The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Murray magic.
Former Dundee United striker Simon Murray celebrates after scoring what proved to be the winner for Hibs in the Edinburgh derby clash with Hearts at Easter Road last night.
Simon Murray’s early strike proved enough to give Hibs a 1-0 Ladbrokes Premiership win over Edinburgh rivals Hearts at Easter Road last night.
In the third minute of typically meaty capital derby, the former Dundee United striker lashed the ball high into the net to give the home side an advantage they retained until the final whistle in a frenetic encounter.
Neil Lennon’s side leapfrogged Hearts by a point into fifth place and are now unbeaten in eight games against their city neighbours.
The hard-fought victory was just the tonic for Hibs following their 4-2 defeat by Celtic in the Betfred Cup semi-final on Saturday.
Boss Lennon made four changes from that match with goalkeeper Ofir Marciano, defender Steven Whittaker and attackers Martin Boyle and Murray reinstated.
The Gorgie side had 17-year-old wide midfielder Euan Henderson making his first start, wing-back Connor Randall was back from suspension and midfielder Rafal Grzelak returned.
Some fans were still taking their seats when Murray put Hibs ahead. The striker picked up the ball in the Hearts box, nutmegged defender John Souttar and rifled the ball past keeper Jon McLaughlin into the roof of the net from 12 yards for his 11th goal of the season, but his first in eight games.
The visitors worked their way back into a match peppered with infringements.
Jambos striker Kyle Lafferty came close in the 34th minute with a lob which landed on top of the net after he chased a long clearance, before Marciano saved Jamie Walker’s drive from the edge of the box.
However, with three minutes of the first-half remaining Hibs should have doubled their lead when McLaughlin raced from his line to thwart Murray.
The loose ball landed at the feet of defender Whittaker but, with the keeper out of position, he blasted high over the bar.
Hearts brought on 16-year-old Harry Cochrane for Grzelak at the start of the second-half which began with Hibs midfielder John McGinn sending a long-range effort just over.
Moments later, Herats skipper Christophe Berra prevented Murray getting on the end of McGinn’s deflected shot with a last-gasp tackle a yard from goal.
Hibs looked in control and in the 56th minute attacker Esmael Goncalves replaced Jamie Brandon as Hearts boss Craig Levein tried another route back into a game which lacked quality but not determination.
That Hibs could not get the second goal became a growing worry for the home fans with tackles flying in.
Levein’s last throw of the dice saw Henderson replaced by Cole Stockton in the 71st minute, just before Marciano made a decent save from a Berra header and Stockton’s angled drive amidst a melee stayed out.
Hearts’ effort was unquestionable but a Hibs counter-attack with 10 minutes left saw McLaughlin pull off a terrific save from a McGinn drive, but in the end, a second goal was not required and Hibs claimed the bragging rights.
Hamilton and Partick Thistle played out a goalless Premiership draw at the SuperSeal Stadium.
Thistle hit the frame of the goal through Kris Doolan and Miles Storey, while substitute David Templeton missed a great chance for Accies.
In the end, neither side will be too dejected to claim a point.
The visitors moved off the bottom of the table above Kilmarnock while Hamilton stopped a run of six consecutive defeats.