Hibs 2 Hearts 1

Jack Iredale picked the perfect moment to score his first Hibs goal as the defender’s stunning strike 16 minutes from time won us the Edinburgh Derby.

It’s the first time since 2009 that we have won back-to-back league derbies and there could be few complaints from those in maroon at today’s outcome.

We opened the scoring after only six minutes through Martin Boyle’s instinctive and clinical finish before a piledriver from Jorge Grant levelled only moments later for the visitors.

Hearts would enjoy the best of the first half exchanges without seriously testing Jordan Smith in our goal before we produced a dominant showing to completely control the second half.

The winning goal came 16 minutes from time when Iredale arrowed a beautiful strike past Craig Gordon and in doing so extended our unbeaten run to 15 games.

Following two big performances this week, David Gray made two changes to his starting XI for this afternoon’s Edinburgh Derby.

The first of those saw Chris Cadden replace Lewis Miller on the right flank with the Kieron Bowie coming in for Mykola Kuharevich the other change.

Some derbies start as cagey affairs with neither side able to get their foot on the ball for any meaningful time, yet this afternoon wasn’t like that, as play raged from end-to-end in a wide-open contest.

Visitors Hearts were the first to threaten when Nectar Triantis was disposed by Beni Baningime in the middle of the park; he found Lawrence Shankland who tried his luck from the edge of our box and forced Smith into a smart stop.

The deadlock was broken at the other end in the 6^th minute when Iredale’s ball over the top for Bowie, ran through to Boyle who slotted past Craig Gordon from a tight angle.  It appeared Gerald Taylor was focused on Bowie’s run, allowing Boyle to steal in and grab his 13^th goal of the season.

Our lead would only last three minutes as Hearts hit back quickly, when Rocky’s clearance didn’t have enough purchase on it and Grant latched onto it to smash an unstoppable effort high into our net.

Our defence has looked rock solid in recent months however there was a nervousness about us at the back in the first half and Hearts sought to exploit it.

On 16 minutes a heavy touch in the middle of the park from Josh Campbell was pounced on by Blair Spittal, with the Hearts’ midfielder driving forward before dragging a shot wide of goal from the edge of our box.

Hearts were enjoying the best of the early action and went close again as we made a real mess of clearing our lines. Warren O’Hora was robbed by Spittal and although his pass didn’t come off, Rocky’s attempted clearance was headed into the side netting by Shankland.

It was a battle of tactics this afternoon as our wide men hugged the touchlines whilst Hearts played narrow and sought to go through the middle.

The visitors had the ball in the back of our net on 33 minutes when Elton Kabangu latched onto a through ball before finding the far corner of our net. Thankfully on this occasion he had gone too soon and the effort was ruled out for offside.

At the other end Campbell fed the ball wide to Nicky Cadden before the winger’s low cross flashed across the face of the Hearts’ goal – just out of reach of Boyle sliding in and Bowie arriving at the back post.

Three minutes before half time we suffered a blow when O’Hora slid in to thwart Kabangu only to pick up an injury that forced him off.  He was replaced by Miller.

There were no changes from either side during the interval as we started the second period on the front foot.

The second half was only two minutes old when Nicky Cadden whipped in a wonderful delivery that Campbell should’ve made more of with his stooping header.

At the other end James Penrice’s rising effort from the edge of our box, following a Hearts corner kick, failed to test Smith and it proved brief respite for the visitors’ defence as we were soon back on the attack.

On 52 minutes Nicky Cadden burst into the Hearts box before going down under the challenge of Taylor and whilst there were loud appeals for a penalty kick, referee John Beaton waved play on as Hearts countered and Kabangu volleyed wide at the front post.

Pressure was growing on the Hearts defence with Nathan Moriah-Welsh flashing a 25-yard effort just wide of Gordan’s near post before Chris Cadden forced the veteran goalkeeper into a save moments later with a powerful drive.

Relatively speaking, Nicky Cadden had a quiet first half however after the break he was running at Taylor time-and-again.

On 67 minutes another big chance for us when Moriah-Welsh hung up a cross to the back post and Boyle volleyed back across goal and unfortunately wide.

Moments later both teams made double changes with Dylan Levitt and Dwight Gayle coming on for us, whilst Calem Nieuwenhof and Sander Kartum were introduced by Hearts.

Our pressure deservedly paid off with 16 minutes remaining when Iredale latched onto a loose ball 25 yards out before holding off his man and unleashing a stunning angled drive that gave Gordon no chance as it arrowed into the far corner of the net.

It was the defender’s first goal in green and white and it took the roof off Easter Road as three quarters were sent delirious.

Hearts threw on Musa Drammeh and Kenneth Vargas in the closing stages however all they could muster was an effort from Nieuwenhof that was dragged wide of goal.

Back-to-back league wins over Hearts now for the first time since 2009 and Hibs up to third in the William Hill Premiership.