Dangerman Andy at the double as Hearts take derby spoils
Shaun Maloney’s side had one foot in the top six for a few minutes at Tynecastle that was bizarre given they had earlier shot themselves in the appendage.
It was only the briefest of flirtations. Dismantled in the league derby here, they will spend the fag end of the season playing teams under threat of relegation or those whose race is run.
And if the Saturday’s rapid renewal in the Scottish Cup semi-finals on Saturday offers a pathway to silverware, their task faced in turning things around is sizable.
Their miserable finish was at sharp odds with their terrific opening, the visitors grabbing a quick-fire lead. Drey Wright cut in from the edge of the box tried his luck with a shot and when Chris Mueller stuck out a leg the slight deflection on the ball was enough to beat keeper Craig Gordon,
Hearts, missing the core of their midfield with Beni Baningime and Cammy Devlin, were stunned and would probably have fallen two behind had Craig Halkett not been able to shut down Elias Melkersen’s clever dart across the area.
They settled and really should have equalised midway through the first half.
Barrie Mckay showed lovely skill and vision to drag his markers round a full turn before playing Ellis Simms in with a perfectly weighted ball though the middle.
The striker, on loan from Everton, read it and, after taking the ball, looked certain to score.
He took too long to pick his spot, though, and Hibs keeper Matt Macey was able to narrow the angle enough that he shot wide.
With Nathan Atkinson heading onto
the crossbar from a deep cross by Mckay you could feel the momentum swing towards the home side.
Hibs’ cause was hindered by the loss of their scorer to injury before the interval, Josh Campbell taking his place from the bench.
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson pushed Liam Boyce forward to play alongside Ellis Simms, giving their attacks a different dimension.
His tactical gambit worked a treat with Simms doing a great job to hold off Hanlon to tee up Andy Halliday for the equaliser. The 30-year-old had a tight angle to work with but his aim was spot on with his low angled shot hitting the inside of Macey’s far post and into the net.
The cliché about just before half time being the perfect time to score was borne out here as Hearts ran over the top of their rivals on their return.
Their second goal was a very simple affair.
Peter Haring swung in a cross to the backpost where Stephen Kingsley arrived late to volley into the net.
Kingsley is better known for his ‘Bend it like Beckham’ free kick scores but this goal, his seventh of the season, received thunderous applause.
The volume levels went even higher for the third, another precision finish from Halliday that nestled into the inside netting with Macey’s full-length dive in vain.
“Today, ten per cent of the job is done. The other 90 per cent is still to come,” said Neilson, successfully managing the trick of looking seriously happy while delivering a cautious message.
“The Scottish Cup allows us to get to a final, win a derby and guarantee European group stage football. So that game is massive.
“I don’t think it gives a lot. It’s a derby. The derby can be difficult.
“I don’t think there has ever been a back-to-back derby like this. The biggest focus for us has always been the Scottish Cup one but what the key had to be was that we had to make sure the players’ focus was on this one.”