Scottish Cup holders Hibs emerged triumphant against city rivals Hearts after a pulsating 90 minutes in front of a packed Easter Road this evening.
Neil Lennon made three changes to the starting XI that drew 1-1 with Raith Rovers on Saturday with Martin Boyle, Chris Humphrey and Grant Holt replacing Fraser Fyvie, James Keatings and Brian Graham.
Ian Cathro made two changes with Malaury Martin and Jamie Walker replacing Moha Choulay and Bjorn Johnsen.
Lennon publicly criticised his players following a lacklustre performance four days ago but they showed what they were capable of within minutes of the start.
Humphrey picked up an injury during Hibs’ first attack and was replaced by Andrew Shinnie.
John McGinn was bundled over inside the area a minute later, but referee Steven McLean waved away Hibs’ players nd fans appeals.
From then Hibs dominated possession winning every 50-50 ball and deservedly took the lead in the 20th minute when Andrew Shinnie’s through ball found Jason Cummings who fired in a superb strike from 15 yards.
A few Hibs’ fans ran onto the pitch to celebrate and a flare was thrown onto the pitch before the referee restored order.
Seven minutes later Jamie Walker went down inside the area under a challenge from Liam Fontaine, but again the referee was not interested.
Moments later Hibs should have added a second but John McGinn’s strike was well saved by Jack Hamilton and Shinnie fired over from the rebound.
Hibs then added a second in the 36th minute when McGinn fired a long ball forward which Cummings collected on the left wing before cutting inside and sliding the ball to Holt who calmly poked the ball past Hamilton into the net sparking wild scenes from three sides of the stadium.
Walker was shown a yellow card just before the break then Shinnie was booked for a foul on Walker and play raged at 100mph.
Cathro made two changes at half time, bringing on Sam Nicholson and Rory Currie to replace the ineffectual Martin and captain Perry Kitchen.
Hibs added a third in the 62nd minute after McGinn won the ball in midfield before finding Shinnie who drove forward and fired a sensational strike past Hamilton from 22 yards.
Five minutes later Hearts were awarded a penalty when Isma Concalves was brought down by Darren McGregor inside the area.
Concalves took the resultant spot kick but Ofir Marciano saved. The ball rebounded to Concalves then once again Marciano blocked his shot but he managed to poke the ball into the net form close range.
With 15 minutes remaining Brian Graham replaced holt who left the field to a deserved standing ovation.
Two minutes later McGregor had the ball in the net from a Cummings free kick but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Fraser Fyvie replaced Cummings and Sam Nicholson went close with a powerful strike in time added on but Marciano palmed the ball past the post and Hibs held on to secure a famous victory.
Hibs now have a home tie against Ayr United to look forward to but before that they face Dunfermline Athletic at Easter Road this Saturday
Hibs: Marciano, Gray, Fontaine, Bartley, McGinn, Holt, Stevenson, Boyle, McGregor, Humphrey, Cummings. Subs: Laidlaw, Fyvie, Keatings, Shinnie, Graham, Martin, Donaldson
Hearts: Hamilton, Struna, Avlonitis, Hughes, Sowah, Tziolis, Kitchen, Djoum, Martin, Walker, Isma. Subs: Noring, rherras, Nowak, Choulay, Nicholson, Johnsen, Currie.
Referee Steven McLean
Attendance 20,205
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
