Hibernian lost the Edinburgh derby 3-1 to Hearts at Easter Road, a result that leaves David Gray's side seventh in the Scottish Premiership. The defeat, reported by Daily Mail Sport, was sealed by a standout performance from Hearts' 19-year-old attacker Josh McPake.
Hearts took control early. James Wilson opened the scoring, and Laurent Mendy added a second before the break. Hibernian's Adam Mayor pulled a goal back to give the home side hope, but Jack Iredale's red card in the 62nd minute ended any realistic chance of a comeback. Josh McPake then capped the win for Wouter Vrancken's team with a late third goal.
How did the match unfold at Easter Road?
The derby started badly for Hibernian when Jordan Obita was forced off with an injury after just 28 minutes. Hearts capitalised on the disruption, with McPake setting up James Wilson for the opener. Laurent Mendy then headed in from a Claudio Braga corner to double the lead before halftime. Hibernian showed some fight after the restart, with Adam Mayor scoring to make it 2-1. The momentum shifted decisively, however, when defender Jack Iredale received a second yellow card, reducing Hibernian to ten men for the final half-hour. Josh McPake sealed the three points for the visitors with a well-taken finish.
What does this mean for Hibernian's league position?
The loss leaves Hibernian in seventh place in the Premiership table with six points from three games, following a recent form of two wins and a loss. They have scored five goals and conceded four this season, giving them a goal difference of plus one. More concerning is the gap to the top, as they now sit six points behind league leaders Celtic. Fans can track the evolving league picture on our standings page.
Who was the standout player for Hearts?
Hearts' victory was orchestrated by 19-year-old Josh McPake. The Scotland international, who has two senior caps under new national team manager Sebastien Pocognoli, was involved in all three goals, providing an assist and scoring the clincher. His performance underlined why Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken has placed such faith in the young attacker. The win propelled Hearts into third place in the table, showcasing their progress under the new boss.
What is next for Hibernian after this defeat?
Manager David Gray will need to regroup his squad quickly. The immediate focus turns to the next fixture, a daunting away trip to face Celtic at Parkhead on December 12th. Celtic currently sit first in the table, making it a severe test for Hibernian's ambitions. The full schedule of upcoming matches is available on our fixtures page. The team's ability to bounce back from this derby disappointment will be critical as they look to climb from seventh place.
