Hibs win Edinburgh Derby as Hearts suffer sixth straight defeat

Hibs have defeated city-rivals Hearts in the Edinburgh Derby at Easter Road to take a massive step towards a Premiership top half finish.

A second-half strike from Kevin Nisbet was enough to seal the game for Lee Johnson’s men who are now four points clear ahead of Livingston in sixth place.

It is the first time since Boxing Day 2019 that the green and white half of the capital have celebrated a win over the Gorgie side.

The Jambos have now suffered six defeats in a row as Steven Naismith failed to stop the rot in his first game since replacing Robbie Neilson in an interim basis.

Both teams went into the game after a poor run of results and with their ambitions for the season hanging by a thread.

Hibs knew if they failed to win it would put David Martindale’s men back in the driving seat in the race for the top six ahead of their game against St Johnstone later on Saturday.

And Hearts would have felt they had to win to keep in contention for the coveted third place and a guaranteed place in European football group stages next season.

They went into the game five points behind Aberdeen, who beat Ross County in Dingwall on Friday night, after throwing away a healthy lead with consecutive league defeats.

Both sides had chances in a disappointing first half and the game had past the hour mark before any real action for the sold-out crowd in Leith.

But Nisbet scored the winner after 66 minutes with a close range volley after a corner from Doyle-Hayes was headed into his path before being slammed past Zander Clark.

Hibs can start looking upwards as they are only two points behind their city-rivals who are facing an uphill battle to get back into third place with six games remaining.

Lee Johnson’s men travel to Perth to play St Johnstone next week as Hearts host Ross County.