“James Wilson, he’s one of our own” was the chant from the away end at full-time as the 17-year-old’s late equaliser cancelled out Mykola Kuharevich’s opener.
Dwight Gayle had a number of chances in the first-half, but Craig Gordon was his equal, including a fantastic one-handed stop to keep out the former Newcastle United forward.
Hibernian would take the lead in the second half as substitute Kuharevich forced it over the line after Marvin Ekpiteta headed off the cross-bar.
Hearts grabbed a late equaliser through 17-year-old substitute James Wilson, his second goal of his career and his second goal in consecutive games.
This result leaves Hibs winless in Edinburgh Derby fixtures since April 2023, and sees both clubs occupying the bottom two positions in the league table.
Gray made the massive call of bringing Elie Youan into the starting eleven, and captain Joe Newell missed out through suspension after his dismissal at Tannadice.
Critchley recalled Yan Dhanda, Daniel Oyegoke and James Penrice to his team after the trio were named on the bench in Thursday evening’s Europa League victory over Omonoia Nicosia. Hearts supporters may have been surprised not to see Alan Forrest keep his place in the team after his goal against the Cypriot side.
Chances were proving to be a premium but the challenges were flying in in the early stages, Nectar Triantis picking up an early booking just 4 minutes in for a late challenge on Dhanda.
Youan, playing with a lot of eyes on him today, was the first to test Craig Gordon as his cross turned shot was palmed into the path of Dwight Gayle, whose rebounded effort was cleared away, despite the shot going wide of the goal.
In response, Hearts went straight up the other end, Lawrence Shankland charging through the Hibs defence and stinging the gloves of Josef Bursik.
Gordon was once again the foil to Gayle’s hopes for a Edinburgh Derby debut goal, producing a stunning one-handed save to keep out the former Premier League star’s close range header.
Gordon and Gayle’s inner battle continued into the second-half where Gayle was once again presented with a diamond of an opportunity by captain on the day Martin Boyle, but he headed it straight at the 41-year-old.
Hearts had some encouragement as Penrice got in behind Lewis Miller and fizzed a ball in to Shankland, but an uncharacteristically tame effort from the captain was blocked by Warren O’Hora.
A traditional Cammy Devlin derby day booking was greeted by sarcastic cheers around Easter Road, and the resulting free-kick would send the crowd into raptures.
Marvin Ekpiteta ghosted in at the back-post and saw his header come back off the crossbar, where substitute Mykola Kuharevich was waiting to fire it over the line.
Neil Critchley’s side almost had an instant reply courtesy of Lawrence Shankland, and whilst last season he may have buried this sort of chance without a second thought, he slammed this chance into the side-netting after some well-crafted play from substitute Jorge Grant and Blair Spittal.
The home side had a massive chance to kill the game off from another free-kick, as astonishingly 3 Hibs players broke beyond the crowd at the edge of the box completely unmarked, but Triantis shot straight at Gordon.
That missed chance prove to be even more agonising for the Hibees as a matter of moments later, the Gorgie side were level.
A long throw from James Penrice came off multiple bodies in the box before 17-year-old substitute James Wilson stepped up to smash it past Bursik to bring it level.
Despite a late Hearts barrage as they pushed incredibly hard for a winner, it wasn’t to be as the points were shared in the first Edinburgh Derby of the season.
Match analysis
It was in truth a game lacking in real quality, something that has been an unfortunately familiar tale in recent Edinburgh derbies.
Hibs were getting most of their first-half joy in the wide areas, Elie Youan and Junior Hoilett both getting in promising positions, but the key battle was between Gayle and Gordon, with the veteran stopper taking round one in the first half.
Substitute Mykola Kuharevich had looked like a player lacking in confidence this season, something that had been evident following his penalty miss at Ibrox a few weeks ago.
Nothing will give him a confidence boost quite like a derby goal, and the passionate celebration at the corner flag surrounded by his teammates looked like a release of that pent up frustration that has built in the last few weeks.
Hibs inability to close games out has been their achilles heel this season, conceding more goals in the final 15 minutes than any other team in the league, and a slight lapse in defensive judgement allowed James Wilson to get in ahead of Lewis Miller to make it 1-1.
It was Wilson’s second career goal and his second in consecutive games after grabbing his first league goal for the club against St Mirren last weekend, and he looks like a bright talent who Critchley thinks can have a big part to play this season.
What did the managers have to say?
David Gray, Hibernian manager: “It’s 2 points dropped again. I don’t think anyone can deny that we deserved to win the game purely on chances created.”
“Hearts had a bit more possession in certain areas where we were happy for them to have it. Unfortunately it’s a familiar tale that we are creating 4 or 5 clear-cut chances. We need to take these chances when we are on top, and then from the long throw at the very end unfortunately there’s 2 people not doing their jobs properly.”
Neil Critchley, Heart of Midlothian manager: “It’s a mixture of emotions after the game. I’m pleased with the character we showed after going a goal down, but, also disappointed with the manner in which we conceded the first goal because I felt that we were in the ascendancy at that point.”
“We wanted to come here and try and play our way and get control of the game and I felt we did that.”
