Image source, SNSJames Wilson. Now Hearts' joint-top goalscorer this season with five goals, and he took both of them like a seasoned pro today.
He could have had even more, were it not for the right foot of Jordan Amissah or Ross Hardie overturning his initial penalty decision.
Without Lawrence Shankland to rely on, the 17-year-old has stepped up.
Hearts are eyeing a move for Kilmarnock winger Danny Armstrong, with the 27-year-old about to enter the final six months of his deal at Rugby Park. (Scottish Sun), external
Hearts have opened talks with Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise about a loan for 26-year-old forward Elton Kabangu. (Edinburgh Evening News), external
Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark is on the Hibs list of potential transfer targets for next season. (Edinburgh Evening News), external
Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSRoss County forward Alex Samuel is out long-term with a thigh injury and Eli Campbell's knee problem keeps the defender out.
Centre-half Ricki Lamie is back in training, but Will Nightingale is still out.
Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin is suspended, while Gerald Taylor, Calem Nieuwenhof, Stephen Kingsley and Frankie Kent are still out injured.
Image source, SNSHearts captain Lawrence Shankland says Hearts "deserve" their lowly league position for their performances this season.
The Tynecastle club are 11th in the Scottish Premiership having taken just 16 points from 19 games.
Head coach Steven Naismith was dismissed in September after eight successive defeats, but successor Neil Critchley has been unable to take Hearts up the table.
"You need to be realistic," Shankland said. "We're in a position where the league would tell you that we're not exactly a brilliant team.
"I think the season would tell you that. Right now we're not performing like a good team.
"So we are where we are in the table because we deserve to be there and that's the truth.
"I think if anyone shies away from that, they're telling themselves a lie. We are where we are and now we're going to a huge game at Ross County next that we need to go and win."
Shankland called for signings in January to help reverse Hearts' fortunes.
"[New arrivals] can help, yes," the striker said. "Obviously you need quality. You need to recruit quality players that can bring a level that's expected to perform at the football club.
"That's what we need going forward. It's up to the club and the management."
Image source, SNSRoss County have won just three of their 30 top-flight league matches against Heart of Midlothian (D15 L12); only against Rangers (1/24) and Celtic (2/38) have they won fewer games in the top-flight.
Hearts have lost just one of their last 16 Scottish Premiership games against Ross County (W6 L9), although that was their last such away visit, going down 2-1 in March of last season.
Ross County failed to win their final league match in each of the previous three calendar years (D1 L2) since a 2-0 win against Hibernian in 2020.
Excluding years in which they were relegated, Hearts are unbeaten in their final Scottish Premiership match of a calendar year since 2016 (0-1 v Aberdeen), avoiding defeat in six such games since (W3 D3).
Hearts' Lawrence Shankland has scored six goals in his last six Scottish Premiership appearances against Ross County, although hasn't scored in his last two such games in Dingwall.
Hearts defender Kye Rowles is attracting interest from clubs in his native Australia and in Europe, with head coach Neil Critchley saying "anyone has their price". (Edinburgh Evening News), external
Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.
Sportscene pundits Scott Allan and Steven Naismith analyse Hearts' performance in their 2-1 defeat by Hibs in the Scottish Premiership.
We asked for your thoughts on Hearts' 2-1 Boxing Day defeat by Edinburgh rivals Hibs.
Here's what some of you said:
Bryan: Neil Critchley says he did not recognise the Hearts team during the derby. That's strange as it's the same tactics I have been watching for the last nine years. Come down the right, go back. Come down the left, go back. Hold the ball until we make a mistake and lose a goal. Swap players rather than tactics or formation. I know what to expect on Sunday.
Chris: Every time I think the performance levels can't drop further, they do. Virtually no players with pass marks. Even Cammy Devlin was hiding. The squad is dire, Lawrence Shankland's form is unbelievably bad, but he has zero support and we are defensively awful. Critchley doesn't know what to do - his subs yesterday were baffling - tombola stuff.
