‘Always the main deal’ – Hibs & Hearts primed for ‘special’ derby.
No Edinburgh derby is ever a walk in the park, but Saturday’s match between Hibs and Hearts at Easter Road has more weight than most, with the visitors from Gorgie flying high at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The first match between the sides took place on Christmas Day in 1875, with Hearts winning 1-0 at the Meadows, sparking a rivalry that has endured.
Now, 150 years later, Hearts sit six points ahead of second-place Celtic after playing one more game than the defending champions, while Derek McInnes’ team leads Hibs by 16 points in fifth.
A second derby win of the season for the guys in maroon would propel them into 2026 with genuine momentum, having previously defeated Celtic and Rangers this month.However, nothing would satisfy Hibernian players and supporters more than laying a dent in Hearts’ title hopes.
Forward Martin Boyle has played in 22 Edinburgh derbies, and while he recognised Hearts’ outstanding start, he is confident Hibs have what it takes to hand McInnes’ men only their second league defeat of the season.
“They’re playing really well, so hats off to them, but it’s up to us to focus on ourselves,” Boyle told the crowd. “Obviously, we’ll be hoping to upset them and win.
“Consistency is important in this league, and they are certainly sustaining it. When it’s a derby, the famous old saying ‘form goes out the window’ applies, so hopefully we can play our best and win.”
When the sides met at Tynecastle in early October, Craig Halkett’s last-gasp strike secured the points for Hearts, triggering frenzied celebrations on and off the pitch.
McInnes anticipates a similarly tense affair, with close calls. “For Hearts and Hibs, it’s always the main deal,” McInnes added. “It is usually a big occasion.
“In the framework of our season, we simply want to earn three points and keep the momentum continuing. “Hibs are a good team, and visiting Easter Road is always a difficult game.
I expect it to be similar to the game at Tynecastle, where there was nothing in it and we scored in the last moments of the game, causing enormous excitement.” Boyle was on the receiving end of those emotions at Tynecastle and is desperate to make things right in front of a packed Easter Road crowd.
“Yeah, obviously it hurts, it’s never nice losing a derby,” the player replied. “The celebrations on our faces at the end of the game are clearly stuff you remember. “I didn’t think we deserved to lose the game based on the chances we missed.
A draw would have been a fair result; we didn’t defend our box to the best of our abilities and were penalised.” Hibs have struggled for consistency this season, but they are only five points behind Motherwell in third.
“We can definitely relight the season,” Boyle continued. “It’s a tough game; it doesn’t get any tougher, especially with the way they’re playing right now, but it all comes down to us on the day.
“We must persevere, take risks, protect the box, and fight for our lives. “We know it will be a challenging game.
It’s a popular feature during this time of year. It’s always a memorable occasion, and winning is always enjoyable.”
Team news
Derby Drubbings – watch classic thrashings from both sides of Edinburgh
Chris Cadden and Warren O’Hora are in line to return to the Hibs squad after missing the draw against Dundee United. Rudi Molotnikov has returned to training after being out for two months.
Claudio Braga had a knock against Rangers but is expected to be fine for the weekend, while Craig Halkett, who signed a new contract this week, is back in training and should be okay for the trip to Easter Road.
Pick of the stats
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Hibs won their last home Edinburgh derby against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership 2-1 in March, but they have not won consecutive home games against their rivals in the top level since March 2018 under Neil Lennon.
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Hearts, who defeated Hibs 1-0 in October, are trying to win back-to-back Premiership matches for the first time since April 2014.
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Indeed, Derek McInnes might become the first Hearts manager to win his first two top-flight Edinburgh derbies since Paulo Sergio in 2011-12 (first three).
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Except for when they were relegated in 2020, Hearts have not lost their last Premiership game of the calendar year since 2016 (1-0 against Aberdeen), staying unbeaten in seven (W3 D4), including a 1-0 victory at Easter Road in 2018.
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Hibs have only lost two of their last 20 Premiership home games (W12 D6), both by one goal, to Rangers (1-0 in October) and Celtic (2-1 in November). Since Hibs’ promotion in 2017, Lawrence Shankland of Hearts has scored the most goals in league derbies between the two sides with five.
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Shankland, on the other hand, has not scored in either of Hibs’ last four league games against Hearts, with his last goal coming in this game in February 2024.
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