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It may be too early to predict another serious title challenge from Hearts this season but it’s certainly safe to say early doubts over Wouter Vrancken’s suitability for the Gorgie hot seat are being dramatically dispelled.
There is no better way to validate your credentials than victory in your first Edinburgh derby and Vrancken’s vibrant team were well worth the win which lifted them into third place in the Premiership table.
Goals from James Wilson, Laurent Mendy and Josh McPake saw off an often disjointed Hibs side who rallied briefly at the start of the second half through sub Adam Mayor’s stunning goal before being undone by a red card for Jack Iredale.
After a turbulent start to his tenure, Vrancken is starting to look like the ideal fit for Hearts which Jamestown’s analytics told them he would be.
For Hibs boss David Gray, this was a painful night which only reignites scrutiny of his position among a sizeable chunk of Hibs fans. On the back of last week’s failure to join Hearts in the Conference League group stage, this was another major setback.
Amid the flurry of new arrivals at Tynecastle this summer, the retention of Claudio Braga’s services was probably top of the transfer window wish list as far as the vast majority of Hearts supporters were concerned.
Josh McPake celebrates scoring the decisive third goal in Hearts' derby win over Hibs
Laurent Mendy heads home the second goal for Hearts as they took the spoils in the capital
It was perhaps as much of a surprise as it was a delight for those of a maroon persuasion when the deadline came and went less than three hours before this match kicked off and Scotland’s reigning Player of the Year had not moved on to pastures new.
Braga’s name was sung lustily by the visiting support from the opening exchanges and the Portuguese forward, who has never displayed any indication of having itchy feet, was involved in much of Hearts’ best work.
His attitude and work ethic, every bit as impressive as his technical ability, can only serve as a positive influence for Wilson, who looks set to flourish this season following his return from a loan spell with Tottenham’s development squad in the second half of last season.
New Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli was in attendance and it would be a major surprise if the 19-year-old, already capped twice at senior level, is not included when the Belgian names his first squad this month.
Calvin Miller is another Hearts player who must have caught Pocognoli’s eye here. Back in the starting line-up after his heroics in Vienna a week ago when he inspired the memorable Conference League play-off win against Rapid, the winger was a constant thorn in the side of the Hibs’ defence.
Miller set out his stall from the off, finding space on the right to tee up the first chance of the night for Braga, whose shot was well blocked by Grant Hanley.
Braga then might have done better than loop a free header over the top after being picked out by Wilson as Hearts continued to look the likelier side.
Aside from a curled effort wide from Jamie McGrath, Hibs were unable to pose any real concerns for the Hearts defence in the first half hour.
Vrancken’s side, who never willingly take a backward step as they embrace his attacking philosophy, made the breakthrough with a dynamically created and coolly finished goal in the 13th minute.
McPake, whose addition of physicality to his ability on the ball has taken his game to a new level, linked up with Mendy on the left before outmuscling Felix Passlack as he surged into the penalty area.
McPake’s cutback found Wilson around 12 yards out and the striker shaped his body perfectly to guide a right foot shot beyond Raphael Sallinger into the corner of the net.
Hibernian defended Jack Iredale saw red at a crucial point that stalled Hibs' rally
James Wilson acknowledges the visiting supporters after breaking the deadlock for Hearts
As Hearts continued to dominate, Blair Spittal had a shot deflected just wide as Hibs struggled for answers. The hosts’ cause wasn’t helped by an injury to Jordan Obita which saw him replaced by Iredale after just 28 minutes.
When Sallinger had to throw himself to his right to turn behind Braga’s header from another Miller cross, the frustration of the Hibs support manifested itself in a chorus of boos.
It seemed to have a galvanizing effect on Gray’s players, who enjoyed a sustained spell of attacking pressure for the first time. It so nearly brought them an equaliser in the 41st minute.
Josh Mulligan showed strength and poise to hold off a couple of challenges before threading a pass to Nathan Lowe on the edge of the penalty area. The striker found himself one-on-one with Beau Reus but couldn’t apply the finishing touch as the Hearts keeper made a smart save.
Hibs recycled the loose ball and worked it into the path of Jacob Devaney whose curling shot from around 20 yards clipped the top of the crossbar with Reus static and well beaten this time.
It was a let-off for Hearts and they capitalised on it by doubling their lead two minutes later. Devaney’s clumsy challenge on Spittal gave away a needless free-kick around 30 yards from goal. Spittal floated it into the box where the unmarked Mendy met it with a precise header which beat Sallinger to his right.
Hibs were jeered off the pitch at the break and Gray responded by making a double substitution at the start of the second half as Mayor and Miguel Chaiwa replaced Callum Wright and Devaney.
It prompted exactly the reaction the Hibs manager demanded and needed. Hearts were suddenly forced onto the back foot and Reus had to be sharp again to save an effort from Mulligan.
It was Mulligan’s tenacity which created the goal which brought Hibs firmly back into the contest in the 51st minute. The midfielder dispossessed Mendy, who was guilty of wanting the kind of time on the ball which this fixture simply won’t accommodate.
The ball was worked to Mayor on the left edge of the penalty area and he smashed a stunning shot high beyond Reus to inject fresh hope into Hibs’ cause.
Hearts looked seriously rattled now and Mayor missed a glorious chance to make it 2-2 when Lowe’s pass found him unmarked and he scooped his shot wastefully over.
Just as Hibs had the momentum in their favour, Iredale’s 62nd minute dismissal dragged it away. Already booked in the first half, it was a moment of madness from the defender when he caught Miller with a high tackle as he tried to make up for a poor passback which had put Hibs in trouble.
Hearts needed just four minutes to make their numerical advantage count. McPake, another player who could only have impressed Pocognoli, cut in from the left and beat Sallinger with a deflected shot which went in off a post. It was the cue for many Hibs fans to make an early exit from the stadium.