Tom: Again we shot ourselves in the foot with an ineffective team shape. Then when we needed an uplift in performance after going behind we introduce players who are best described as past their sell by date. Clear out required but that will not happen in the January window. We will probably have to see out this horrible experience until May.
Duncan: I've been a Hearts supporter for almost 80 years. This is not an Scottish Premiership team. Relegation is becoming very close. Instead of continuing to buy lacklustre players we should be bringing more homegrown talent from the academy into the team who want to play from the heart.
Jim: We're not any better under Critchley than we were under Steven Naismith. That performance against Hibs was an all-time low. No drive in the middle of the park and lacklustre up front. As a team, so very slow all over the park. We're heading for the Championship at this rate!
Pete: I've seen a lot of blame placed at the feet of Critchley and I do agree that his subs were the wrong call. Especially Yan Dhanda for Blair Spittal. However, the squad he has to work with is terrible. No pace in any position. No players able to run with the ball. I feel sorry for any coach trying to get a result with this lot.
David: While I remain unconvinced by Critchley, the problems lie fairly and squarely with previous management and the board. Failure to move on sub-standard players, inject pace into the squad and not recognise the need for two proven strikers is costing us dearly. A successful January window is a must if we are to avoid relegation and regain our pride.
Peter: The players are losing faith in themselves and their team mates. Only the fans can lift them out of that state of mind and we must stop the pointless booing and throwing the rattle out of the pram. Get them backed and, despite the quality of management, we will improve. Try it or shut it.
Watch Edinburgh derby highlights as Hibs beat Hearts 2-1 at Tynecastle in the Scottish Premiership.
Hearts head coach Neil Critchley did not recognise his side for large parts of the 2-1 Boxing Day derby defeat by Hibernian. (Not the Old Firm), external
Dwight Gayle's superb first-time finish earned Hibernian a hard-fought Scottish Premiership victory over Edinburgh rivals Hearts at Tynecastle.
The visitors took an early lead through a Kye Rowles own goal following a long VAR check, before a horror own goal from Rocky Bushiri on the stroke of half-time levelled the scores.
The game looked destined to end in a draw after a drab second half, but Gayle rolled back the years with a wonderful goal.
David Gray's side moved up to seventh in the table following their first win at Tynecastle in five years, while Hearts stayed 10th before the rest of the Boxing Day action.
Hearts fans, were you at Tynecastle to watch your side's derby defeat or were you following along from home? Either way, we want your thoughts.
Have your say on the game., external
George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSThe torrent of Hearts fans heading for the exits towards the end told a story, as did the boos that met the full-time whistle.
Supporters remain unconvinced by Neil Critchley's side and are disenchanted with off-field matters.
Maroon scarves were thrown from the stands in protest at full-time after another uninspiring performance and a loss against their biggest rivals.
Critchley's side had plenty of the ball, but they struggled to carve out chances of note.
It has been said plenty of times before, but their striking lack of pace in forward areas makes them predictable in possession. There is lots of tidy play without much penetration.
At the back, Craig Halkett and Kye Rowles looked shaky. Hibs targeted the Australian centre-back in the air, resulting in the opening goal, and Halkett looked laboured having hurried back from injury.
They had plenty of shots, but Jordan Smith was rarely worried in the Hibs goal. Efforts came from long range or unlikely angles, and youngster James Wilson was isolated up top.
Lawrence Shankland had a wonderful opportunity late on, but he hesitated at the vital moment and that pause allowed Hibs to get back and block the shot.
Image source, SNSHearts head coach Neil Critchley tells BBC Scotland: "I didn't think we played well enough. Started the game reasonably well, but then concede. We've conceded the first goal on too many occasions. I think that knocked us.
"I don't think we played anywhere near like we're capable of in the first half. We got a bit of fortune with the goal but we were fortunate to be 1-1 at half-time.
