Hibs 1 Hearts 2
Hearts took the spoils from the final Edinburgh Derby of the 2025/26 season as two red cards proved costly for Hibs.
We took the lead early on through Martin Boyle, though we would be forced to play with ten men following Raphael Sallinger's 14th-minute dismissal.
A second sending off just minutes after the interval for Felix Passlack saw us down to nine and unfortunately handed Hearts all the incentive they needed.
After incessant pressure, Lawrence Shankland drew the visitors level on 65 minutes before substitute Blair Spittal snatched a winning goal just four minutes from time.
Boss David Gray made three changes for the visit of our city rivals with Boyle, Rocky Bushiri and Nicky Cadden replacing Dane Scarlett, Grant Hanley and Jack Iredale.
The match begun at 100mph and it never let up as the frenetic opening matched the passion from the stands.
A breathless opening also saw the breakthrough when, from a seventh minute free kick from Jamie McGrath, Boyle stole away from Beni Baningime to volley high into the Hearts’ net at the back post.
We were 1-0 to the good and looking for more, though the match would turn in the 12th minute when Sallinger came to collect a through ball and carried it out of his box. It was spotted by VAR and he was duly sent off after a review.
Playing with ten men for so long was always going to be an issue. Gray opted to sacrifice Nicky Cadden for substitute goalkeeper Jordan Smith as we moved to a flat back four and a 4-3-2 formation.
When play resumed, Marc Leonard tried to curl the belatedly awarded free kick in - however his effort was just too high and over the crossbar it went.
We tried to get forward when we could and had a good chance when Warren O’Hora’s long throw was knocked down into the path of Miguel Chaiwa by Rocky, however the midfielder failed to make a clean connection and dragged his shot wide of goal.
Smith had not featured since our 3-3 draw with Dundee United last September, however there was no sign of a lack of match sharpness when he produced a stunning save on 21 minutes to keep us ahead. Leonard’s corner kick was powerfully met by the head of Michael Steinwender and it looked a goal all the way before Smith somehow got down to his left to push it away.
On 33 minutes a fine cross from Stephen Kingsley picked out Claudio Braga rising above Jordan Obita only for his close-range header to drop just over the crossbar.
The second period was only three minutes old when Hibs were reduced to nine men after Passlack caught Baningime and picked up a second yellow card from referee Don Robertson.
Again, we were forced into making a change to combat the loss of a player, with Owen Elding making way for defender Kanayo Megwa.
It was one-way traffic as the visitors laid siege to our goal - with Smith pulling off big saves to first deny Braga point-blank before diving full length to push Halkett’s piledriver round his post.
On the hour Hearts rattled our crossbar as Leonard’s thunderous drive from 22 yards flashed past Smith only to crash back into play.
We attempted to introduce fresh legs with Ante Suto, Joe Newell and Josh Campbell all brought on, however they were on the field only 60 seconds when Hearts levelled. Sabah Kerjota drilled ball in from right and it was turned in by Shankland at the front post via a deflection.
Unfortunately, there was little respite for us as Hearts kept coming forward. Leonard was not far away with a powerful low strike before Kerjota was denied by Smith at his near post.
With only four minutes of the 90 remaining Hearts snatched the winning goal. Leonard was allowed to drive deep into our box and from his cut back Spittal swept a low finish past Smith, again aided by a deflection.
A gut-wrenching finish to the contest for us after a herculean defensive display as the numerical disadvantage proved too costly to overcome and the visitors took full advantage.