Lawrence Shankland’s stoppage-time stunner earned Hearts a dramatic 1-0 victory against Hibernian in the Edinburgh derby.
There were two missed penalties as both sides were found guilty of handballs in the area.
Shankland fired one off the post before Zander Clark pulled off a brilliant save to deny Martin Boyle at the other end.
As a game lacking in quality looked certain to end in stalemate, the Jambos captain unleashed a brilliant strike to snatch all three points.
It’s a result that keeps Hearts two points clear of Kilmarnock in third, with Hibs now eight points back from their Edinburgh rivals in sixth.
How Hearts secured the derby bragging rights
Lawrence Shankland secured Hearts’ victory against Hibs
The Jambos were handed the chance to open the scoring in the fifth minute when they were awarded a penalty following a VAR review after Bushiri was deemed to have handled the ball while trying to head clear Cochrane’s long throw into the box. Shankland saw his low penalty strike the outside of David Marshall’s right-hand post.
Hibs then had the opportunity to punish Hearts’ top scorer for his profligacy from the spot when they won a spot-kick in the 14th minute after Dylan Vente’s goalbound shot was blocked by the flailing hand of Kye Rowles on the edge of the six-yard box. However, Zander Clark did superbly to get down to his right and push Boyle’s effort onto the post.
The hosts enjoyed the bulk of the pressure for the remainder of the first half, but Rowles made a couple of crucial blocks to stop a Vente header and then a Campbell shot, before Jair Tavares saw a ferocious effort deflected over by Aidan Denholm.
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Hibernian and Hearts were both granted penalties for handball during the Edinburgh derby, however both missed from the spot!
Hibs suffered a blow seven minutes after the break when Josh Campbell was carried off the pitch on a stretcher after injuring himself while trying to tackle Beni Baningime. Elie Youan came on in his place.
Hearts substitute Kenneth Vargas was presented with a decent chance in the 68th minute following a loose pass by Lewis Miller, but the Costa Rican fired just over from 20 yards out.
At the other end, Clark had to produce another couple of impressive saves to deny Vente and Tavares.
Hibs keeper Marshall then thwarted Shankland after the Jambos captain got himself away from Bushiri, but the Hearts forward was not to be denied and he kept his cool to curl home a clinical, match-winning finish in stoppage time after finding himself space in the box following a long ball from Clark.
What’s next?
Hibs’ next Scottish Premiership game is at home to Motherwell on January 2, kick-off 3pm.
Hearts take on Ross County at Tynecastle Park on December 30. Kick-off 3pm.
