Hibs are undefeated against Hearts this season and their fans are rightly revelling in it.
The Hibees won 2-1 on Sunday in the latest Edinburgh derby to make it two wins and a draw in the fixture for this campaign and it also elevated them to third in the Premiership table, seven points ahead of their city rivals.
Jack Iredale’s brilliant late winner, with manager David Gray later admitting he’s never seen him strike a ball like that before, did the damage and it was worthy of winning any game.
The Jambos were poor in the second half and their boss Neil Critchley admitted they didn’t deserve to salvage anything from the game.
While midfielder Jorge Grant was even more frank, conceding that Hibs have wanted it more in the derbies so far.
It has led to gloating Hibees making the most of the bragging rights on social media, with many claims they ‘run the city’.
In response, Hearts supporters have been quick to point out their superior record in the fixture over time.
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Ryan Stevenson rubbishes Hibs claims
And former Tynecastle midfielder Ryan Stevenson has joined in with that – insisting Hibs have a long way to go before then can start making such claims.
He admits the performance and result is worrying for his old club and hopes it serves as a wake up call to the players ahead of their next meeting, which will come after the split if Hearts can ensure they reach the top six.
In the Daily Record, he said: “Sunday’s derby defeat set off alarm bells for Hearts – but don’t for a second tell me the balance of power in Edinburgh has swung to Leith.
“Hibs have been the better side in the fixture this season but fans claiming they are now the number one force in the city? Ridiculous.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  CelticCeltic | 29 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 87 | 17 | 70 | 75 |
| 2 |  RangersRangers | 29 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 59 | 26 | 33 | 59 |
| 3 |  HibernianHibernian | 29 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 44 | 40 | 4 | 43 |
| 4 |  AberdeenAberdeen | 29 | 12 | 6 | 11 | 38 | 46 | -8 | 42 |
| 5 |  Dundee UtdDundee Utd | 29 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 41 |
| 6 |  MotherwellMotherwell | 29 | 11 | 4 | 14 | 34 | 48 | -14 | 37 |
| 7 |  Heart Of MidlothianHeart Of Midlothian | 29 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 41 | 40 | 1 | 36 |
“They need another four or five years of winning these games before they can even try to lay claim to the capital crown. History tells you Hearts have won 149 to Hibs’ 89. They’re miles behind us.
“But I’ll tell you what, this was a wake up call. Hearts must ensure they get top six to guarantee another crack at the noisy neighbours – and a chance of securing that 150th derby win in their 150th anniversary season. That would deliver a reality check to those Hibees claiming they run the city now.”
Hearts need to be better in big games
As well as no wins against Hibs, the same can be said against Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen. All of the fixtures that would be considered ‘big games’ for Hearts.
There have been draws against Aberdeen and Rangers.
Stevenson says there has to be an improvement for those games but is pointing the blame as much at the players as at the manager.
He added: “The manner of Sunday’s defeat was really worrying. Like the Boxing Day clash at Tynecastle, David Gray’s side showed a bigger appetite for the fight. That’s unforgivable. There’s a pattern developing too because Hearts have fallen well short in the big games this season.
“Out of 11 matches against the top four sides – two against Celtic and three against Rangers, Hibs and Aberdeen – they have won NONE. That proves they’ve simply not been good enough and they’ve not got enough about them in the big games.
“I actually thought Hearts controlled the first half on Sunday and were in a great position to go and win the game at half time. But it all fell apart after the interval. Straight from the start of the second half, you just felt Hibs were at it. They had that mindset that ‘if there’s anybody going to win this, it’s going to be us’.
“Who do you blame for that? Listen, it’s right to question the tactical stuff about the press and the set-up of the team after the break. But for me it comes on the park – big players on the pitch have to dictate what happens.
“I read Jorge Grant admitting afterwards that Hibs have wanted it more in the derbies this season. Good honesty. But a completely unacceptable reason.”