In a fiercely contested Edinburgh derby, Hibernian Football Club emerged victorious against their city rivals, Hearts, with a score of 3-2. The match took place at Easter Road on Saturday, showcasing both teams’ determination and skill. This win marked Hibernian’s second consecutive home victory against Hearts, a feat not achieved in seven years, reviving hope for the team’s supporters.
The match opened with visits from each team, with Hibernian being the first on the score sheet in the third minute, as Kieron Bowie found the net. The early opener settled any nerves, giving Hibs the platform to dominate. McInnes’ Hearts were unable to find their momentum again, even as they created chances to level.
Match Highlights and Key Players
Hibernian showed their attacking quality from the very first minute of the game. After Bowie’s opener, Josh Campbell got another for Hibs in the first half. Jamie McGrath quickly followed that with a third goal, leaving Hibernian leading 3-0 before the break. Hearts went in front through Lawrence Shankland and Nicky Devlin added a second. They never managed to make it a comeback.
Hearts had a terrific opportunity to equalize in the 17th minute. Unfortunately for Union fans, Shankland’s attempt sailed just wide of the target. That missed opportunity would become an expensive missed chance as Hibernian held on to their lead. Right enough, momentum turned on a sixpence when Hibs’ Nicky Cadden limped off injured in the 29th minute. That forced Campbell’s coach to put him into the game.
This player rating puts into perspective the fight that Hearts had to put in to defeat an ever-energetic Hibernian side.
“Too little, too late. I thought Hibs were a better team in the first half.”
Hibernian head coach David Gray was pleased with his players’ reaction after their best performance of the season against Hearts. Gray reminded his team that their key to success will be building momentum as they progress deeper into the season.
Coaching Perspectives
His comments are a big hint to his strategic long term thinking on keeping the team on their recent high, striking while the iron is hot.
“We’ve got a run of fixtures starting from next week. Hopefully, we can just get a few wins and just build that momentum again and confidence as we spoke about.”
The result of this bloodless derby carries very real political consequences for both teams. Hibernian For Hibernian, this win is not just a confidence builder, but points are needed to further solidify their standings in the Women’s Premiers top four. Those back-to-back wins over Hearts should put any doubts about their competitive qualities within Scottish football to bed.
Implications for Both Teams
On the other hand, as Hearts head into forthcoming fixtures, they’ll have to recalibrate their approach. It’s refreshing to hear McInnes’ admission of his sides failings and therefore their need to improve, specifically their inability to deliver at key stages within games.
Conversely, Hearts will need to reassess their strategy as they navigate upcoming fixtures. McInnes’ acknowledgment of his team’s shortcomings suggests room for improvement, particularly regarding their execution in critical moments during matches.
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