Hibernian 0-3 Hearts: Clinical Hearts extend run to dump Hibs out of cup
Hibs #Hibs
Lawrence Shankland’s goal made him the first Hearts player to score 20 in a season since 1991/92
Hearts’ unbeaten Edinburgh derby run stretched to nine games as goals from Josh Ginnelly, Lawrence Shankland and Toby Sibbick dumped Hibernian out of the Scottish Cup in the fourth round.
Lee Johnson’s side dominated chunks of the game but could not capitalise, with goals either side of half time all but ending the tie before the late third.
Shankland became the first Hearts player to score 20 goals in a season since 1992, but the captain was sent off in stoppage time after receiving his second yellow card.
The victory means Robbie Neilson has picked up his first win at Easter Road as Hearts manager, but it increases the pressure on counterpart Johnston, with Hibs now having won just three of their last 14.
Neilson had said form was immaterial before the match and, if it was a bluff, it initially seemed to backfire. From the first whistle, Hibs looked more like the team cantering to another third-placed finish.
Elie Youan terrorised the Hearts defence, as did Aidan McGeady. The Hibs winger rolled back the years, looking every bit the fresh-faced teen that scared Premiership defences over a decade ago.
Josh Campbell was gifted two opportunities. He delicately flicked one on to a post with a volleyed backheel. The other was a powerful header that he could only plant into the side netting.
Between those chances, Hearts struck with one of their two first-half openings.
A free-kick, needlessly conceded by Ryan Porteous – potentially playing his last game for Hibs amid transfer speculation – bounced dangerously in the area and Ginnelly reacted quickest, rifling in from close range.
The second half began the same as the first, with Hibs finding plenty of room on the flanks but nothing in the middle. That would be the difference in the end.
When Shankland picked up the ball out wide, there was seemingly nothing on. But Chris Cadden allowed him room to come inside and he played a one-two with Stephen Humphrys before smashing a half-volley beyond David Marshall.
Hearts’ nerves jangled slightly when Shankland was sent off in injury time – the captain given two questionable yellow cards after tangling twice with Rocky Bushiri.
Youan even hit the woodwork again for Hibs, but it would be Hearts that put their opposition to the sword when Sibbick surged forward and dinked effortlessly over Marshall, securing the city’s bragging rights for a little while longer.
Hibs dominated on the pitch and statistically, but they were toothless where it mattered. Hearts created little, but when they did, they made the most of it.
Player of the match – Toby Sibbick (Hearts) 
Once a maligned figure, the Englishman has completely turned it around at Hearts. Solid at the back, silky up top. What they said
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson: “The 3-0 probably flattered us. It’s quite scrappy, it’s hard to get control. Ultimately, we got the goals at the right time and we’ve managed to progress into the next round.
“You have to sometimes ride your luck. I thought we did enough to win the game. The level of the team is actually going up as we bring subs on, which is what we need to do.”
Hibernian manager Lee Johnson: “Obviously we’re disappointed and the boys have worked their socks off, but we’ve conceded three and not scored. We had good efforts on goal but they’ve been more clinical and defensively more stout. Both boxes were the key today.
“They’re frustrated and hurting. People give each other home truths which is the right thing to do. It’s my job to keep believing in these lads.”
Line-ups Hibernian
Formation 4-3-3
1Marshall
12Cadden33Bushiri5Porteous3Cabraja
32Campbell14Jeggo16Stevenson
46McGeady15Nisbet23Youan
Substitutes
Hearts
Formation 3-4-2-1
28Clark
72Hill21Sibbick15Rowles
2Smith14Devlin77Snodgrass19Cochrane
9Shankland18McKay
30Ginnelly
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Hibernian 0, Heart of Midlothian 3.
90’+11′
Second Half ends, Hibernian 0, Heart of Midlothian 3.
90’+10′
Stephen Humphrys (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+10′
Foul by Marijan Cabraja (Hibernian).
90’+10′
Substitution, Hibernian. Paul Hanlon replaces Rocky Bushiri because of an injury.
90’+8′
Delay in match because of an injury Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian).
90’+8′
Substitution, Hibernian. Ewan Henderson replaces Kevin Nisbet.
90’+6′
Goal! Hibernian 0, Heart of Midlothian 3. Toby Sibbick (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Stephen Humphrys.
90’+4′
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Alan Forrest.
90’+4′
Élie Youan (Hibernian) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box.
90’+3′
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Nathaniel Atkinson.
90’+1′
Second yellow card to Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian) for a bad foul.
90’+1′
Foul by Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian).
90’+1′
Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90′
Attempt missed. Marijan Cabraja (Hibernian) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
87′
Delay in match because of an injury Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian).
87′
Attempt saved. Toby Sibbick (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
86′
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Alan Forrest replaces Michael Smith.
86′
Attempt blocked. Élie Youan (Hibernian) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
83′
Foul by Michael Smith (Heart of Midlothian).
Player of the match
SibbickToby Sibbick
Hibernian
Squad number46Player nameMcGeady
Squad number23Player nameYouan
Squad number15Player nameNisbet
Squad number12Player nameCadden
Squad number32Player nameCampbell
Squad number1Player nameMarshall
Squad number33Player nameBushiri
Squad number14Player nameJeggo
Squad number16Player nameStevenson
Squad number3Player nameCabraja
Squad number5Player namePorteous
Squad number22Player nameMcKirdy
Squad number4Player nameHanlon
Squad number18Player nameHenderson
Heart of Midlothian
Squad number21Player nameSibbick
Squad number9Player nameShankland
Squad number28Player nameClark
Squad number29Player nameHumphrys
Squad number30Player nameGinnelly
Squad number15Player nameRowles
Squad number72Player nameHill
Squad number77Player nameSnodgrass
Squad number2Player nameSmith
Squad number3Player nameKingsley
Squad number14Player nameDevlin
Squad number19Player nameCochrane
Squad number12Player nameAtkinson
Squad number18Player nameMcKay
Squad number7Player nameGrant
Squad number17Player nameForrest