We played well in spells and had numerous opportunities to score throughout the 90 minutes, as well as striking the post in both halves, yet we were simply undone by clinical counter-attacking from the visitors.
Lee Johnson was forced into a reshuffle with Kyle Magennis and Jake Doyle-Hayes picking up knocks that ruled them out, whilst Joe Newell missed out through suspension.
New signing Jimmy Jeggo was thrown straight into the white-hot action of a midfield battle where he was joined in the middle of the park by Lewis Stevenson and Josh Campbell.
Marijan Čabraja and Chris Cadden returned to the starting XI and lined up on each of the defensive flanks.
The opening exchanges were played with all the blood and thunder we’ve come to expect from the Edinburgh Derby.
We started strongly and were nearly ahead in the fourth minute when Élie Youan ran onto a through ball and although Michael Smith got back to recover, the veteran defender prodded a pass beyond goalkeeper Zander Clark and just wide of the post.
Two minutes later and Aiden McGeady turned Alex Cochrane inside-out before whipping in a tantalising low cross that Campbell flicked agonisingly against the post.
Despite our positive start, visitors Hearts scored against the run of play and with their first attack of the game when Robert Snodgrass’ free-kick was only partially cleared and Ginnelly volleyed in to give his side the lead.
We were soon back on the attack and McGeady, now on the left flank, turned Smith before seeing his powerful shot beaten away by a diving save from Clark.
On 33 minutes we had a wonderful chance to restore parity when McGeady swung over another fantastic delivery that sailed over Clark and Campbell headed into the side netting.
The longer the half went on, the more even the match became, as play swung from one end of the park to the other.
David Marshall made his first save of note on 35 minutes when he gathered a low effort from Smith at his near post.
As half-time loomed we saw further efforts on Clark’s goal when Cadden’s shot was blocked by James Hill, Youan’s header was gathered by the goalkeeper and Stevenson’s snap-shot from the edge of the box flashed wide of goal.
There were no changes for either side at the break as we started the second half positively with Youan showing terrific footwork and speed to burst clear of Cochrane on the right before his low cross drew a save from Clark.
We kept the ball alive and McGeady’s cross was glanced on by the head of Campbell to once again force Clark into a save.
The pace of the second half was relentless as both teams slugged it out. Hearts had chances through a Cammy Devlin counter-attack that Marshall saved comfortably, and a Shankland shot that deflected wide off Stevenson.
At the other end, Youan twisted and turned superbly to get away from Cochrane before forcing Clark into a save at his near post before the goalkeeper was called into action again moments later to save low to his right from Ryan Porteous’ long-range effort.
We kept pressing and on 61 minutes a powerful shot from Cadden stung the palms of Clark as we searched for an equalising goal.
Unfortunately, it would not come, and the visitors repeated their first half endeavours by scoring against the run of play through a terrific strike from Shankland.
In the final minute of normal time Čabraja fizzed a shot just wide on the angle before seconds later Shankland picked up his second yellow card of the afternoon and was sent off.
We continued pushing for a goal and Youan was desperately unlucky with a thunderous low drive that crashed back into play off the far post.
Deep into time added on we were caught out by another counter-attack as Sibbick charged forward, drew Marshall and slotted the ball away.
Hibernian: Marshall, Cabraja, Porteous, Cadden, Jeggo (McKirdy 72’), Nisbet (Henderson 96’), Stevenson, Youan, Campbell, Bushiri (Hanlon 96’), McGeady. Substitutes not used: Schofield, Miller, Tavares, Fish, MacIntyre, Laidlaw.
Heart of Midlothian: Clark, Smith (Forrest 85’), Shankland, Devlin, Rowes, McKay (Grant 65’), Cochrane (Kingsley 60’), Sibbick, Ginnelly (Humphrys 65’), Hill (Atkinson 81’), Snodgrass. Substitutes not used: Stewart, Kiomourtzoglou, Kuol, Oda.
Referee: Don Robertson.
Attendance: 18,622.
