Hearts 1 Hibs 0

Substitute Tomas Magnusson scored the only goal of the game late on as Hearts snatched a late winner at Tynecastle.

It was a bitter pill to swallow following a positive second half, as we fell to a late sucker-punch in Gorgie for the second time this campaign.

In game of few opportunities we were undone by a quickly-taken free kick that caught us cold and Magnusson exploited it fully to give his side the points.

David Gray made two changes to the team that defeated Dundee United in dramatic fashion last Wednesday. Out went Jordan Obita through injury and Elie Youan dropped to the bench; their replacements came in the form of Nicky Cadden and Kai Andrews.

We lined-up in a 3-4-1-2 formation against Hearts’ 4-4-2. The Jambos handed a first started to Islam Chesnokov, whilst Frankie Kent replaced the suspended Craig Halkett.

Kazakhstan international, Chesnokov, was involved in the first opportunity of the game when he sold Jack Iredale a clever dummy, allowing Landry Kabore to run in behind him - only for the forward to drag his eventual shot wide of goal.

We should have made more of a counter-attack in the 10th minute when we broke two-on-two, however Felix Passlack’s pass to Martin Boyle was overhit, meaning he couldn’t get a shot away, however from his cutback Dane Scarlett’s effort was deflected wide.

On 12 minutes, a long throw from the right was flicked on by Kabore and Alexandros Kyziridis volleyed high over the crossbar.

We would turn Hearts a few times during the first half as Nicky Cadden’s brilliant deliveries got the home defence racing toward their goal, and from one cross Frankie Kent did just enough to poke the ball behind for a corner kick after Boyle threatened to go clear. 

Another delivery, shortly before half-time, appeared to be putting Boyle clean through only for it to curl away from the forward at the final moment - which allowed Beni Baningime to poke it clear.

Hearts’ best chance of the half came four minutes from the interval when Kabore’s shot was deflected by Rocky towards the unmarked Chesnokov at the back post, however with the goal at his mercy he somehow shot wide.

It had been a breathless first period but neither goalkeeper had been tested until the closing seconds when Miguel Chaiwa's brilliantly threaded a pass into the feet of Boyle sparked a chance. The forward stepped away from his marker before shooting low towards the near post and Alexander Schwolow saved smartly.

Neither side opted to make any changes during the break as Hearts created an early opportunity when Harry Milne played a one-two with Kyziridis from a corner kick before fizzing a low shot towards the inside of Raphael Sallinger’s near post that the goalkeeper did well to keep out.

We remained a potent threat on the break and almost profited when he countered down the left as Nicky Cadden almost found Boyle with a cross that Kyziridis did well to slide out of play. 

We then had the momentum and enjoyed a series of corner kicks to put the home defence under pressure, however none brought any clear opportunities. On the hour, we replaced Scarlett and Chaiwa with Jamie McGrath and Ante Šuto.

We had a big chance to break the deadlock in the 69th minute when Nicky Cadden brilliantly got beyond Milne and from his cut back, Boyle shot just over the crossbar whilst under heavy pressure.

Both teams made several changes more, and the game appeared to be heading towards a stalemate until a late sucker punch earned the hosts the win, as substitute Magnusson latched onto Milne’s low cross to divert it past Sallinger.

A sickener at the end as Hearts – for the second time this season – snatch a late winner at the death in Gorgie.