Heart of Midlothian came from behind to secure a 2–1 victory over Hibernian FC in a dramatic Edinburgh Derby at Easter Road, moving back to the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Hibernian made the perfect start, taking the lead inside seven minutes through captain Martin Boyle. The winger found space at the back post and finished from close range after a well-delivered free kick, sparking early celebrations among the home crowd.
However, the game turned on two key disciplinary moments that left Hibs severely depleted. Goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger was shown a straight red card after handling the ball outside the penalty area to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity. Shortly after the break, Felix Passlack received a second yellow card, reducing Hibernian to nine men.
With a numerical advantage, Hearts began to dominate possession and territory. Their pressure eventually paid off midway through the second half when Warren O’Hora inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, bringing the visitors level.
Hearts continued to press and were rewarded late on. Blair Spittal struck from the edge of the box, his effort taking a deflection before finding the net to complete the comeback and secure all three points.
The victory carries significant title implications. With Rangers dropping points earlier in the day, Hearts’ win moves them back to the top of the table, ahead of Celtic, with only four matches remaining in the season.
Despite a spirited defensive effort, Hibernian were ultimately unable to withstand sustained pressure with two players fewer, as Hearts capitalised on their advantage to claim a crucial derby win.
Reference
- OneFootball / FromTheSpot — “Hibernian 1–2 Hearts: Hearts go top after coming from behind to beat nine man Hibs in the Edinburgh Derby” (Published 26 April 2026)
