Sunshine on Leith! - Hibernian win the Edinburgh Derby

Sunshine on Leith! - Hibernian win the Edinburgh Derby

Hibernian 3-2 Hearts

McGrath (3'), Campbell (45'), Bowie (48'); Shankland (75'), Devlin (89')

Pre-match buildup to kick off

It's been 150 years and two days exactly since the first ever meeting between the two sides, Hearts coming out top in the very first meeting and they were looking for a win at Easter Road which kept the pressure on Celtic in the title race.

For the first time since 1991, Hearts were top of the Premiership table on Christmas Day and the Jambos have been impressive over the course of the season so far. Hibernian had not won a game against a side above them this season but were looking for back-to-back home wins in the Derby for the first time since 2018.

However it was the leaders who claimed the bragging rights in October when Craig Halkett scored in the 90th minute, victory for Hearts would mean back-to-back Premiership wins over Hibs for the first time in 11 years. But Hibernian boosted a strong home record in the Premiership, only two defeats at Easter Road in their last 20 league matches and both came by a single goal.

An entertaining match was expected as Hearts were the top scorers in the Premiership, with Hibernian the third top scorers and there had not been a goalless draw between these sides in the last 14 matches

A rapid start

The smoke from the pre-match pyro display probably meant that some inside Easter Road missed a bright opening for Hibs and perhaps even the opening goal; Nicky Cadden received a brilliant ball from Daniel Barlaser, Cadden then managed to get away from Michael Steinwender before delivering a perfect cross to Jamie McGrath who volleyed home from 10 yards out and sent the Hibees inside Easter Road wild after only three minutes on the clock.

🥬⚽️| 𝐌𝐜𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡| 𝐇𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝟏-𝟎 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

Early liftoff in the Edinburgh Derby!

Easter Road erupts as the Hibees go ahead thanks to Jamie McGrath’s lovely finish

[📹: @ScotlandSky]pic.twitter.com/LRpsHbzDnA

— FootballPark - Scotland (@FP_Scotland) December 27, 2025

Hearts recover slowly

Hearts slowly but surely managed to build their way into the game and could and probably should have been level when Stephen Kingsley put in an inviting ball to the back post for Lawrence Shankland, but the Scotland striker's header when just wide of Raphael Sallinger's post. A chance you'd expect the league's top scorer to grab with both hands.

Stephen Kingsley then send in a free-kick into the Hibs box but Oisin McEntee's header glanced just wide before Tomas Magnusson's shot was blocked by Scotland defender Grant Hanley

The Hibs bench hero

Hibs were forced into a change midway through the first half when Nicky Cadden had to be subbed off injured by Josh Campbell, with goalscorer Jamie McGrath moving to Cadden's left wing-back role.

McGrath would prove to be just a good a wing-back as he is a danger man in the midfield, the Irishman got away from from McEntee on the left and crossed in a lovely ball for Campbell who headed past Alexander Schwolow and into the far post.

🥬⚽️| 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥| 𝐇𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝟐-𝟎 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

Easter Road is rocking!

Jamie McGrath from scorer to provider, an excellent cross to the head of Josh Campbell and it’s a second goal for the Hibees against the leaders

[📹: @ScotlandSky]pic.twitter.com/JWxEbcB8Xu

— FootballPark - Scotland (@FP_Scotland) December 27, 2025

Those inside Easter Road could hardly believe what they were watching; Hibs two up at the break and despite some bright chances for Hearts, the Hibees more than deserved to be in front.

Starman Bowie sends Hearts into Ashes to Ashes

Derek McInnes made a double change at half-time to try and get a foothold back into the game; Kingsley and McEntee were replaced by Harry Milne and Beni Baningime but the changes didn't work and the league leaders went further behind just minutes into the restart.

Stuart Findlay was put under pressure by Josh Mulligan and the Hearts defender's attempted clearance was poor, the clearance hit Mulligan which went straight into the path of Kieron Bowie who was allowed to drive forward and guided a low shot past Schwolow from just inside the box. The former Raith Rovers and Northampton forward probably should have scored moments before but made no mistake with his second chance in a matter of seconds.

🥬⚽️| 𝐁𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐞| 𝐇𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝟑-𝟎 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

The Hibees are quick off the mark in the second half!

Kieron Bowie could and probably should have scored seconds before but the Scotland striker makes no mistake with this effort

[📹: @ScotlandSky]pic.twitter.com/zXOSo2WsD4

— FootballPark - Scotland (@FP_Scotland) December 27, 2025

The comeback is on

The game was drifting away from Hearts and fast and they needed something to give them a glimmer of hope heading into the closing stages of the game and they got it; Alexandros Kyziridis crossed in from the right hand side and Lawrence Shankland was there to nod the ball past Sallinger.

Hearts have already this season came from 3-0 down to claim a point against Motherwell back in August and were hoping for a case of déjà vu to claim an unlikely point at Easter Road.

Then a grandstand finish was on; Sallinger saved Kyzirdis' shot but could only parry it into the path of Cammy Devlin who knocked in the rebound from close range and suddenly the chances of grabbing a draw was well and truly on heading into six minutes of stoppage time.

♥️⚽️| 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐥𝐢𝐧| 𝐇𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝟑-𝟐 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

They couldn’t, could they?!

Cammy Devlin gives Hearts a chance of claiming a point late on in normal time

What a game in Leith this afternoon!

[📹: @ScotlandSky]pic.twitter.com/tVadW0JMru

— FootballPark - Scotland (@FP_Scotland) December 27, 2025

The drama was not yet over as Hearts had the chance to get the point they were after, a good ball from left was played into the path of Shankland who struck first time from outside the six yard box but Sallinger made a brilliant save with his right leg to deny the Premiership's top scorer and Hearts' chance of taking a point had come and gone.

Derby day delight for the Hibees

Hibs win the Edinburgh Derby at Easter Road for the second time in 2025 and for the first time this season claim a Premiership win against a side above them in the league table and moved to within two points of fourth place Motherwell. I

As for Hearts they lose only their second league game of the season but the gap at the top was cut down to three points due to Celtic's win against Livingston later on in the day, the Premiership champions also have a game in hand over the Jambos. Celtic will look to take advantage in midweek when they travel to Fir Park to take on Motherwell with no midweek game for Derek McInnes' side.

However this was Hibernian's day in Leith once again and a third Edinburgh Derby win in the last four meetings for the Hibees. A win, three points, bragging rights not a bad late Christmas present for the Hibernian faithful inside Easter Road.

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍. pic.twitter.com/e4EsOA2d5Q

— Hibernian Football Club (@HibernianFC) December 27, 2025