Jack Iredale’s spectacular winning goal led Hibernian to a thrilling 2-1 victory over their bitter rivals Hearts in the Edinburgh derby at Easter Road, strengthening their place near the top of the Scottish Premiership and marking the first time Hibs have won consecutive derbies since 2007.
The match started with high intensity as both teams exchanged early blows. Within six minutes, Hibs took the lead through Martin Boyle, who struck with precision past Hearts' goalkeeper Craig Gordon after capitalizing on Gerald Taylor’s hesitant defending. The jubilation was short-lived, as just three minutes later, Hearts equalized. Jorge Grant found the back of the net after Rocky Bushiri's poorly executed clearance left the ball invitingly at his feet.
The first half saw chances for both sides, but it was the second half where Hibs would assert their dominance, culminating in Iredale’s stunning goal. The Australian defender unleashed a powerful left-footed half-volley from outside the penalty area in the 74th minute, which dipped and flew past Gordon, sealing the win for Hibs.
"It was truly fitting to win the derby with such a stunning goal," said Hibs head coach David Gray. "It needed to be brilliant to beat someone like Craig Gordon from distance, and it was. This victory caps off what has been an incredible week for us. Winning against Celtic, then Dundee United, and finishing it off by beating our local rivals, is simply amazing. We came back strong after what was a nervy first half, and deserved to win based on our second half performance."
Gray praised Iredale not just for his goal, but for his overall contributions to the team. "I think he's a real man. He puts his body on the line every game. He's not just about the goal; he’s consistent and makes good decisions. He’s definitely somebody you want beside you going onto the pitch," he noted, adding, "You can’t find enough players like him to have on your squad. His moment today will be one he surely remembers forever."
With this win, Hibs extended their unbeaten run to 15 matches, positioning themselves firmly within the top three of the league standings, leaving Hearts scrambling to recover from this defeat. Hibs now sit seven points clear of their rivals, who face the prospect of fighting for their places within the top six as the season approaches its climax.
Despite the setback, Hearts’ manager Neil Critchley remained positive about their future. “It’s disappointing to lose, especially to our biggest rivals. The players are going to face criticism because of our performance today, and we didn’t play like ourselves in the second half,” he lamented. Critchley acknowledged Hibs' superiority on the day, stating, "They were more composed and created more than we did after the break. We need to learn from this and bounce back immediately.”
Both teams are poised for tough battles as the season winds down. Hibs have shown resilience and determination, eyeing European football next season. Gray’s men are now focused on maintaining momentum as they prepare for their next matches, believing they have what it takes to finish as high as possible this season.
The atmosphere at Easter Road was electric, with fans celebrating the result well after the match concluded. The rendition of The Proclaimers’ anthem "Sunshine on Leith" echoed across the stadium, encapsulating the euphoric mood following the derby win. Gray remarked on this connection between the team and supporters as pivotal to Hibs' current run: "To hear our anthem sung with such passion drives us forward. The fans played their part too, and we hope to keep this run going together."
Following the match, Iredale reflected on his stunning goal, sharing his disbelief at the significance of the moment. "It’s special to score such a goal and to win the derby for our fans," he said. "I will definitely be cherishing this goal for many years to come. We’re building something great here, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us next."
With this victory, Hibs are not only celebrating local bragging rights but also searching for signs of stability and ambition moving forward, establishing themselves as genuine contenders as the league progresses. Up next for Hibs is another challenging match against Celtic, where they’ll aim to carry their good form and challenge one of the league's top sides again.