Hibernian

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Did you leave Easter Road disappointed after derby defeat?

Whether you followed from the ground or from home, we want to hear from you.

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Hibs manager Nick Montgomery told BBC Scotland: "Obviously devastated to conceded such a late goal. I thought we played really well and it was a really good game of football for the neutral.

"I said to the boys after I can't ask for any more effort. It's just one mistake and a moment of quality from a top-quality striker, probably one of the best in the league.

"There's some big saves from both keepers, but towards the end I don't think anyone thought it would be anything other than a draw.

"In games like this, it's about big players, big moments. That's why [Shankland has] got so much press about him at the moment, I thought we kept him relatively quiet [before that].

"If I was being honest, I thought we were the team that would have scored the winner towards the end. I'm devastated for the players for their effort and for the fans of course."

On Josh Campbell's injury: "It's a badly rolled ankle. Fingers crossed it's not as bad as we thought and he won't be out for too long. Hopefully we can find reinforcements because we're light on the ground."

Sean McGill, BBC Sport Scotland

Big players win big games. Sometimes, football is just as simple as that.

In truth, Hearts were far below the standards expected of a team looking to set the pace as the best of the rest in the top-flight.

They rarely looked like threatening a Hibs side known for their defensive frailties and front-footed approach, but for the victors, performances mean little on derby day. It's all about coming out on top, and through their lethal talisman, Hearts did just that.

Once those fans in maroon have scraped themselves off the Easter Road roof and stopped rubbing glory in the face of their city rivals, attention will quickly turn to the importance of retaining Shankland's services. Without him, Hearts are simply a shadow of the force he makes them.

Hibs will feel let down that they let the league's top scorer make his mark right at the end of a game they had edged up until that point. One lapse of concentration was enough.

They had their opportunities and looked lively when Youan was introduced, but Clark was scarcely asked to make a save of note in front of a home crowd desperate to continue their strong derby record in recent times.

The late winner leaves the green side of Edinburgh eight points adrift of their city rivals, with European football currently looking more likely to land in Gorgie than Leith next term.

He may have spurned an early penalty, but Martin Boyle still looked the most likely to carve out a chance for Hibs. Dylan Vente passed up a few opportunities that would have seen the Australian notch an assist.

Elie Youan is also worth a mention, injecting life into Hibs off the bench.

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The SFA have released a statement regarding the quashed plans to have Nick Montgomery mic'd up.

It reads: "Contrary to reports and commentary ahead of tonight’s Edinburgh Derby, the Scottish FA did not block the use of communication equipment or cameras as part of the matchday broadcast.

"Upon learning of the plans via a media release, we asked IFAB on behalf of the clubs, league and broadcaster and were informed on Christmas Eve that the intended use was not allowed within Law 4, which states that the use of electronic communication by team staff is permitted only when it relates to player safety and wellbeing, or for tactical or coaching reasons.

"We immediately relayed this confirmation from IFAB to the relevant parties."

After a disappointing performance in Perth last time out, Nick Montgomery makes three changes to his Hibs team.

Edinburgh derby veteran Paul Hanlon drops out for Rocky Bushiri, Jimmy Jeggo makes way for Josh Campbell, and Joe Newell returns from suspension to replace Elie Youan.

Jair Tavares, Martin Boyle and Dylan Vente will be looking to get in behind a solid Hearts defence in front of their home crowd.

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Hibernian: Marshall, Miller, Fish, Bushiri, Obita, Campbell, Newell, Levitt, Tavares, Boyle, Vente.

Substitutes: Wollacott, Hanlon, Youan, Jeggo, Stevenson, Doidge, Molotnikov, Whittaker, Landers.

Hearts: Clark, Atkinson, Kingsley, Kent, Rowles, Cochrane, Baningime, Nieuwenhof, Denholm, Forrest, Shankland.

Substitutes: Gordon, Halkett, Haring, Oda, McKay, Sibbick, Tagawa, Lowry, Vargas.

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Joe Newell is a man who is relishing Wednesday's Edinburgh Derby.

Speaking to Sky Sports, external, the Hibs midfielder said both sides head into the fixture with confidence as his side aim to put an attacking display to earn bragging rights in the capital.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to it. It's been a bit of a nightmare, obviously with the Ross County game being called off. Not ideal for us.

"We're buzzing for it. It's a derby, isn't it? It's the biggest game of the fixture list, it's the one you look for when it comes out.

"Christmas time, home game, under the lights. It's really good for the city. The city comes alive when it's on. Everyone's going to be in a good mood and quite merry.

"It's such a good rivalry and a good derby. It's usually an exciting game because it's two teams who think they can beat each other.

"There's never a lot between the two teams. We're unbeaten in the last three [Edinburgh Derbies] and we won the last one at home. We'll go into it full of confidence, as will they. They're on a great little run at the minute. It's built up to be an exciting game.

"Bar the St Johnstone result, we've been on a really good run. We're still not perfect at it [Nick Montgomery's style] but we've been working really hard. It's football how everyone should want to play it."

