Hearts ensured Edinburgh bragging rights remained in Gorgie for the third game on the bounce with a 3-1 win over Hibs on Thursday night.
The Jambos were two up at the break thanks to James Wilson and Laurent Mendy goals, and although the hosts pulled one back through Adam Mayor, the boys in maroon added a third with Josh McPake’s stunning solo strike to leave Easter Road with all three deserved points.
Head Coach Wouter Vrancken made three changes from the side that beat St Johnstone last weekend. Jordi Altena, Calvin Miller and Jamie McCart all came in with Christian Borchgrevink, Tomas Magnusson and Sabah Kerjota making way.
The Jambos carved a first opportunity eight minutes in. Wilson was sent down the right and skipped away from his man to cross for Claudio Braga, but the forward couldn’t direct his header on target.
Just before the quarter hour mark the deadlock was broken, and it was courtesy of the boys in maroon. McPake drove down the left and into the box, leaving Felix Passlack for dust, before picking out the unmarked Wilson, and he duly obliged, moving his body to sidefoot beyond Raphael Sallinger and into the back of the net.
Braga went close to doubling the lead after half an hour. Moving the ball about well, Calvin Miller cut inside before floating a cross into the box for Braga to meet, but Sallinger got down and at full stretch pushed his header around the post.
The host almost got back on level terms with a brace of chances in quick succession. Nathan Lowe found himself clean through on goal but was denied by a great Beau Reus stop, then soon after Jacob Devaney’s shot from outside the box skimmed the bar on its way over.
Hearts went straight up the other end with McPake, who twisted and turned his way into the Hibs box before pulling off a shot on target, but it was straight at Sallinger who collected.
With a minute remaining of the half, it was 2-0. Blair Spittal curled a free kick into the box and Mendy rose highest to expertly guide his header into the corner of the net.
Reus was first to be called into action at the restart after substitute Adam Mayor got down Hearts’ right-hand side and pulled back for Josh Mulligan but his shot was stopped by the Dutchman’s legs.
The hosts did pull one back on 50 minutes. Mayor bound into the box and unleashed an unstoppable effort straight into the top corner.
Hibs nearly had a carbon copy chance eight minutes later with the ball finding the advancing Mayor inside the box but this time he blasted over the bar.
Just after the hour mark Hibs were reduced to ten men. Substitute Jack Iredale was booked for high feet, his second caution since coming on, and he received his marching orders.
And the Jambos made the numbers advantage count by restoring a two-goal cushion. McPake cut in from the left, beat three green shirts to get deep inside the box before firing past Sallinger to make it 3-1.
Hibs passed up a great opportunity to pull another one back when substitute Ante Suto found Lowe in the box, and although his first effort was a fresh air swipe, he got a second bite at it but sent the ball high and wide.
The home side did have the ball in the back of the net with ten minutes remaining but it was chalked off for a foul on substitute Magnusson in the build up.
Reus was at his best late on to deny Mulligan, pushing the midfielder’s shot over the bar as the Jambos saw out the game to go unbeaten in seven games across all competitions.
Hibs: Sallinger, Hanley, Kerr, Mulligan, Lowe, Boyle (Suto, 73’), McGrath, Obita (Iredale, 28’), Wright (Mayor, 45’), Devaney (Chaiwa, 45’), Passlack.
Subs: Smith, Newwell, Klidje, Megwa, Abdulai.
Hearts: Reus, McCart, McEntee, Miller, Braga (Kerjota, 77’), McPake, Spittal (Magnusson, 71’), Findlay, Wilson (Williams, 71’), Altena, Mendy.
Subs: Fulton, Kabore, Milne, Guendouz, Kerjota, Mato, Ba-Sy.
