Club Statement: Hibernian FC send emotiona message to Heart

Musa Drammeh’s head met a cross from James Penrice on the left to provide the home team the first chance of the afternoon, but his glanced attempt went far wide of the goal.

By seizing the initiative, we would silence the home support in nine minutes. As the Roseburn end exploded, Rowles, under pressure from Josh Campbell, deflected Nicky Cadden’s corner kick beyond Gordan.

Before chalking off the attempt for Rocky blocking the custodian, referee Nick Walsh would first confer with his assistant. However, VAR would send the official to the monitor to examine the video, and the goal was ultimately awarded.

Hearts tried to respond quickly, and a Penrice shot was comfortably gathered by Jordan Smith before the goalkeeper was again called into action to hold a Drammeh header.

On 18 minutes Gordon was fortunate not to be punished by Martin Boyle after spilling an angled Nicky Cadden shot as Hearts only just managed to clear their lines.

Despite that slip, Gordon would prove Hearts most crucial player during the first half with a series of big saves to keep his side in the match.

First, he bravely saved at the feet of Chris Cadden after Boyle had picked out the full back with a clever cut-back then, he acrobatically kept out Campbell’s header before producing another stunning stop to thwart Elie Youan’s rising shot on the angle.

Those saves would prove crucial as Hearts levelled against the run of play in time added on when Blair Spittal’s cross found Lawrence Shankland; his header was going wide only for Rocky to slice it into the net from close range.

The goal gave the hosts a lift and Smith was called into action to deny Shankland at his near post in the final action of note from the first half.

Whether the loss of the equaliser impacted our play or not at the start of the second half, the game was certainly far more balanced after the break.

It developed into a scrappy contest with niggling fouls breaking up play and preventing either side gaining any meaningful momentum.

On the hour Hearts carved out a couple of chances with Daniel Oyegoke and Shankland trying their luck from the edge of our box yet, neither proved anything more than routine saves for Smith in goal.

As the second half progressed, we began to gain a foothold once more and it took another stunning save from Gordon to prevent the home side falling behind again.

Nicky Cadden whipped in a wonderful delivery into the back post where his brother, Chris, rose above James Penrice to power a header goalward that Gordon saved brilliantly at his near post.

We were not to be denied and with 12 minutes remaining we deservedly restored our lead when Gayle came on the blindside of Halkett to met Nicky Cadden’s cross and steer the ball past Gordon into the far corner of the net.

Both sides made several changes with Hearts throwing caution to the wind in search of a late leveller only for our defence to stand tall.

In the third of five additional minutes at the end a slip from Rocky presented Shankland with a shooting opportunity 12 yards out, as he pulled the trigger Jack Iredale slide in to make a huge defensive block with the challenge greeted like a goal by the Hibs support.

Moments later the final whistle sounded to spark wild scenes of celebration at the Roseburn end as players and supporters enjoyed the moment.