Hibs boss Nick Montgomery has no qualms about being mic'd up for tonight's capital derby - but he admits he is already under orders from his wife to tone down any bad language. (Scotsman), external

Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.

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Hibernian welcome back midfielder Joe Newell following suspension, while defender Paul Hanlon and Lewis Miller are expected to be fit after going off with minor issues in last weekend's defeat away to St Johnstone.

Adam Le Fondre, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Harry McKirdy and Chris Cadden are all out until after the winter break.

Hearts expect to have on-loan Rangers midfielder Alex Lowry and utility man Andy Halliday back in contention after they were unavailable for Saturday's win over St Mirren because of minor injuries.

Striker Liam Boyce has an outside chance of returning following a hamstring issue, but Jorge Grant and Cammy Devlin are both out with ankle injuries.

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• Hibernian are unbeaten in three top-flight Edinburgh derbies (W1 D2), last going four without defeat to Hearts in May 2013.

• Hearts have only lost one of their last nine meetings with rivals Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership (W3 D5), although that was their last such away game in April last season (1-0).

• Hibernian are unbeaten in six home league games (W3 D3), winning both of their last two; they last won three in a row at home in the Scottish Premiership in October 2022.

• Hearts have won four of their last six away league games (L2), as many as their previous 24 beforehand (W4 D7 L13).

• Six of Hearts’ 10 away league goals this season have been scored by Lawrence Shankland (60%), who has five goals in his last five away league appearances.

Matty Fairnie, Longbangers podcast, external

The derby at Easter Road is a hard game to call, with both sides neck and neck in the form guide over the last six games.

The first derby of the season was an entertaining affair, with Hibs coming back from two goals down to draw the game, thanks to two goals in just under 90 seconds from Elie Youan.

Hibs have found goals a bit harder to come by since then, and with Hearts’ defence taking on a Scrooge-like miserliness, I doubt that this will be a goal-fest.

Hibs manager Nick Montgomery will be mic’d up for the Sky TV broadcast, one of a few innovations being tried in this fixture.

This has been met with a fairly mixed reaction from the support.

On the one hand, many feel like this is a gimmick the team could do without for a fixture where distractions must be kept to a minimum. On the other hand, some believe it’s good for the game in Scotland to freshen up a product at real risk of being left behind.

Personally, I am happy to see it being tried – if it doesn’t work there are lessons to be learned and they can try something else next time, and if it does work then I’m sure we’ll see it repeated elsewhere.

Ideally, Hibs win and the extra content gives us Hibees plenty of footage to pour over in the days after the game!

It's a massive game in the capital as Hibs could reduce the deficit between them and third-placed Hearts to just two points with a win.

Would you make changes to Nick Montgomery's team?

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David Marshall believes Hibs' good form and league position will add to the atmosphere of the upcoming Edinburgh derby.

“It’s a big game because we have obviously put ourselves in a decent position points-wise since the manager came in so the clubs are that much closer," the former Scotland keeper said.

“It’s always a big game and everybody likes the festive period, there’s an extra bit of spice with the derbies at that time.

“It’s not a defining one. It’s a huge game, there is still half a season to go, but they always weigh heavily and it’s the first fixture you look out for.

“It’s good to be at home and hopefully we can put on a performance.”

Hibs go into Wednesday’s game with the chance to move two points off third-placed Hearts in the Premiership.

Marshall added: “We lost the first three games of the season so you are chasing your tail a little bit in terms of nine points gone.

“But we have put ourselves in a points position where these games can set us up well for the second half of the season

“It’s a marker, the break, and we want to send our fans off with a good feeling and give ourselves a bit of confidence for the second half of the season.”

Hibs could be the third best club in Scotland with Bill Foley's investment, says football finance expert Kieran Maguire.

Speaking to BBC Sportsound, Maguire said the American investor - who has already invested in Premier League side Bournemouth - could cover the Edinburgh side's wage bill and free up funds elsewhere.

"He certainly could inject enough money," Maguire said.

"If you take a look at Hibs’ wage bill, it's equivalent to a top eight team in League One in England.

"If that money goes into player development it could make the club more competitive.

"But it would still be that even if their wage bill goes to £10m ,it is still only a fifth of the likes of Celtic and Rangers, so they are not going to be challenging those clubs.

"But, it is certainly going to mean that Hibs are in contention to being the third best club in Scotland."

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Hibernian defender Will Fish, who is on loan from Manchester United, says he "can't get on board" with Ross County manager Derek Adams' scathing comments about the quality of Scottish football. (Daily Record)

Click here to read Saturday's Scottish football gossip in full.

Ross County are still missing defender Dylan Smith (ankle) and long-term absentees Ross Callachan and Ben Paton (both knee).

Hibernian welcome back Joe Newell following suspension, while Paul Hanlon and Lewis Miller are expected to be fit after going off with minor issues in last weekend’s defeat at St Johnstone. Adam Le Fondre (hamstring), Jake Doyle-Hayes (ankle), Harry McKirdy (heart) and Chris Cadden (Achilles) are all out until after the winter break.

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