Dwight Gayle’s first Edinburgh Derby goal gave Hibs their first derby victory since April 2023 in a chaotic Boxing Day clash.
Hibs took the lead after Josh Campbell’s header took a fortunate deflection off of Kye Rowles.
Fortune would then swing in Hearts’ favour as a timely equaliser came just before half-time, Shankland’s header taking a massive deflection off of Rocky Bushiri to divert it past Jordan Smith.
Substitute Dwight Gayle would grab the headlines as he provided the finishing touch to a Nicky Cadden cross to give the Hibees all three points at Tynecastle.
Scottish football’s Boxing Day fixture card kicked-off with one of the premier fixtures on the calendar, as for the second time this season the Edinburgh Derby was contested, and the first of the season in Gorgie.
Hearts finally lifted themselves off of the foot of the league with a victory over a sliding St Johnstone side last weekend, and they knew that a victory today would propel them above their opponents today.
Hibernian are on a high following a big victory at Pittodrie against Aberdeen, and they could further the gap between themselves and Hearts to five points with a win.
David Gray adopted the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ philosophy with his team selection, naming the same team that started against Aberdeen, whilst Neil Critchley brought Craig Halkett and Beni Baningime in for Harry Forrester and Malachi Boateng, with Forrester perhaps feeling hard-done by after grabbing an assist in a good performance in the victory over The Saints.
The hosts were the first of the two sides to show their teeth, Musa Drammeh heading James Penrice’s cross wide of the goal.
It would be the visitors who would strike first though, as Josh Campbell header was deflected off Kye Rowles past Craig Gordon, with the goal standing following a very lengthy VAR decision as referee Nick Walsh stuck to his initial decision despite being called over to the monitor to have another look.
Penrice and Drammeh combined again as Hearts looked to immediately level the scoring, the Gambian forcing a save from Jordan Smith on this occasion.
Chris Cadden came close to doubling the Hibernian advantage after the ball bounced up for him just inside the area, but Gordon was there to match him by providing a brilliant save.
Gordon, who turns 42 on Hogmanay, continued his busy spell mid-way through the first-half as he denied Campbell with a flying save, and kept out Elie Youan’s powerful strike shortly after as the groans and frustrations from the home fans began to grow louder.
Just as the levels of toxicity at Tynecastle reached a fever pitch as half-time loomed, Hibs shot themselves in the foot and swiftly undid all of their hard work that had them in such a good position in the game in the first place.
Shankland rose highest to meet a Penrice cross, and with the header going wide of goal, a wild attempt at an interception from Rocky Bushiri diverted it past Smith and into the back of the Hibs net.
That goal completely changed the feeling around the ground heading into half-time, with a hostile reaction from the home support being expected had it not been for the moment of madness from Bushiri.
It was a cagey opening to the second-half, with the first real chances not coming until the 60th minute, when Daniel Oyegoke and Shankland saw long-range efforts easily claimed by Smith.
Hibs would go close to retaking the lead with the best chance of the half up until that point, Nicky Cadden picking out his twin brother at the far-post whose header cannoned off the chest of Gordon.
The Hibees wouldn’t waste another big opportunity when presented to them and it would be the final big opportunity of the match. Substitute Dwight Gayle grabbed his first Edinburgh Derby goal as his deft touch was all it took to divert a brilliant Nicky Cadden delivery past Craig Gordon.
Gayle’s goal would secure Hibs their first derby victory since April 2023, and the full-time scenes that will be sweeping social media displayed just how much this victory meant to the travelling support.
Match Analysis
Hibs were deservedly in front in the first-half, and were deserved winners on the day as well.
Hearts looked devoid of ideas from the outset, with Hibs topping their rivals in almost every aspect of the game.
What will disappoint Hearts fans the most is the lack of fight that the team showed, as Hibs displayed more energy and tenacity in key points in the game, especially in the latter stages as a packed away end cheered every clearance and block from their defenders.
Neil Critchley faced the brunt of the fan fury at full-time, and after appearing to have turned somewhat of a corner after their victory over St Johnstone, Critchley will be turning to the transfer market as he gets set to oversee his first window as Hearts manager.
What did the manager’s have to say:
David Gray, Hibernian Head Coach: “I thought we played really well. Limited them to very few chances, could’ve been a bit more clinical ourselves. The biggest thing for me was the character from the team. The players could’ve reacted negatively at half-time after going behind, but we still showed that same quality and were well deserving of the win in the end.
Neil Critchley, Heart of Midlothian Head Coach: “I don’t think we were good enough. Our initial start to the game was fine, and then we concede a really poor goal from a set-piece which left us chasing the game.
“We weren’t our usual selves but we showed composure and grew into the half. The move leading up to our goal was good although we had a bit of fortune with how the ball went into the goal.
“I thought we played much better in the second-half, had more control, we were in the ascendancy, and you could feel it from the crowd coming with us. But then we conceded a really poor goal and it’s the story of us so far and then we are left chasing the game again.”
