Hibernian

Cam Wanstall
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

After a truly miserable start to life as permanent boss at Easter Road, David Gray has now overseen four straight wins to lift Hibs three points clear of Kilmarnock in seventh - with the top six firmly in sight.

While it was not a hugely-impressive attacking performance, a strong defensive showing - produced by the new-look back three - earned the points.

It was a sharp start for Hibs, with Martin Boyle and the Cadden brothers crafting space on the flanks to whip in threatening crosses.

A slump ensued, however. A barren 30-minute spell without attempting a single shot carried over into the second half, before unlikely offensive pair Lewis Miller and Rocky Bushiri had efforts denied after the restart.

Following Danny Armstrong's red card, Hibs were able to maintain their lead by putting in a spirited, fighting performance for the remainder of the match - a quality they lacked at the start of the season.

Image source, SNS

Lewis Miller was a dominant force in both defence, attack and in transition.

The Australian defender made six interceptions, won 10 of his 11 duels, and attempted two of Hibs' seven shots.

Image source, SNS

Elie Youan misses out entirely following Hibernian's Edinburgh derby victory. Junior Hoilett beats Boxing Day hero Dwight Gayle to the Frenchman's spot up top.

David Gray also opts to bring in Lewis Miller as a replacement for defender Warren O'Hora, who has been nursing an ankle issue in recent weeks and drops to the bench.

Mykola Kuharevich, Rudi Molotnikov, Kieron Bowie and Marvin Ekpiteta each remain sidelined by injury.

Follow our live coverage here.

Hibernian: Smith, Miller, Bushiri, Iredale, C Cadden, Triantis, Newell, N Cadden, Campbell, Hoilett, Boyle.

Substitutes: Bursik, O'Hora, Levitt, Amos, McKirdy, Hyeok-kyu, Obita, Moriah-Welsh, Gayle.

Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Wright, Ndaba, Armstrong, Watson, Polwarth, Lyons, Murray, Vassell, Wales.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Burroughs, Deas, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Magennis, Cameron, Anderson, Donnelly.

Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark is on the Hibs list of potential transfer targets for next season, while the Easter Road club intend to sign a new keeper in January and are keen on a loan move for Rotherham United's Cameron Dawson. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Hibs striker Mykola Kuharevich and midfielder Rudi Molotnikov could return after missing out recently with groin issues.

Defender Warren O'Hora will be checked after playing through recent games with an ankle issue, but Marvin Ekpiteta and Kieron Bowie are still out.

Kilmarnock welcome back defender Robbie Deas after suspension, while winger Matty Kennedy could return after injury.

But Stuart Findlay is a long-term absentee.

Image source, SNS

Hibs head coach David Gray challenged his players to keep improving after a recent run of results catapulted them up the Scottish Premiership.

Gray's side have taken 13 points from their last six games, and have climbed to seventh in the table having previously sat bottom.

Gray now wants his team to look up rather than down, as they prepare to take on Kilmarnock at Easter Road on Sunday.

"We need to keep moving forward," Gray said. "But as I've already demonstrated when we were down the bottom end and going through adversity, the narrative can quickly change.

"We've demonstrated that in the last three or four weeks, which is great, but we still can't rely on thinking we've just turned the corner.

"We need to keep improving, we need to keep getting better, keep working on these areas that we need to improve and guard against complacency.

"Every game in this league, as you've seen, everyone can beat everyone and it can quickly change. But we're in a real positive moment at the minute.

"We've got a massive game against Kilmarnock to look forward to, to end the year. If we go and do that with another three points it would be a real positive end to the year and something we can take into the new year."

Image source, SNS

• Hibernian have only lost one of their last 12 Scottish Premiership meetings with Kilmarnock (W7 D4), going down 0-1 in November 2022 under Lee Johnson.

• Kilmarnock are winless in 10 Scottish Premiership visits to Hibernian (D3 L7), losing their last five in a row and failing to score at all in their last four.

• Hibernian have lost their final league match in five of the last six calendar years, winning the other 3-1 at Dundee United in 2021.

• Excluding years in which they were relegated, Kilmarnock have only lost their last Scottish Premiership match of a calendar year in one of their last seven such games (W3 D3), a 0-1 defeat to St Mirren in 2019.

• Kilmarnock's Bruce Anderson has scored in three of his last five Scottish Premiership appearances against Hibernian, including once in both of his last two against Hibs.

The Sportscene team analyse Dwight Gayle's winning goal in Hibs' 2-1 win against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.

Liam McLennan from The Hibs Ramble podcast believes third place in the Scottish Premiership is still a realistic target for the Easter Road club.

Listen to the most recent episode of the Scottish Football Podcast.

We asked for your thoughts on Hibs' 2-1 Boxing Day win against Hearts.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Gordon: A huge part is that the substitutions have been relevant to what's going on in front of the management team. In 12 of 16 previous games goals were lost, sometimes two, after bizarre tactical changes. There are also more players on the pitch recently that can last the 90 minutes.

Scott: A month ago David Gray was a game away from the sack and now he is probably the manager of the month. He has found a system, by virtue of a red card, that fits his players as opposed to the previous incumbent who had no flexibility in his approach. The next task is to try and make Easter Road a much harder place for teams to visit. Consistency will be key.

