Hibernian

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

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• 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

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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

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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.

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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."

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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

Defender Jack Iredale, 28, says the Hibernian dressing room was buoyant after their 3-1 Saturday win over Aberdeen but "instantly ready for business" with Thursday's trip to face Hearts on the horizon. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

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Hearts 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.

Read all the Boxing Day Premiership picks

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Hibs scored three goals for the fourth time in five matches as we brushed Aberdeen aside, coming from behind to win consecutive games for the first time this season.

It was probably our best performance of the season, as the team showed a togetherness and fight that had been posted missing in earlier games.

Despite falling behind to a goal that was far too easy for Aberdeen to score, Hibs levelled quickly though Elie Youan, before Nicky Cadden stole the show with a thumping volley from Martin Boyle's deep cross.

Boyle had come back into the team after losing what looked to be a virtually guaranteed starting spot in recent weeks, and he played like someone with a point to prove.

He was back to his talismanic best, tormenting the Dons defence and playing a key part in all three Hibs goals, with two assists preceding a fine finish of his own to seal the game early in the second half.

Hibs didn't do much in an attacking sense after that third goal, with injuries to Joe Newell and Warren O'Hora contributing to the drop in fluency, but what we lacked in attacking intent, we more than made up for in determined defending as we held out to secure another vital three points.

Youan celebrated with the large travelling support at the end as he and the players took the plaudits, and we now head to Tynecastle on Boxing Day in far better shape than seemed likely a few short weeks ago.

David Gray deserves immense credit for the turnaround. I thought he was effectively a dead man walking after the defeat to Dundee, but I'm delighted he's put together a run of results to quieten the noise around his future.

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers Podcast, external

Former Hibernian player Ian Murray, 43, is a candidate to replace James McPake as Dunfermline Athletic boss. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Former Hibernian player Ian Murray talks to the Scottish Football Podcast about the Easter Road club's recent upturn in form.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Forcing Nicky Cadden into a left midfield berth here because there is no way I can leave him out and I needed to include James Penrice as well. Superb defensively and going forward and got himself on the scoresheet in that impressive win at Aberdeen. One of the key players making a real difference all of a sudden at Hibs.

Two assists and a goal from the pace merchant. What more needs to be said? Both Martin Boyle and Hibs suddenly look revived.

Another Hibs player who has enjoyed a huge upturn in form, reflected by a huge upturn in results. Another goal and looks like Elie Youan is enjoying his football.

Watch the best of the action from Pittodrie as Hibs beat Aberdeen lose 3-1 in the Scottish Premiership.

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We asked for your views on Hibs' 3-1 Premiership win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Here's what some of you said:

Paul: A good team performance. Hopefully the start of a run of wins as points needed to move up the table.

Scott: So pleased for David Gray and his players. However, the basement is going to be a dogfight this season as there are some very poor teams so we have to keep it going.

Matt: Having been a vocal critic of Gray earlier in his reign, I am now eating humble pie. Yet again, we look like we have got grit throughout and are playing for each other, the attackers are converting chances and defenders are putting in a shift. A well-deserved victory for us which cements my opinion that we clearly are not a relegation team.

Aidan: Controlled the game and actually ran the show, which to do at Pittodrie is not an easy thing. After 90 minutes it would be very difficult to say that Hibs did not deserve the win after the endeavour put in. Massive confidence boost ahead of Boxing Day at Tynecastle.

Kenny: This was the best performance of the season so far. Confidence is growing now and we are playing some really good football. We still need to strengthen the team in the window and I hope Gray is allowed to bring in the players he wants and isn't been told by the Black Knight Group what players he's getting. Great performance.

Sandy: The winning mentality is back for Hibs, every player in green and white on that park showed passion, determination, and some good football. Can't ask for more than that, three goals a game becoming habitual so thanks and Merry Christmas to Sir David and the team.

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• Aberdeen lost after scoring the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 2 March 2024 against St Mirren (16 games without defeat).

• Hibernian have won eight points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (nine) and Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more.

• Aberdeen have scored in 16 of their 17 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Nicky Cadden has scored four goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Hibernian player.