"Second half we played better, were in the ascendancy, but then we go and do what we have done on too many occasions - concede a really poor goal. Until we stop that, it's going to stop us building any consistency.
"Dwight Gayle does what Dwight Gayle does, and that's the difference between the two teams. We didn't produce that at one end, and that's why Hibs have won the game.
"We're always looking to try to improve. There's parts of our squad that need reinforcing and that's what we're going to try to do.
"If you want to play for this football club, we need players with the mentality and quality to produce on a regular basis and at the moment we're not doing that.
"I'm still learning a lot about this group from game to game. I'm learning which ones are going to hopefully be coming on the journey long term and the ones who won't be. I think we had too many under-par performances from players today."
Image source, SNSOne manager is sampling the Edinburgh derby for the first time, the other is a rookie boss but grizzled veteran of the frenzied fixture from his playing days.
Both Hearts and Hibs go into the Boxing Day showdown at Tynecastle on the back of morale-boosting wins. Hearts lifted some of their European gloom by beating St Johnstone to clamber off the bottom of the Premiership, while Hibs continued their recent resurgence with victory at Aberdeen.
As ever, the stakes are high when the rivals collide.
Hearts head coach Neil Critchley said: "It was vitally important to go into derby with a win after the week we had. It's not been an easy week for all of us and this has given us a lift at the right time.
"I've been visualising the game in my head for a number of weeks, and on Boxing Day I get to experience it.
"That is an incentive, to go above them. The league is very tight and a couple of wins can change things very quickly. We want to back up Sunday's win with another in a big game on Boxing Day, get the crowd behind us."
Hibs boss David Gray has urged his team to embrace the hostile atmosphere in the Gorgie cauldron.
"It's a fantastic fixture for everyone to look forward to, especially off the back of such a positive result," said Gray.
"Games don't come any bigger than this. For a Hibs player to have the opportunity on Boxing Day to go there, a real hostile environment, is something the players should really relish.
"These are the greatest games I ever played in when I had the opportunity to do it. The magnitude of the game will take care of itself and we've given ourselves a right good chance as we go into it full of confidence and belief."
Laurie Dunsire, Jambos fan and Hearts TV lead commentator, expects another taut derby on Thursday and says beating Hibs would be massive for Neil Critchley in winning over the support.
Listen to the Edinburgh derby preview on the Scottish football podcast from 08:00 GMT on 26 December
Image source, SNSHearts hope to welcome back Beni Baningime after his recent knee issues but Gerald Taylor (knee), Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring), Stephen Kingsley (hamstring) and Frankie Kent (quad) are still out.
Hibs pair Warren O'Hora (ankle) and Joe Newell (muscle) are hoping to recover from injuries sustained in Saturday's win at Aberdeen.
Attackers Mykola Kuharevich and Rudi Molotnikov could return after missing out recently with groin issues. Marvin Ekpiteta (thigh) and Kieron Bowie (hamstring) are still out.
Hibs are winless in six Scottish Premiership away games against rivals Hearts (D4 L2) – but their last such win came on Boxing Day in 2019 (2-0).
Hearts have only lost one of their last 12 Scottish Premiership meetings with Hibs (W4 D7), going down 1-0 in April 2023.
Excluding own goals, Lawrence Shankland has scored five of Hearts' last nine Scottish Premiership goals against Hibs.
Hibs have won three of their last five Boxing Day games in the top flight (D1 L1), this after losing five in a row beforehand.
This is Hearts' first Scottish Premiership game on Boxing Day since 2021, when they beat Ross County 2-1. Hearts last won successive Boxing Day matches in the top flight in 2005/2006.
Andy Campbell
BBC Sport Scotland
Boxing Day kicks off with a festive cracker at Tynecastle as Edinburgh's big two, Hearts and Hibernian, meet for the second time this season.
Last time out, it was 1-1 draw at Easter Road, with Hearts striking late to deny Hibs.
