Hearts v Hibs: Late Craig Halkett goal gives Premiership leaders 1-0 win

Craig Halkett scored the only goal of the game as Hearts struck late to defeat Hibs in the Edinburgh derby and move five points clear at the top of the Premiership table.

The match looked set to end in a stalemate before Halkett steered in from Sabah Kerjota’s cross to stretch Hearts’ lead at the top of the table ahead of Celtic’s match against Motherwell on Sunday.

The defender’s volley meant Hibs went home empty-handed after failing to finish some big chances in the second half.

League leader Hearts were unchanged from the side that had defeated Rangers and Falkirk, while Hibs boss David Gray made two changes to his team, bringing in Chris Cadden and Josh Campbell for Miguel Chaiwa and Jamie McGrath.

The swirling wind inside Tynecastle made it difficult for both seasons and while both sides had early chances, the majority of efforts came from distance.

Alexandros Kyziridis had two good attempts in quick succession, hitting a curled shot from outside the box that was similar to his eye-catching striker against Falkirk but seeing it go just over the bar, then forcing Hibs keeper Raphael Sallinger to save a fierce low shot.

The game was goalless at the break but not through lack of attacking intent and both sides were on the front foot after the restart.

Boyle had his side’s best opportunity when he raced on to a Campbell flick-on and lifted a clever finish over Alexander Schwolow, only for the ball to come back off the face of the bar.

In the 68th minute he had the ball in the net but the offside flag ruled out the goal, and he then saw his touch let him down when played through on Schwolow soon after.

A draw would have kept Hearts on top of the Premiership table ahead of Celtic’s match against Motherwell on Sunday but in the dying moments they turned one point into three.

Kerjota’s ball into the box in the 91st minute was perfectly judged and Halkett met it with a clinical volley that won the game and sent Tynecastle rocking on derby day.