor believe Mrowiec handled the ball in the box despite it coming off his midriff.

With Hibs going forward gaps were left in the defence. Ian Black picked out Andy Driver who was in acres of space on the left-wing. The Hearts winger hit his shot on goal which O’Hanlon got back to clear off the line as Hearts looked set to take the victory and increase their advantage.

The Hibs defence was static as the substitute Skacel managed to make his way forward and into space. With enough time to take a touch an unstoppable and crisp effort had Stack beaten all ends up as it hit the back of the net to make it 3-1 for Hearts.

Hearts continued an impressive run of form and are now unbeaten in four games as Fenlon still looks to win his first as Hibs manager.

And with that game finished Hearts are now unbeaten in nine capital derby matches and sent their fans wild at Easter Road as they continued their march up the league table leaving Hibs staring into the dark abyss of a potential relegation battle.

Hibernian: Stack, Booth, Hanlon, O’Hanlon, Murray, Galbraith (O’Connor 85), Scott (Doyle 86), Stevenson, Sproule, Palsson, Griffiths. Unused Subs: Brown, Hart, Stephens, Towell, Wotherspoon.

Hearts: Kello, Webster, McGowan, Zaliukas, Hamill, Black, Templeton (Skacel 74), Taouil (Driver 25), Mrowiec, Elliott, Robinson (Sutton 61). Unused Subs: MacDonald, Barr, Novikovas, Hamilton.

Attendance: 15,013