Heart of Midlothian 3-1 Hibernian: Andy Halliday double as visitors condemned to bottom six
- Published
Andy Halliday scored twice as Hearts fought back to beat Hibernian
Andy Halliday urged Hearts to remember "how far we've come" after his double secured third place and condemned Edinburgh rivals Hibernian to the Scottish Premiership bottom six.
Drey Wright gave Hibs a dream start at Tynecastle, but Halliday scored either side of Stephen Kingsley's goal.
Victory is a huge marker for Hearts seven days before the pair meet at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
"We've got to reflect on what has been a brilliant 12 months," said Halliday.
"It's an amazing dressing room. We've added to it, not just with good footballers but good characters.
"I've played a lot of derbies, but when you look to your left and right, you want characters next to you."
Hearts, who were in the Championship last season, can now finish no lower than third and could confirm group-stage European football should they beat Hibs next weekend.
That game offers Hibs a last hope of European football, after a sixth league game without a win for Shaun Maloney's side dropped them to seventh in the table, 19 points behind their Edinburgh rivals.
While no Hearts fan would ever tell you an Edinburgh derby does not matter, there was more on the line for those clad in green and white with a place in the top six at stake.
That added hunger told as Hibs raced into an early lead, with Wright cutting inside and squeezing a shot into the net, aided by a slight nick off a Hearts defender.
The afternoon appeared to be going their way as they continued to have the better of it in Gorgie, and they could have been further ahead.
Wright had another effort deflected wide before Elias Melkersen twice found himself in possession in the box but could not get a shot away.
Hearts were reeling and being tactically outdone. But they found their feet and a flurry in front of goal brought two huge chances.
A brilliant through ball from Barrie McKay sent Ellis Simms clear, but his lob over goalkeeper Matt Macey dropped the wrong side of the post.
McKay then whipped in a cross for Nathaniel Atkinson, who headed off the upright.
Halliday fired two wild shots over, but when he got a third opportunity he made no mistake as Hearts levelled. Simms somehow held on to the ball despite the challenge of two Hibs defenders, slipped it into the path of Halliday, and he stroked a finish into the far corner.
Hearts had started slowly, but their momentum carried into the second half and within two minutes they were ahead when Kingsley knocked Pater Haring's cross into the net at the back post.
They continued to stamp their authority on the game. Simms' looped header bounced just wide, before Hibs were cleaved open again.
McKay played a delightful pass towards Halliday, who drove forward and thumped the ball low from outside the box and into the corner.
Hibs were in disarray. Hearts looked like they could score as many as they wanted. McKay lifted a free-kick over and Alex Cochrane slammed a shot into the side-netting.
They did not add to the scoreline, but the damage had been done with Hibs' entire season now resting on next week's Hampden showdown.
Man of the match - Barrie McKay
In the week Barrie McKay (right) extended his deal he was excellent for Hearts. The more he got on the ball, the better Hearts played
What did we learn?
It appeared Hearts manager Robbie Neilson had blundered with his formation as Hibernian dominated the opening and didn't let the hosts have a sniff.
Maloney's side chased and harried, pressed Hearts' back three high up the park, and Hearts couldn't get forward.
McKay was rarely involved early on, but once the winger began to receive the ball, Hearts' fortunes changed and they had big chances long before Halliday finally got them level.
What will worry Maloney before the Hampden meeting between these two is how quickly his side wilted. After a promising start, they created little, with Wright's early goal their only shot on target.
Struggling for form and goals - they have hit the net just three times in their past six league games - they now face another Edinburgh derby in seven days that they simply must win.
What did they say?
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson: "It's a good performance and it's great to get the three points and secure third place after just being promoted.
"Andy Halliday thrives in these environments. The opposition fans go after him, the pressure of playing in the big games, but he's a real top player and he showed it again."
Hibernian manager Shaun Maloney: "What we gave and what we showed in the second half was completely unacceptable and that's why Hearts were so dominant in the second half.
"There were moments when we were 1-0 up when we didn't have the quality or intensity to actually take the opportunity. We have a lot of work to do between now and next week, and a hell of a lot to do before next season."
What's next?
These two meet again next Saturday at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-final (12:15 BST), and will learn their Scottish Premiership post-split opponents in the coming days.