Kevin Nisbet’s 10th goal of the season settled the contest however our performance merited a victory even greater than the slender scoreline suggests.
We dominated virtually the entire 90 minutes and were worthy winners as the boys gave their all and we ended our winless run in this fixture.
Lee Johnson made three changes to his starting Xi following last weekend’s encounter with Dundee United.
The vastly experienced trio of Lewis Stevenson, Paul Hanlon and Jake Doyle-Hayes replaced Marijan Cabraja, Josh Campbell and Harry McKirdy.
Easter Road was a cacophony of noise at kick-off as David Marshall and Lawrence Shankland led their respective sides out into the Leith sunshine.
The visitors were dealt an early blow when Michael Smith went down after stretching to reach a through ball and had to be replaced by Nathaniel Atkinson.
The substitute was quickly involved and carved out the first opportunity of the game when he cut back for Alan Forrest, who dragged his shot wide of the far post from 15 yards.
At the other end Joe Newell latched onto a knock down from Hanlon and sent a half-volley fizzing just over the crossbar.
There was all the blood and thunder we have come to expect from the Edinburgh with CJ Egan-Riley and Cammy Devlin picking up cautions for over-zealous attempts to win the ball.
After an even opening to the game we began to take control of the midfield and put pressure on a Hearts goal that lived a charming life.
First, Zander Clark had to save point-blank at his near post to thwart Elie Youan before the striker shot over the crossbar moments later after Nisbet had outmuscled Kyle Rowes to create an opportunity.
Rowes was toiling to contain Nisbet and on 27 minutes the Aussie misjudged a ball over the top allowing Nisbet in behind only for the ball to take an age to come down and the striker’s shot was diverted behind by the recovering defender.
With the game heading towards half-time Marshall was called into action to make his first save of note to turn an Andy Halliday header round his near post following a Barrie McKay corner kick and in the final action of the half, Shankland shot tamely into the arms of the grateful goalkeeper.
Goalless at the interval after a first half in which we were the better side and were unfortunate not be ahead.
To both teams’ credit the game had been played at a relentless pace and it continued after the restart as we took the game to the visitors once more.
In the first minute Rowles was required to cut out a low Stevenson cross inside the six-yard to stop Doyle-Hayes from tapping in and then Clark saved from Youan after Toby Sibbick had made a mess of a clearance.
On 55 minutes a ball down our right found Nisbet, he stood up Stephen Kingsley before driving beyond the Hearts defender and curling a fine shot just wide of the far post.
All of the goal scoring chances at this stage we being created by us and on 64 minutes Chris Cadden peeled off the right flank and shot just wide of the far post with Clark rooted to the spot.
A goal was coming, and duly arrived as our pressure finally paid off on 67 minutes when Newell’s corner kick was headed down by Hanlon at the back post and Nisbet volleyed it high into the Hearts’ net to spark euphoric scenes in three stands.
We had another chance soon after and perhaps should have extended out lead as Nisbet shot wide on the angle when he had Josh Campbell unmarked on his inside who would have had a free shot at goal from 12 yards.
Hearts tried to rally in the closing stages only to struggle to create anything meaningful and a near post effort from substitute Stephen Humphreys on 72 minutes was all they could muster.
Hibernian: Marshall, Egan-Riley (Miller 87’), Fish, Hanlon, Cadden, Doyle-Hayes (Campbell 70’), Jeggo, Newell (Henderson 88’), Stevenson, Nisbet (Kuharevich 74’), Youan, Substitutes not used: Johnson, Cabraja, Hoppe, Devlin, McKirdy.
Heart of Midlothian: Clark, Smith (Atkinson 4’), Kingsley, Grant (Kiomourtzoglou 73’), Shankland, Devlin, Rowles, Halliday (Cochrane 73’), Forrest (Humphreys 61’), McKay, Sibbick. Substitutes not used: Stewart, Haring, Atkinson, Kuol, Hill, Oda.
Referee: John Beaton.
Attendance: 20,132.
