Hibs 1-3 Hearts: Player ratings, red card, Hibs boos, new signing debuts, Josh McPake for Scotland?

Josh McPake became the tormentor of Hibs as Hearts recorded a convincing 3-1 victory in the Edinburgh derby at Easter Road. Some tantalising wing play and a fine individual goal saw the Tynecastle player add his name to a long list of his club’s heroes in this fixture. His dribbling skills, running and finishing would certainly have impressed new Scotland coach Sebastien Pocognoli in the stand.

On this evidence, the Belgian could do worse than name McPake in his first international squad next week. He was the catalyst for an inspired Hearts win in Leith against 10-man Hibs. James Wilson and Laurent Mendy had the visitors 2-0 ahead at half-time before Hibs substitute Adam Mayor halved the deficit. Jack Iredale was then red-carded for a second booking before McPake scored a magnificent solo goal to put the victory beyond doubt.

Both sides had several new faces involved in this fixture, scheduled for an unusual Thursday night slot for a live Premier Sports broadcast. Hearts had never beaten Hibs on a Thursday, the Easter Road club enjoying 10 wins and five draws against their rivals on this particular day of the week. They would’n’t enjoy this one, however. Scotland’s transfer window closed at 5pm and Tynecastle fans could celebrate the fact Claudio Braga still belonged to them. Kick-off was delayed momentarily to clear debris thrown by both sets of fans. When the action began, Hearts boldly went on the attack and were rewarded with the opening goal on 14 minutes.

McPake skinned the Hibs right-back Felix Passlack to deliver a cutback from the byline. Wilson was in place for a composed right-footed finish with the inside of his right boot. The young Scot is in red-hot form, for this was his fourth goal in five games. The away end began chanting McPake’s name in celebration, while maroon shirts continued their high and aggressive pressing against the unsettled hosts.

Some Hibs supporters began booing after 25 minutes following another sweeping visiting attack which ended with Jason Kerr clearing Braga’s attempt at goal. Blair Spittal’s movement out to the right side as his team distributed from defence created midfield space which Mendy and others exploited. Calvin Miller wasn’t slow to scarper off down the right for a quick forward ball, either. Iredale took over at left-back after Hibs lost Jordan Obita near the half-hour mark. Braga then headed Miller’s cross towards goal, thwarted by a fine save from goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger.

Hibs threatened five minutes from the break when Josh Mulligan’s through ball found Nathan Lowe. His effort was stopped by the legs of Hearts keeper Beau Reus. Seconds later, Jacob Devaney’s 20-yard attempt clipped the top of the crossbar. The away side wasted no time re-asserting themselves. Spittal delivered a 43rd-minute free-kick deep into the Hibs box, and Mendy rose between Grant Hanley and Iredale to glance the ball away from Sallinger into the corner of the net for his first goal in maroon.

At 2-0, this game appeared all but over at the interval. The travelling support was in full voice, while the Leith locals again jeered as their team left the field. Hibs midfielders Callum Wright and Devaney were replaced by Mayor and Miguel Chaiwa for the second half. It took five minutes for the change to have an effect. Mulligan charged in to dispossess Mendy deep in the Hearts half and Mayor collected the ball to dispatch a fine 20-yard strike high into the net beyond Reus.

The Dutch keeper breathed a sigh of relief minutes later when Oisin McEntee’s short passback was intercepted by Martin Boyle. The Australian internationalist’s touch let him down and Reus collected the ball. Mayor then shot over the crossbar from Nathan Lowe’s pass. Hibs were a different animal having switched their 4-1-4-1 system to 3-5-2, and suddenly Hearts found themselves under pressure.

Hibs then undermined their own efforts on 62 minutes. Iredale’s wayward backpass almost rolled into an empty net before Sallinger raced in to clear. The ball landed with Iredale, who couldn’t control it and then caught Miller as it bounced into the air. That earned the defender a red card for a second caution. It proved costly, for Hearts moved 3-1 ahead within five minutes. McPake set off on another dribbling run, beating Passlack, Chaiwa and Kerr at pace. He entered the penalty area to fire a shot which deflected off Grant Hanley and which Sallinger got a hand to but could not keep out. The ball hit the net via the inside of the far post to spark mayhem in the away end.

Referee Don Robertson disallowed Lowe’s 79th-minute strike for handball despite no flag from his assistant. Recent Hearts signing JJ Williams made his debut as a substitute and must have thrived in the atmosphere as travelling fans blared out their McPake chant over and over. This game may well be recalled as ‘The Josh McPake’ derby in years so come, such was the winger’s impact.