Hibs toast win over Hearts – but will they kick on before cup final?

Hibernian beat city rivals Hearts in the Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden, ending a run of four defeats there against them since 2006. The victory brought new head coach Marink Reedijk his first win in charge, gave supporters a long-awaited derby celebration and secured Hibs a place in the cup final.

Hibs had dropped to the bottom of the Premiership before the match, amid a difficult season marked by a managerial change and failure to win at home. They conceded to Claudio Braga early, but recovered their composure and held on as Hearts pressed; 19,000 Hibs supporters joined the celebrations, while about 23,000 Hearts fans were at the stadium. The report frames the win as a chance for Hibs to build momentum before the final and improve their league form.