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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.
In short
- Hibs beat Hearts at Hampden to reach the League Cup final.
- The result ended four straight Hampden defeats to their city rivals.
- Hibs must now turn the derby win into momentum in the league.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The semi-final win could give Hibs a lift after a difficult season: it ended a long run of defeats to Hearts at Hampden, gave Reedijk his first victory and carried the team into a cup final. If they can turn the confidence and togetherness shown in recovering from an early goal into steadier league performances, the result may mark a genuine turning point.
The case against
A single derby win does not resolve the problems that left Hibs bottom of the Premiership or erase their poor home form. Hearts’ early goal and late pressure also underline how hard the match was, so it would be premature to assume Hibs can sustain this level or carry the momentum through to the final.
Explained simply
Hibernian, usually called Hibs, and Heart of Midlothian, known as Hearts, are Edinburgh’s two main football clubs. Their matches are called the Edinburgh derby, and the teams compete in Scotland’s top league, the Premiership, as well as the Scottish League Cup.
The League Cup is a knockout competition, with teams eliminated when they lose. Reaching its final gives Hibs a chance to compete for a major trophy, while their low league position and difficult season make their form in the Premiership a separate concern.