The match was one that sadly lacked quality throughout although it had started at a pulsating pace with both Shankland and Martin Boyle missing penalty kicks inside the opening 14 minutes.
We enjoyed the better of the goal scoring opportunities this evening however we were unable to find a way past an inspired Zander Clark, whilst at the other end Hearts’ talismanic striker produced the only real moment of quality in the game to win it for his side.
Nick Montgomery made three changes to the side defeated by St Johnstone in our last outing. Rocky Bushiri replaced Paul Hanlon in the heart of defence whilst Joe Newell and Josh Campbell returned to the midfield engine room.
The atmosphere was as red-hot as the pre-match flares pitch side and the game was only four minutes old when we had our first contentious decision.
Rocky was adjudged to have handballed at a Hearts corner kick and VAR stepped in to alert referee John Beaton. Shankland took the spot kick, sending David Marshall the wrong way, and striking the outside of the post before going behind.
It was the striker’s first penalty miss in 16 attempts and he cut a forlorn figure as he waited for play to resume.
The visitors had started the brighter of the two teams and had another good chance moments later when Shankland found Alan Forrest on the left, he cut inside onto his right foot but hesitated long enough to allow Will Fish to slide in and block the eventual shot.
On 13 minutes, following our first real foray forward of note, we were awarded a penalty kick after Dylan Vente’s net-bound shot was kept out by Kye Rowles’ hand. Referee Beaton instantly pointed to the spot and Boyle stepped forward to take it, only for Zander Clark to pull off a fantastic save to push the shot onto the post.
Boyle, like Shankland just moments before, has so often been the game changer however it wasn’t to be on this occasion.
Three minutes later and the Australian internationalist flashed a delivery across the face of the Hearts goal, just out of reach of Vente sliding in before being turned behind by Nathaniel Atkinson before Jair could pounce.
The derby was proving to be an open affair with neither side looking to sit back and contain the other. Both teams were enjoying most of their better breaks down their respective left flanks however each defence had coped well.
On 32 minutes Rocky rose highest to meet a Newell corner kick delivery but couldn’t guide it on target after Boyle’s shot had been deflected wide by Rowles.
Then, a long ball over the top from Fish almost released Vente on goal however there was just too much on the pass and that allowed Clark to gather.
With half-time looming Jair tried his luck from distance, his powerful drive taking a nick off Aiden Denholm on its way through a ruck of bodies and that was enough to divert it over for another Hibs corner kick.
Hearts would finish the first half strongly and had the final effort when a long ball over the top found Shankland who outpaced Fish before angling a dipping shot just over Marshall’s crossbar.
Steven Naismith replaced young Denholm with Barrie McKay at half time whilst we had to replaced Campbell with Elie Youan, after the midfielder was stretchered off in the moments following the restart.
There was little action in the opening quarter-of-hour with the game sadly lacking quality and composure however we did have a couple of opportunities on the hour.
The first, was a cleverly taken Newell free kick lobbed over the Hearts defence for Vente only for Nieuwenhof to just divert it behind and from the resultant corner kick, Levitt’s cross was glanced off target by Rocky.
Hearts had their first chance of the second half on 67 minutes when Kenneth Vargas intercepted a crossfield pass from Lewis Miller and let fly with a shot from 22 yards that flashed over Marshall’s crossbar.
Perhaps our best opportunity of the second half came with 19 minutes remaining after Youan won possession on the right and fed it forward to Boyle; the winger cut the ball back to Vente who was denied by another terrific save from Clark.
The visitors first shot on target this evening came in the 77th minute when Alex Cochrane tamely struck a shot into the arms of Marshall.
We were soon back on the offensive and a snapshot from Youan had to be beaten away by Clark as we ramped up the pressure on the visitors.
It was looking likely that one goal was settled the contest, and the visitors almost snatched it when Shankland held off Rocky before being denied by Marshall at his near post.
All evening both sides had got into good attacking positions only for the final ball or pass to let them down.
Sadly, for us, there would be one genuine moment of quality that would win this match and it came from Shankland, who curled a fine finish high into out net in time added on.
Hibernian: Marshall, Miller, Fish, Levitt (Jeggo 82’), Vente (Doidge 88’), Boyle, Newell, Obita, Jair, Campbell (Youan 53’), Rocky. Substitutes not used: Wollacott, Hanlon, Stevenson, Molotnikov, Whittaker, Landers.
Heart of Midlothian: Clark, Kent, Kingsley, Baningime, Nieuwenhof, Shankland, Atkinson, Rowles, Forrest (Vargas 59’), Cochrane, Denholm (McKay 46’). Substitutes not used: Gordon, Halkett, Haring, Oda, Sibbick, Tagawa, Lowry, Vargas.
Referee: John Beaton.
Attendance: 20,150.
