Sunday April 26th 2026
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Ewan Hornell
Hearts left it late to see off nine-man Hibs in a drama filled Derby Day, restoring their lead at the top of the Premiership to three points.
Edinburgh Derbies are always must see, but this one had the feeling of the most consequential ever.
Even before news of a late Rangers defeat to Motherwell had filtered around Easter Road, Hearts entered the contest confident and in pole position in the title race – five games away from ending the Old Firm’s near 40-year vice on the league.
For Hibs, the stakes were twofold: the chance to significantly derail Hearts’ title push so close to the finish line and to keep themselves within touching distance of finishing in those elusive European places.
This seasons Edinburgh Derbies, whilst filled with drama, have followed one simple pattern: the home side wins.
Hearts may have lead the season series 2–1, but the pattern of home success firmly favoured Hibs, who had lost just twice at Easter Road this season, while Hearts had taken only one point from their last four away matches.
The atmosphere pre match more than matched the magnitude of the occasion.
Last time the pair met at Easter Road, just after Christmas, Hibs opened the scoring in just three minutes – today they weren’t quite as fast, not that they’d care, going in front after seven minutes.
Jordi Altena gave away a clumsy free kick on the left-hand side of the area. Jamie McGrath stood over it. His cross found Martin Boyle undetected at the back post.
In Boyles final Edinburgh Derby he fired his volley into the roof of the net, to get Hibs off to a glorious start.
It was never going to be without drama and three minutes later some more was dutifully provided.
Raphael Sallinger in the Hibs goal appeared to have potentially handled the ball outside of his box.
Claudio Braga, Landry Kabore and Lawerence Shankland, who were all close to Sallinger, were immediately adamant of his wrongdoing and hounded the referee Don Roberston, appealing for a red card.
The action continued for less than a minute before Roberston was sent to the VAR monitor for a closer look.
His decision was red and Hibs were forced into an early goalkeeping substitution.
Despite their early advantage the home side would have to hold off the league leaders a man down.
Jordan Smith was the man who replaced Sallinger in the Hibs goal, seeing his first real action in the 21st minute.
Diving to his left, he pulled off a spectacular save to deny Michael Steinwenders towering header and keep Hibs in front.
For the remainder of the first half neither goalkeeper was tested as both sides struggled to string a series of successful passes together.
The tempo however, remained ferocious with any slightly mistimed challenge resulting in both groups of players coming to blows.
The half ended with a flurry of yellow cards for Warren O’Hora, Felix Passlack and Stephen Kinglsley as the home side remained in front.
With the second half barely two minutes in and fans still returning to their seats from half time refreshments, Hibs found themselves down to nine-men!
Felix Passlack was shown a second yellow after a nasty challenge on Beni Baningime.
Hibs were therefore left no alternative but to remain compact, defend their box and try to cling onto their lead.
Hearts struggled to find a way through a green sea of shirts, resorting to longer range efforts to try and break the deadlock. The most dangerous coming from Marc Leonard whose left footed effort crunched into the bar.
But, at a two-man deficit Hibs’ could only hold on for so long.
In the 64th minute Hearts made good on their extra men, stretching Hibs wide before squaring the ball into the box.
It landed with Lawernce Shankland whose backheel flick ricocheted off Warren O’Hora before bobbling over the line to draw Hearts level.
After their equaliser Hearts looked somewhat out of answers. They struggled to break down Hibs’ resolute nine-man blockade.
But, it was Derby day and the drama was not quite finished for the evening.
In the 86th minute Hearts once again worked the ball wide and it was Sabah Kerjota who stepped up and found a maroon shirt with his cutback.
The arriving Blair Spittal remained composed and slotted home his effort to send the away fans into delirium and Hearts in front, breaking Hibs’ spirit right at the death.
Here’s what Derek McInnes had to stay about his side late win post-match;
‘I was pleased with the players that they stayed calm. It’s very unusual, you don’t practice against nine men, so its an unusual set of circumstances to win a game of football.
‘I said to the players at half time, we’ve won games of football with 10 men, especially when you’ve got something to hang on to. So we knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
‘When the game was crying out for quality, Kerjota and Shankland bring it, the captain turns up in the big moment and then obviously Spittal.
‘Spittal scores goals like that every day in training.
‘All it needed was a bit of calmness, side foot, knee over the ball and goal. I am delighted he got such a big moment for him and his career but hopefully a big moment in our story this season.’
His side move to four matches away from the title with more huge games to come. McInnes highlighted the importance of confidence in insuring his squad go all the way.
‘Don’t let doubt or anxiety creep in. Today was a lot, even the journey here, it felt different to a normal derby.
‘I take confidence in the fact, I think we have a 70% win ratio against teams in the top six, better than any other.
‘So for me the bigger the game, the bigger the performance and the bigger the result.
‘I think that’s something we can hang on to. It doesn’t give us guarantees but we’ve got to
remain confident. That hasn’t wavered all season.
‘We are all for the next game and we need to be ready for it.’
Hearts head back to Tynecastle next to host Rangers. Hearts and Celtic’s victories and Rangers loss mean that with four games to go the Jambos remain top, three points ahead of Celtic and four ahead of Rangers.
Hearts remain in charge with inevitable twists still left come in the race to be crowned champions of Scotland.
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