Pete: Even when we weren't winning we were playing OK, but loads of stupid mistakes were costing us big time. Now with the change of shape and a few solid players coming into the starting line-up, we've really pushed on. Rocky Bushiri, Jack Iredale and Nicky Cadden have been immense. Things can change quickly but hopefully we can keep the momentum going.

Darren: Football can be difficult to understand at times. This side seemed to be void of luck and most importantly confidence. Great credit must go to the players and especially the manager. They've pulled up their socks, never once felt sorry for themselves. There was only one team winning that derby!

Sandy: Time was always the factor when Gray took the job, and with an almost completely changed squad he's built the team into a half-decent unit. Recent wins, goals coming in threes, and the win against the Hearts that made every Hibs supporter's Christmas. Definitely onwards and upwards. Well done to them all.

Gordon: Another good win and another big three points in what was admittedly never a classic. Apart from Rocky's mindless swipe the defence looked pretty solid again and Dwight Gayle's goal was superb. Gray seems to have found the right formation and team selection and appears to have the players playing and fighting for each other, fair play to him.

Angus: The board at Hibs have shown very little patience in recent years but hopefully they're now seeing the benefits of not jerking the knee at the first opportunity. Gray is clearly trying to craft a brand of football that keeps Hibs on the front foot and exposes our opponents while being pragmatic about the tactics and physicality of Scottish football.

Brian: There was a total change of character from this Hibs side. Looked dogged and determined. Playing better football and trying to play to our strengths. Didn't let the setback hamper us and eventually ran out deserved winners. Time to start looking up the table.

Watch Edinburgh derby highlights as Hibs beat Hearts 2-1 at Tynecastle in the Scottish Premiership.

Image source, SNS

• Hibernian have beaten Hearts for the first time in the Scottish Premiership since 15 April 2023, a run of five games without a win.

• Hibs have scored in each of their past three games in the Premiership, scoring eight goals in that run.

• Hibernian have won their past three games in the Premiership, their last joint longest winning streak was from 11 November 2023 to 3 December 2023.

• Hibs have scored in their past three games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of five games from 3 November 2024 to 30 November 2024.

Defender Rocky Bushiri, 25, thanks Hibernian supporters for showing faith and inspiring him in Thursday's 2-1 away win over Edinburgh rivals Hearts. (Edinburgh Evening news - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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.

The 35-year-old former Newcastle United and Crystal Palace striker darted in front of Hearts defender Craig Halkett to meet Nicky Cadden's inviting cross from the left and nudge an effort across Craig Gordon and into the far right corner.

Hearts pushed for a second equaliser, but Hibs stood firm in front of a packed away end to take the points and bragging rights.

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.

Hibs fans, were you at Tynecastle to see your side's derby victory or were you following along from home? Either way, we want your thoughts.

Have your say here., external

Image source, SNS

Nicky Cadden's delivery played a key role in Hibs' derby win.

He set up both goals with wonderful left-footed crosses - since arriving from Barnsley he has become a central figure for David Gray's side.

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

David Gray selected an unchanged team following the convincing weekend win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, and the momentum from that performance was apparent in the early stages in Gorgie.

They could have had a penalty when Kye Rowles appeared to inadvertently handle in his own box, but from the corner that followed, they hit the front.

Josh Campbell - who was an effective aerial presence throughout - met Nicky Cadden's inswinging delivery, and the ball deflected off Rowles' head and past Craig Gordon in the Hearts goal.

Having originally disallowed the goal for Rocky Bushiri blocking Gordon's line of sight, referee Nick Walsh was advised by VAR John Beaton to review the incident, after which the goal was given.

Cadden's left foot provided a constant threat, while his twin brother Chris bombed up and down from right-back.

There were chances for Martin Boyle and Elie Youan to add a second before a lapse in concentration from Bushiri undid the preceding good work.

Lawrence Shankland's header was going harmlessly wide, but the centre-back swung a leg at it and wildly sliced his clearance into the back of his own goal.

However, Dwight Gayle delivered the decisive moment of quality on 78 minutes, and Hibs then showed real character to see the game through.

So often they have thrown away leads with late concessions, but they seem to have turned a corner in recent weeks and their fans showed appreciation by roaring them through the final 10 minutes.

It's now four wins from five, and Hibs are closing in on the league's top six before they welcome Kilmarnock to Easter Road on Sunday.

Image source, SNS

Hearts head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "Derbies are always eventful and intense. I told the players there's no better place to get a win and I'm delighted for everyone involved.

"I thought we were a huge threat in the first half. From going 1-0 up to getting pegged back, we showed character again. Second half, we weren't as good as we can be, but their goalkeeper still had to make bigger saves than ours.

"The hard work has never stopped. The belief has always been there. You saw the togetherness during big moments and the big thing for us is confidence."

Image source, SNS

One 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."

Former Hibs skipper Ian Murray is hoping for a better standard of fare at Tynecastle on Thursday after describing the previous Edinburgh derby in October as "the worst" he's ever seen.

Murray reckons David Gray's side possess the attacking weapons to wreak havoc on the counter-attack against Hearts.

Listen to the Edinburgh derby preview on the Scottish football podcast from 08:00 GMT on 26 December