Hibs 1 Hearts 1

The first Edinburgh Derby of the 2024/25 season ended all-square at Easter Road Stadium.

Hibs had taken a second-half lead thanks to substitute Mykola Kuharevich, but Hearts struck back late on through James Wilson to snatch a point.

David Gray opted for anattacking line-up with Martin Boyle, Elie Youan and Dwight Gayle all in from the start.

Nectar Triantis returned from suspension whilst Rudi Molotnikov and Kuharevich dropped to the bench. Chris Cadden missed out through injury while Hibs captain Joe Newell was suspended.

The boys were led out into the white-hot atmosphere by skipper-for-the-day Boyle as the match started with all the blood and thunder we’ve become accustomed to in this fixture.

Hearts, perhaps buoyed by their last two results, stated the match in the more confident manner and sought to take advantage.

Early on, Marvin Ekpiteta was robbed by Kenneth Vargas and from his cut back Blair Spittal saw an effort blocked at the edge of our box.

The visitors were set-up positively with Yan Dhanda and Spittal supporting Lawrence Shankland and Vargas at the top end of the pitch.

Spittal had another opportunity to open the scoring when the ball dropped to him on the edge of our box only to slice his volley wide.

On 21 minutes we had our first real effort on goal as Craig Gordon diverted Youan’s cross away only for Gayle to return it toward goal and James Penrice hooked it off the line.

Hearts’ high press almost paid off shortly after when Triantis’ slip in midfield was pounced upon by Shankland who drove forward before stinging the palms of Josef Bursik with a powerful effort.

The Scotland striker had opted to go it alone despite Hearts having a 3v2 advantage, with Malachi Boateng unmarked on the far side.

Moments later and Shankland played Vargas into a shooting position only for Ekpiteta to thwart him by sliding in to block his shot.

The visitors were certainly enjoying the best of the possession even if Bursik didn’t have too much to do.

Yet, ten minutes before half-time we could’ve been ahead after Junior Hoilett’s free-kick found the head of Gayle who was denied point-blank by Gordon.

The teams would head into the interval goalless with Hearts enjoying the lion’s share of possession without really hurting us, whilst we had managed to do more with less by arguably having the two best chances of the half.

Neither side opted to make any changes during the break and three minutes after the restart Hibs had another big opportunity as Gayle headed Boyle’s cross towards goal only for Gordon again to thwart him.

At the other end, Shankland should’ve opened the scoring when he latched onto Boateng’s cut back however his shot, whilst getting past Bursik, lacked power and Warren O’Hora hooked it clear.

Moments later a good counter from the home side saw Youan drive forward and slip the ball into Gayle’s path only for a heavy first touch to allow Gordon to gather.

Both teams made two changes on the hour with Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Kuharevich replacing Youan and Gayle, whilst Neil Critchley changed Dhanda and Vargas with Jorge Grant and Alan Forrest.

We were enjoying a good spell of pressure on the Hearts’ goal and Boyle wasn’t far away with a hooked shot from Lewis Miller’s cross that Gordon nervously watched go wide of his far post.

Then, on 65 minutes, a breakthrough.  A free-kick from the right was hung up to the back post where Ekpiteta’s looping header was turned onto the crossbar by Gordon and Kuharevich slammed in the rebound.

It was the Ukrainian striker’s first touch of the ball and it sparked wild scenes of celebration from three quarters of Easter Road.

Our lead could have been short lived as Hearts had a big chance to quickly restore parity when Grant - who could have later seen red for an elbow on Miller - cut the ball back to see the goal open up for Shankland, who smashed a shot into the side netting.

Moments later and Frankie Kent headed over the crossbar following a corner kick.

Play was raging from end-to end and there was no let up in the intensity of the game.  On 76 minutes, Kwon wasn’t far away with a rising effort that was just over Gordon’s crossbar.

With eight minutes remaining, Hoilett was replaced by Jake Doyle-Hayes and we had a big opportunity to put the game to bed when Triantis found himself through from Boyle’s freekick but his shot was comfortably saved by Gordon.

It would prove a costly miss as Hearts levelled on 86 minutes.

A long throw in from Penrice was flicked on to the back post where Wilson turned it in from close range.

Both teams sought to win it in the closing moments without either fashioning a clear-cut chance as the first Derby of the season ended all-square.