James Wilson marked his Edinburgh Derby debut with a goal as his late equaliser for Hearts keeps Hibs rooted to the bottom of the table.

 

Hibs had thought they’d won it when Mykola Kuharevich’s second-half goal gave the hosts the lead, but teenager Wilson came off the bench to nip in front of Lewis Miller and deny Hibs the victory.

 

Hearts certainly settled the quicker of the two sides; their passing had a zip that the Hibs side lacked. David Gray had opted for Kwon and Triantis in the middle without suspended captain Joe Newell, but they failed to take a grip of the game. Misplaced passes and loose touches from the hosts were letting the Hearts midfield pen the Hibs side back.

 

As the minutes of the first half ticked away, Hearts possession counted for little, as they were unable to carve out any chances to trouble the Hibs backline. Josef Bursik was coming into the game off a catalogue of errors in the Hibs goal, but Hearts were unable to test him.

 

It was Hibs that looked the more likely scorers, as they continued to have joy in behind the Hearts fullbacks. Junior Hoillet has been an impressive performer for Hibs this season, and he was continuing to pull the strings to get the team upfield. Ellie Youan, with space down the flank, was able to fire in a cross that was palmed away by Gordon, but Dwight Gayle’s follow-up was already off-target before Penrice hacked it away.

 

 

Moments later, Gayle was guilty of missing a huge chance to give Hibs the lead just after the 30-minute mark. Hoillet whipped in a beautiful free kick to plant it on the head of Gayle six yards out, but his effort was straight at Gordon, who stuck out a strong arm to bat it away.

 

Manager David Gray told SPFL News Now that he tinkered with his tactics slightly at half-time after he felt his side had gifted Hearts too much possession in the opening forty-five despite having the better chances.

 

David Gray refused to shy away after the game of his side’s continued pattern of throwing away games from winning positions.

 

“For 99% of that game, if we defend the long throw properly, we’re sitting here with a very different narrative. Which has been the way it has been, I’m not going to shy away from it; I feel like I’m answering the same questions.”

“We had to tweak a few things tactically, but I also felt that we had better chances, and we needed to take some belief in that and trust in ourselves going forward.”

 

The message worked as Hibs came out much brighter in the second half. Martin Boyle had been largely absent in the first half, but he was imposing himself brilliantly. His chipped cross found Gayle in the box for another attempt, but his effort was easily gathered by Gordon.

 

That was to be Gayles last piece of the action as he was hooked for Kuharevich shortly after, and the substitute made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch. Hoillets’ free-kick again caused panic in the Hearts box. Ekpiteta’s header was tipped onto the bar by Gordon, but Kuharevich was on hand to tap in the rebound to spark wild celebrations across the Famous Five stand.

 

Hearts almost immediately struck back; Jorge Grant pulled it back for Shankland just outside the six-yard box, but the Hearts hitman could only find the side netting to the groans of the Hearts fans behind the goal.

 

Hearts manager Neil Critchley rolled the attacking dice, bringing on Barrie McKay and James Wilson as the Hibs side started to sit deeper and deeper. You could begin to feel the nerves creep into the Easter Road crowd as Hibs continued to invite Hearts on to them.

 

But it was Hibs who could’ve put the game to bed just ten minutes from time. Boyle directed his free-kick in behind the Hearts defence, and Triantis’s touch left him with just Gordon to beat, but his shot was weak and into the hands of an already-falling Gordon to the relief of the Hearts defence.

 

Hibs would be punished immediately for not scoring as they failed to deal with a long throw for the second game in a row. Penrice launched it into the area, and it was flicked into the path of Wilson, who had muscled himself in front of a sleeping Miller to slam home and strike a body blow to David Grays side.

 

The goal does enough for Hearts to keep Hibs rooted at the bottom of the table, with their sole win coming against St Johnstone.

 

Manager Critchley praised his team’s ability to manage a quick turnaround after their European victory midweek.

 

“I felt we came here and played good football; we weren’t playing introverted and anxious. I felt we played with confidence and freedom, and that’s what I want us to be in the future.”

 

Hibs face a crunch fixture on Wednesday night as they make the long trip North to face Ross County, whilst Hearts entertain Kilmarnock.

 

Hibernian: Bursik, Miller, Ekpiteta, O’Hora, Youan (Moriah-Welsh 60′), Boyle ©, Kwon, Obita, Hoilett (Doyle-Hayes 81′), Triantis, Gayle (Kuharevich 60′)

Subs: Smith, Levitt, Doyle-Hayes, Iredale, McKirdy, Moriah-Welsh, Bushiri, Molotnikov, Kukharevych

Hearts: Gordon, Kent, Oyegoke, Shankland ©, Devlin (McKay 72′), Rowles, Spittal, Boateng (Wilson 72′), Dhanda (Forrest 60′), Penrice, Vargas (Grant 60′)

Subs: Clark, Kingsley, Halkett, Grant, McKay, Forrest, Wilson, Boyce, Forrester

Attendance: 20,020