The Jambos raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to two wonderful strikes from Ellis Simms and Stephen Kingsley before Chris Cadden pulled one back for us.
We gave it our all and peppered Craig Gordon’s goal with efforts all afternoon only to find the Scotland international in inspired form.
A red card for Joe Newell saw us play the final 25 minutes with ten men and even despite that disadvantage we never gave up and pressed until the very end. It just was not to be our day.
Our opponents went with the same starting XI as last weekend whilst Shaun Maloney made five changes for this afternoon’s contest.
Ryan Porteous returned from suspension and Paul McGinn from injury as the pair lined-up together with Paul Hanlon in defence for the first time since December’s win over Aberdeen.
Lewis Stevenson came in for Josh Doig, while Ewan Henderson started at the expense of Drey Wright, who was unable to shake off the knock he picked up in last week’s derby.
The final change saw James Scott given the nod ahead of Elias Melkersen in attack.
We lined-up in a 3-5-1-1 formation and carved out the opening chance of the game when Henderson’s free-kick picked out Hanlon at the back post and from his header back in the danger area, Jake Doyle-Hayes was denied by Craig Gordon.
Hearts then had a terrific opportunity on the counter attack as Kingsley released Liam Boyce in behind us on the left, with Simms free in the middle for what surely would have been a tap in, the Northern Irishman opted to go for goal himself only to screw his effort wide of goal.
Play was frenetic and end-to-end during the opening period with neither side able to retain possession for long.
On ten minutes we had a claim for a penalty kick when the ball struck the arm of Kingsley, however referee John Beaton felt the Hearts man could do little to avoid it and waved play on.
Five minutes later and Kingsley was involved in the opening goal as he threw himself in to block McGinn’s clearance, Barrie Mackay pounced on the loose ball and threaded it through to Simms who smashed a powerful drive from just outside the box beyond Matt Macey.
Five minutes later Hearts doubled their lead thanks to a stunning effort from Kingsley. The defender took a one-two with Boyce from a free-kick and curled and exquisite finish beyond Macey and into the top corner.
We needed to rally, and we did as we reduced arrears almost immediately as Stevenson robbed Toby Sibbick of possession before cutting back to Cadden, who struck the grounded Newell with his first effort before slamming the rebound beyond Gordon.
After three goals in six breathless minutes, play did eventually settle down and there was not another chance of note until into first half stoppage time when Cadden slid in to block Simms and inadvertently sent Boyce clean through on goal. The striker raced through, slipped the ball beyond Macey and thankfully for us, wide of the far post.
The second half, much like the first, started at a ferocious pace and we were on the front foot from the first whistle.
Hearts were dealt an early blow when Craig Halkett appeared to twist his ankle in a challenge with Scott and was replaced by Taylor Moore, following lengthy treatment.
We penned our city rivals back in the opening moments and went close when Newell saw an effort blocked for a corner kick.
From the set piece, Porteous’ header was kept out by a stunning save from Gordon, who somehow pushed it onto the post. Porto had done everything correct by sending his header down and into the far corner only for the net-bound effort to be kept out by Gordon’s wonder save.
Momentum was with us and Hearts were looking rattled, however, a second yellow card for Newell saw us reduced to ten men on 65 minutes.
Hearts had a rare foray forward in the 72nd minute that resulted in their first shot on goal of the second period when Sibbick’s low angled drive was beaten away by Macey and Porteous blocked bravely from Mackay on the rebound.
We were soon back on the attack with McGinn finding the run of Henderson, his cross was only partially cleared and dropped to Harry Clarke on the edge of the box, however he could not keep his shot down.
Substitute Josh Campbell then tried his luck from distance before another fantastic save from Gordon kept out Henderson’s long range free-kick.
With two minutes of normal time remaining we were nearly level as Cadden’s cross picked out Melkersen only for the striker to head wide just in front of goal.
As the match entered the first of eight additional minutes, we threw caution to the wind and sent Porteous forward in search of the elusive equaliser.
In the final minute we had one last chance from a free-kick – Jasper’s shot deflecting off the defensive wall and Gordon punched it away at his near post.
Heart of Midlothian: Gordon, Kingsley (Devlin 87’), Haring, Boyce, Atkinson, Halliday (McEneff 40’), Cochrane, McKay, Halkert (Moore 51’), Simms, Sibbick. Substitutes not used: Stewart, Woodburn, Mackay-Steven, Ginnelly.
Hibernian: Macey, McGinn (Campbell 74’), Porteous, Hanlon, Cadden, Doyle-Hayes, Newell, Stevenson (Melkersen 74’), Clarke, Henderson (Mueller 89’), Scott (Jasper 89’). Substitutes not used: Dabrowski, Mitchell, Allan, Bushiri, Delferriere, Doig, Hauge.
Referee: John Beaton.
Attendance: 37,783.
