'This Edinburgh derby should be an absolute cracker': Journalists' predictions for Hibs v Hearts

PATRICK McPARTLIN

This could be the most entertaining derby for quite some time. Hibs are going well under Jack Ross and are well-stocked in the attacking areas, as evidenced by their five-goal haul against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Friday night.

But Hearts will be buoyed by their victory against Rangers in their own last-eight clash and their tails will be up for this one - plus, they should have a fully-fit Liam Boyce available.

Hibs are still within touching distance of a European spot and three points would take them within two points of third-placed Motherwell, and one away from fourth-placed Aberdeen at least for 24 hours.

If Hearts can replicate their performance against Rangers, and Hibs turn up, this should be a very enthralling meeting and, despite the respective league positions, a close match.

While form tends to go out of the window for these fixtures, I think the hosts have the upper hand in midfield - there could be a first outing for the Omeonga-Docherty-Allan triumvirate in the middle - and that could ultimately make all the difference.

Prediction: Hibs win

JOEL SKED

In that time between Hibs thumping Inverness CT and kick-off at Tynecastle between Hearts and Rangers this was an incredibly easy game to predict. The home side, with their pace and quality, would run riot, into the open spaces behind the visiting defence. Then came a more than competent defensive display from Daniel Stendel's men as they kept a clean sheet.

On top of that there was the general performance. It has given Hearts fans confidence, especially with unfashionable players showing they have qualities to offer.

Even still, and with Boyce likely back to full fitness, it is only right Hibs are favourites. They are in a better moment, have more strings to their bow going forward than Hearts, but it should be noted they have their own defensive issues.

This should - and I emphasise should - be an absolute cracker: bodies everywhere, chances, mistakes, a raucous crowd under the lights.

Prediction: Hibs to win a high-scoring match (Narrator: It finished 0-0)

ANTHONY BROWN

The Edinburgh derby has tended to go in favour of the away side over the past two seasons and I wouldn’t be surprised if that trend continues this time.

Throughout their grim struggles of the past year and a bit, Hearts have maintained an ability to compete in most of their high-profile fixtures against other big-city clubs such as Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen and Hibs.

Buoyed by Saturday’s performance and result against the Ibrox side on Saturday, and with an array of attacking talent getting closer to full sharpness with each passing week, there is little reason to suspect that this will be a typical case of a high-scoring top-six outfit swatting aside a bottom-of-the-table opponent. Indeed, Hearts are so often at their most dangerous in this fixture when they are cast as underdogs.

If they can find a way of limiting the effectiveness of Hibs talisman Martin Boyle, they have enough quality in their ranks to pull off another famous Easter Road victory in what could easily develop into an uncharacteristically open and entertaining Edinburgh derby.

Prediction: Hibs 2 Hearts 3

NEIL McGLADE

I think irrespective of Hearts’ surprise victory over Rangers at the weekend, this, as ever, is always a difficult one to call.

Hibs, being the home side, not to mention their current form, sees them start as favourites and rightly so. Their will to pile bodies forward is paying dividends with the amount of goals they’ve been scoring lately. Couple that with a Jambos defence that, up until Saturday, has been vulnerable to say the least, then you’d have to assume the home side will breach the visitors’ goal at least once over the course of the 90 minutes.

The Easter Road side’s defence is far from the finished article either and Hearts, with the return of Boyce and perhaps Jamie Walker, should see some opportunities come their way. But Hibs carry a far greater threat than their rivals in the final third and its for that reason I’m tipping the Hibees.

Prediction: Hibs 3 - 1 Hearts

MARK ATKINSON

Hearts will take a lot of belief from defeating Rangers last weekend. However, Hibs are playing well right now, have home advantage and lots of goals in their team. An extra day’s rest for Ross’ men should not be discounted either.

Hibs have the edge right now and I make them narrow favourites to win this.

Prediction: Hibs 2-1 Hearts

CRAIG FOWLER

Play excellently against Rangers on two occasions; play like utter crap in matches against Hamilton, Kilmarnock and (half of the game with) St Johnstone – welcome to Hearts in 2020 everybody!

Stendel’s high-intensity pressing system only seems to get the required intensity from the players when they’re playing in big matches, so I’m expecting them to put in a good performance tonight and really give Hibs a game.

However, even though there was no doubt the defence was improved in the match against Rangers as the hosts played a bit more pragmatically than in previous weeks, I still need to see a bigger sample size before I’ll be convinced there is much improvement at that end of the field.

If Hearts regularly leave gaps behind the full-backs, as we’ve seen in many games during the German manager’s tenure, then Boyle will rip them to shreds. Add in the fact that John Souttar is absent and will miss the remainder of the season and I can see Hibs outlasting Hearts in a shoot-out.

Prediction: Hibs 4 Hearts 2