Lee Johnson admitted he had a “lump in his throat and a tear in his eye” when he heard the fans singing Sunshine on Leith after their 1-0 Edinburgh Derby victory.
A second half Kevin Nisbet goal was enough to consign Hearts to their sixth defeat in a row and keep Hibs in the driving seat for a top finish.
The win was the Hibees’ first victory over Hearts since Boxing Day in 2019 and moves them within two points of their rivals in the league.
And the manager dedicated the long overdue win to the “deserving” fan base.
He said: “It was a great win, it was quite emotional at the end.
“It felt that way, we were desperate for it, this is a great club, from board to fans to playing staff and academy, and we are desperate to do well and felt as if we owed them something.
“The fan base deserved that one and that is certainly for them and I’m sure Ron would be looking down that and he would have enjoyed that himself.
“I think we controlled a lot of the game, we played it forward more quickly that we normally would.
“It was a great win for the club and I am very proud of everybody involved.
“I had a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye (when the fans were singing Sunshine on Leith at the end) because everyone works so hard and you just want to give back and when that song comes on it means everybody is happy.”
Hibs now travel to Perth in the last game before the league split knowing a place in the top half is in their own hands.
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