Hearts player ratings vs Hibs as Jambos show title credentials in wild derby scenes at formidable Tynecastle

Hearts moved six points clear at the top of the Premiership as they snatched a dramatic 1-0 win over local rivals Hibs in their latest clash.

Tomas Magnusson came off the bench to score in the 88th minute, after neither side created any chances of note in an opening 45 minutes lacking quality. Defences looked to be coming out on top amid an Edinburgh derby deluge of rain and Harry Milne had the first proper strike at goal for the league leaders. Martin Boyle had chances for the Easter Road side in a competitive tussle.

Milne eventually proved key as he fizzed in a killer cross for Magnusson to poke home a couple minutes from full-time, sending Tynecastle bonkers. Next up for head coach Derek McInnes and his players is a trip to second-placed Rangers, who face Motherwell on Wednesday.

Both sides had a win each in this fixture so far this season, Hearts winning at Tynecastle and Hibs on Easter Road soil. Tensions were peaking in this one, as not only was their bragging rights at stake, three crucial points were arguably more valuable this time around. A win for Hearts would put the pressure on second-placed Rangers to achieve victory at in-form Motherwell and keep the gap at three points ahead of their meeting this Sunday.

A wide open Scottish Cup has put doubt over whether or not fifth will be a European spot in May and Hibs needed points here to claw back some ground on Motherwell in fourth, and keep a chasing Falkirk behind one spot on sixth place at arm’s length. Each manager made intriguing selection calls, Islam Chesnokov thrown into the Hearts XI after recent omissions from squads while Felix Passlack returned to Gray’s starting core after a tough debut versus Dundee United.

The players came out to a mix of rain and fireworks with a feverish atmosphere not dampened by weather conditions growing ever torrential by each passing minute. Hibs had the first opening in a two versus one going forward but Passlack’s overhit pass on a Tynecastle pitch where knee slides wouldn’t look out of place at a water park. Both teams were struggling to find their top gear and balls in behind were the order of the day.

Midfield was an no man’s land where players merely watched artillery fly over their heads. Pass, pass, pass launch, repeat, this was a game of no mercy and required someone to take control of the engine room and start controlling this frenetic affair. A moment of magic seemed far away with neither side registering a shot on target inside 40 bruising opening minutes. Boyle looked to be in behind but Beni Baningime did well to prevent the experienced forward from having the game’s first real pop at goal.

A poor clearance by Munashe Garananga prompted a maroon scramble that Hibs keeper Raphael Sallinger had to bravely throw himself at, taking a sore one as he denied Chesnokov a clean strike at goal. Martin Boyle then had a half chance that at least made Alexander Schwolow work but 27 aerial duels won across 45 minutes by both sides told the tale of how little attacking quality there had been in this affair.

Milne registered Hearts’ first attempt at goal and it bobbled dangerously for Sallinger who eventually gathered the ball after everybody held their breath to see where the ball would end up. McInnes had shifted to a back three and deployed left-back Milne in midfield, which looked to have given more impetus going forward to the hosts as Hibs counterpart David Gray tried to figure out a plan to counter it. Bringing on Ante Suto and Jamie McGrath seemed to do the trick as the visitors quickly grabbed the game by the neck, as Boyle flicked a Nicky Cadden cross over the bar.

A return to the slug-fest soon commenced as Ageu, Magnusson and Rogers Mato looked to win the game for Hearts off the bench. Both managers had played their hand and McInnes found an ace in his Icelandic midfielder, who popped it home from close range just shy of minute 90 to set new fire under their title bid, leaving their rivals crestfallen. Champions find a way to dig out wins and once again Hearts did so when it appeared like dropped points were on the cards, setting the scene for a seismic clash at Ibrox. On a night of high drama, here’s how we rated the Hearts players at Tynecastle.