Hibs leapfrogged Hearts into fifth place in the SPFL following a 1-0 victory in front of a packed Easter Road tonight.
Neil Lennon made four changes to the starting XI that lost to Celtic in the Betfred League Cup semi-final on Saturday.
Ofir Marciano replaced Ross Laidlaw in goals whilst Steven Whittaker took over from skipper David Gray at right back.
In midfield, Vykintas Slivka made way for Martin Boyle and as expected Anthony Stokes missed out due to an ankle injury. He was replaced by Simon Murray.
Craig Levein made two changes to his starting XI that beat St Johnstone at Murrayfield. Rafal Grzelak replaced Manuel Milinkovic and Euan Henderson took over from Esmael Concalves.
The teams were greeted to an impressive card display in the Famous Five stand and if the intention was to inspire the players, it certainly worked as Hibs started the game on fire and opened the scoring in the second minute.
Brandon Barker did well to find Murray inside the area and the striker nutmegged John Souttar before hammering the ball high into the net past Joe McLaughlin sparking mayhem amongst the home fans.
Hibs almost made it 2-0 two minutes later when John McGinn fired a low cross into the danger area but there was no-one available to force the ball into the net.
The game was being played at 100mph and Paul Hanlon was booked for tripping Kyle Lafferty on the edge of the area. Grzelak fired the resultant free kick into the wall.
Barker was causing Michael Smith problems down the left wing, and the youngster was eventually booked for a blatant block just over the half way line.
Barker then found Simon Murray who cut in from the left but his cross was deflected for a corner. Barker took the kick and found Lewis Stevenson unmarked inside the area but the full-backs shot was deflected over the bar.
In the 34th minute, Lafferty pounced on a long ball and tried to lob the Hibs’ keeper but his effort flew just over the bar. Moments later Marciano did well to save from Jamie Walker as Hearts started to find their feet.
Hibs should have doubled their lead just before the break when Dylan McGeouch beat two defenders before lobbing the ball into the path of Boyle but McLaughlin managed to block his effort. The ball fell to Whittaker but his hurried shot went just over the bar to the relief of the Hearts fans behind the goal.
Hibs started the second half brightly and McGinn went close with a long range effort. McGinn then sent a superb ball into the danger area but the Hearts defence managed to clear the ball for a corner with Murray waiting to pounce.
Marvin Bartley did well to stop a Hearts break then some superb skill from Efe Ambrose set up Whittaker but his curled effort was deflected for a corner.
Moments later a McGinn free kick was cleared into the path of Stevenson but his long range strike went well wide.
Levein replaced Jamie Brandon with Concalves in the 57th minute but it was Hibs who looked the more likely to score.
Barker brought a good save out of McLaughlin then McGinn set up Boyle but the winger took too many touches and the danger was cleared.
Concalves was booked for chopping down McGinn as the tackles were flying in from both sides.
Whittaker set up Boyle and his cross was well controlled by Murray but his shot on the turn went just wide.
McGeouch was the next player to be shown a yellow card for a foul on John Souttar as Hearts pressed for an equaliser which almost came after a scramble inside the box but a fantastic last ditch tackle by Hanlon denied Concalves.
With 10 minutes remaining Bartley broke up another Hearts attack and found Barker who ran 70 yards with the ball before finding McGinn on the edge of the area. The midfielder fired in a low drive which McLaughlin did well to save.
Murray was replaced by Deivydas Matulevicius and left the field to a standing ovation and Hearts started to leave three forwards up front but Hibs controlled possession.
Referee Andrew Dallas irked the home fans by prematurely blowing up for a free-kick as Matulevicius was clean through then in the dying minute he booked Harry Cochrane for a dreadful foul on McGinn which more than merited a red card.
All was forgiven however when he blew his whistle for full time and three sides of Easter Road erupted as the players celebrated with the fans who provided a rendition of Sunshine on Leith in gratitude.
After the game goal scorer Murray told BBC Scotland:”It was important to get the win, and the goal was special for me. I’ve been working on that, getting the shot away early. I got the head down and hit it as hard as I could. That’s one I’ll always remember.
“We got into positions that we could have done better in, but the guys at the back were solid. We were never under too much pressure, but it would have been good to get a few more.
“[Anthony] Stokes is a big player for us, but I’ve been working hard and with him being injured that gave me an opportunity. I feel that I work hard for the team and that’s all I can do.”
Hibs: Marciano, Whittaker, Hanlon, Bartley, McGinn, McGeouch, S. Murray, Stevenson, Boyle, Barker, Ambrose. Subs: Laidlaw, Gray, Slivka, Matulevicius, Shaw, F.Murray, Porteous
Hearts: McLaughlin, Smith, Souttar, Berra, Walker, Lafferty, Randall, Callachan, Grzelak, Brandon, Henderson. Subs: Hamilton, Milinkovic, Nowak, Stockton, Moore, Cochrane, Concalves.
Referee Andrew Dallas
Attendance 20,165
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.