The city rivals have largely struggled this season but both have improved of late, particularly Hibs. David Gray's side left Aberdeen's Pittodrie with all three points on Saturday - their third win in four league games.
Hearts moved off the foot of the table and sent St Johnstone bottom by beating the Perth side 2-1 at home on Sunday. European games may have been a distraction for Neil Critchley's side this season but it is just domestic games from here on in.
Victory for the hosts and they will move above David Gray's Hibs. Should the Easter Road side win, they will increase the gap between the teams to five points. Four of the past five meetings have ended drawn and the last two wins in the fixture have been by a solitary goal.
To save their league season, both teams really need to be pushing into the top six and Thursday's game could be just the springboard if one of them can pick up all three points.
Greg Playfair
Fan writer
The one Christmas present some fans want is the news that Ann Budge is stepping down as Hearts chair.
It may seem odd to be bringing up this topic on the back of a victory over St Johnstone and with an Edinburgh derby fast approaching, but the truth is it needs to be discussed given how abjectly poor the season has been.
Last Thursday's defeat by Petrocub is up there with our worst-ever results given the magnitude of what was at stake. We simply had to win at home against the worst side in the competition, who had nothing to play for.
We know all about the players and the fact they need to take responsibility. I said last week Neil Critchley needs to start taking flak, but we have to look up from the pitch to really evaluate what has been going wrong.
Don't get me wrong, there's been an incredible transformation off the pitch in the last 10 years with the new main stand being built, along with a hotel and integration of the women's and girls teams to the club. Revenue has increased from £6m to over £20m in that time too.
However, when you boil down to it, what can Hearts supporters say the team has achieved in that time? Three Scottish Cup final defeats, two spells in European group-stage football – which were both guaranteed from finishing third in the league - and two relegation battling spells, with one ending in the Championship and the other currently ongoing.
I'd say there are three camps of opinion on Budge among the Hearts support.
One vehemently want her out yesterday. You don't have to go far to find opinions on social media, including those who say one of her main flaws is that she doesn't like confrontation and surrounds herself with 'yes people'.
There's then those who are supporters of Budge and call her the 'saviour of Hearts'. They point to the fact it's Budge who has financed Hearts over the last decade, including bringing wealthy people like James Anderson and now Tony Bloom to the table.
The rest of the support, where I'd place myself, is the 'apathetic' group, and arguably the largest. The type of supporters who are turning up to games finding it a chore and going out of habit, rather than expectation. People in this group wouldn't make a compelling case for Budge to go, but wouldn't be grovelling for her to stay.
Regardless of the Edinburgh derby result, Budge's future at the helm of the club is a discussion that needs to be kept open and not forgotten about.
Image source, SNSHearts boss Neil Critchley talked up "outstanding" Cammy Devlin's part in their 2-1 win over St Johnstone on Sunday.
After starting only three of Critchley's first six games in charge, the 26-year-old has made himself an ever-present in the starting line-up over the past nine matches in all competitions.
The midfielder has won over the supporters as well and was applauded off the Tynecastle pitch on Sunday.
He's been terrific," head coach Critchley said.
"Absolutely outstanding. He covers every blade of grass. The amount of tackles and regains and interceptions he makes is brilliant.
"He's an infectious character. He's so positive. He plays on the front foot. He's a real competitor. I love his attitude and I love the way he plays the game. I'm delighted for him."
Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
Hearts managed to squeeze out an important victory over St Johnstone that moved them off the bottom of the table and they have three players in my Team of the Week.
Adam Forrester was solid throughout. His superb headed clearance from a cross that resulted in him colliding with the post exemplified his overall committed performance.
What a week for James Penrice - three matches and gave away a penalty in each of them. Despite that he makes the Team of the Week for another excellent overall performance. Gives Hearts so much width down the left. A goal as well on his birthday the icing on the cake.
A big win for Hearts as they showed character to seal a vital points, and it wouldn't have happened without Blair Spittal who kept grafting. Great technique to fire home the winner.
