Match Report: Hearts 1-2 Hibs
26 December 2024Hearts were defeated 2-1 by Hibs in the Boxing Day derby at Tynecastle Park.
Two own goals in the first half for both teams, from Kye Rowles and Rocky Bushiri, set the stage for Dwight Gayle to grab a second half-winner as Hibs claimed all three points.
Neil Critchley made two changes from the side that defeated St Johnstone at the weekend as Beni Baningime returned from injury and Craig Halkett slotted back into the defence as Adam Forrester and Malachi Boateng dropped to the bench.
In a typically frantic start to the derby, Hearts registered the first chance inside the opening minute as Musa steered a header wide of Jordan Smith's goal after a lovely chopped delivery from James Penrice on the left.
The Jambos then survived a big scare after eight minutes, VAR checking for a possible Hibs penalty after Kye Rowles was suspected of handling in the box, but nothing was to come of it.
Moments later, Hibs took the lead. From the corner, Rowles inadvertently steered the ball into his own net. Following another lengthy VAR check, amid suspicion of Rocky Bushiri being offside, the goal stood as the visitors went 1-0 ahead.
Hibs were in control for much of the first half, enjoying a direct approach that brought them closer and closer to Hearts' goal. With 28 minutes on the clock, Craig Gordon produced a fine save to tip a bullet header from Josh Campbell away from the top corner.
Going into first-half stoppage time, the Jam Tarts clawed their way back into the game. The ball fell kindly to Lawrence Shankland inside the Hibs area, with his downwards header swept into his own net by Rocky Bushiri.
HT: Heart of Midlothian 1-1 Hibernian
The game looked more even as action resumed, with Hearts forcing two saves from Smith; a deflected Oyegoke strike presenting the first chance, before a Shankland effort went straight into the gloves.
Hibs went forward too, with Gordon called into action once again after 70 minutes to deny substitute Dwight Gayle's header from close range. In truth, neither side dominated the second half with the game settling into a rhythm.
With legs starting to tire, Hibs took the lead once again. Nicky Cadden's low cross from the left picked out Dwight Gayle, who showed composure to flick the ball towards goal and beyond the reach of Gordon.
Hearts: Gordon, Halkett (Boyce 82'), Oyegoke, Baningime (Boateng 77'), Shankland ©, Devlin, Rowles, Spittal (Dhanda 69'), Wilson, Penrice, Musa (Vargas 77')
Subs: Clark, Grant, Forrest, Boateng, Dhanda, Boyce, Forrester, Vargas, Salazar
Hibernian: Smith, O'Hora (Miller 75'), Youan (Kwon 67'), Boyle, Newell (c) (Gayle 67'), C. Cadden, Iredale, N. Cadden (Obita 84'), Triantis, Campbell, Bushiri
Subs: Bursik, Miller, Levitt, Amos, Kwon, Obita, Moriah-Welsh, Hoilett, Gayle