Derby defeat for nine-man Hibs

Nine-man Hibs suffered a derby day defeat to title chasing rivals Hearts in front of a packed Easter Road this afternoon. 

That defeat, coupled with Motherwell’s victory over Rangers at Ibrox puts the Steelmen six points clear in the race for fourth. 

David Gray made three changes to his Hibs’ line-up, handing Martin Boyle a start up top, as well as the captain’s armband. 

Nicky Cadden and Jordan Obita slotted into the back-three alongside Rocky Bushiri. 

Grant Hanley was suspended, Jack Iredale and Dane Scarlett both dropped to the bench. 

Hearts made four changes to their starting XI and there was no place for Cammy Devlin who picked up an injury in training.

Hearts started off on the front foot but it was Hibs that took the lead in the seventh minute. 

Nicky Cadden was fouled on the left and Jamie McGrath floated the free-kick towards the back post where Martin Boyle broke free of his marker to volley high into the net, sparking mayhem amongst the Hibs fans. 

The euporia didn’t last however because moments later Hibs were reduced to 10-men when goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger was adjudged to have handled the ball outside the area denying Hearts a goal scoring opportunity.  

Referee Don Robertson was instructed by VAR to check the replay and issued a red card. 

Jordan Smith replaced Cadden and quickly won applause with an amazing save, from a Michael Steinwender header. 

Hearts then dominated in a bad tempered affair which saw Felix Passlack one of several bookings. 

Sabah Kerjota replaced Jordi Altena at the start of the second-half. 

Shortly after the retstart Hibs were reduced to nine men when Passlack caught Beni Baningime on the thigh with a late challenge and was shown a second yellow card. 

From then it was all Hearts but it took until the 65^th minute before they equalised. 

Sabah Kerjota drilled the ball in low from right and Lawrence Shankland tried a front-post flick but the last touch came off Warren O’Hora. 

Hearts piled on the pressure and despite some valiant defending from Hibs grabbed a late winner with four minutes remaining when substitute Blair Spittal’s side footed effort deflected off Bushiri past Smith. 

After the game Gray told BBC Scotland:: “Everything we knew it would. The start of the game was fast and frantic, nervy. If anything Hearts had the better of the opening five minutes. We were a bit rash. 

“We find ourselves 1-0 up, brilliant. Then, we’ve beat ourselves, same as last week. It’s very hard to win games of football with 11 men, especially against the team that are top of the league at the moment. 

“One thing I can’t fault, and I’m full of praise for, is the nine men on the pitch. They gave us everything, defended with their lives and restricted Hearts to little.” 

Hibernian: Sallinger, O’Hora, Bushiri, Obita, Passlack, Barlaser, Chaiwa, N Cadden, McGrath, Boyle, Elding. 

Substitutes: Smith, Newell, C Cadden, Iredale, Megwa, Andrews, Campbell, Scarlett, Suto. 

Heart of Midlothian: Schwolow, Steinwender, Halkett, Findlay, Altena, Leonard, Baningime, Kingsley, Braga, Kabore, Shankland. 

Substitutes: Fulton, Kent, McCart, Spittal, Forrest, Kerjota, Mato, Kyziridis, Chesnokov.