Hibs 1-2 Hearts: Three points clear, title dream, drama and controversy, two red cards

Hearts moved three points clear of Celtic at the Scottish Premiership summit thanks to Blair Spittal’s late winning goal on a dramatic day at Easter Road. The season’s final Edinburgh derby ended 2-1 to the visitors, who had struggled to find a winner against nine-man Hibs following after Martin Boyle’s early opener and Warren O’Hara’s second-half own goal. Substitute Spittal produced when it mattered.

Hibs goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger was sent off on 13 minutes, followed by defender then Felix Passlack on 48 minutes. That gave the Tynecastle side a significant advantage as they attempted to overhaul the deficit. They failed to get the better of their opponents until Spittal scored on 86 minutes, although they never lost belief. This was far from a vintage Hearts performance as Hibs retreated into a solid defensive shape and battled for their lives, but the introduction of Sabah Kerjota was a match-winning decision by the Tynecastle head coach Derek McInnes.

Kerjota created both goals to secure an enormous three points and leave the Hearts fans jubilant as they left Leith. Motherwell’s win at Ibrox raised their spirits earlier in the day, but their side managing to do the necessary was the highlight. This result means 10 more points would be sufficient to take the Premiership trophy to Gorgie for the first time since 1960.

Both sets of supporters arrived in Leith in good spirits after a Sunday afternoon in local hostelries. Hearts head coach Derek McInnes named an attacking line-up in a 3-4-1-2 formation to match up with hosts Hibs. He was minus the influential midfielder Cammy Devlin due to a hamstring injury. Stakes are always high in Edinburgh derbies, but this was a bit different. Hearts were aiming to take another step towards a historic title success, while Hibs were desperate to stop them and serve their own European aspirations in the process.

It took just minutes for the chaos to erupt. Those in green and white seized the initiative when Jordi Altena’s foul on Nicky Cadden created the opportunity for Jamie McGrath to deliver a left-sided free-kick towards Hearts’ back post. Boyle sprinted round the blind side of the dithering Beni Baningime for a close-range conversion, putting Hibs 1-0 ahead on seven minutes.

Moments later, they were reduced to 10 men when their goalkeeper was dismissed. Sallinger emerged and collected Stephen Kingsley’s loping forward ball ahead of the approaching Landry Kabore, but he did so with his arms stretched out over the edge of the 18-yard line. After a touchline monitor review, referee Don Robertson produced a straight red card. Substitute keeper Jordan Smith came on, with Cadden sacrificed

Smith’s first act was a stunning save to his right to stop Stephen Kingsley’s netbound header from Marc Leonard’s corner as Hearts pressed for parity. The visitors were playing largely inside the opposition half and dropped multiple crosses into their penalty area. The well-organised Hibs back line stood firm through to the interval. They were now shaped in a 4-3-2 system and determined to hold on to the one-goal advantage. There were plenty niggles, dunts, shoves and verbals as several players walked an emotional tightrope, but that’s the norm for these fixtures. Kingsley and Felix Passlack were cautioned late in the first half after squaring up.

Hearts needed more creativity in the final third and, as such, introduced winger Sabah Kerjota for Altena at the start of the second half. Their cause was aided further when Hibs went down to nine men moments after the restart. Passlack earned a second caution for a late tackle on Baningime in midfield, and suddenly the Tynecastle side had a priceless opportunity to maximise a two-man numerical advantage.

Smith saved Braga’s close-range prod towards goal and then dived full stretch to push Craig Halkett’s 25-yard drive away as Hibs instinctively retreated. The sub keeper could only watch, however, when Marc Leonard strode forward for another attempt from distance which crashed off the crossbar. Everyone inside Easter Road sense a goal was imminent and it was no surprise to see Lawrence Shankland involved when it arrived. Kerjota’s run down the flank saw him take on Jordan Obita before a right-footed low cross which the Hearts captain flicked with his back foot at the near post. The last touch belonged to O’Hora as the deflection fooled Smith and the ball crept over the line for 1-1.

Hearts continued huffing and puffing, keeping up the pressure and believing they would force a second goal. It arrived on 86 minutes. Again, Kerjota was the architect as he drifted inside from the right and laid a nice ball off for Spittal to drive low beyond Smith from 14 yards. Cue bedlam in the away end as Spittal’s celebration run seemed to go on forever. The scenes at full-time were euphoric as visiting players and fans sensed they had taken a huge step towards the title.

Here are the Hearts player ratings from Easter Road: