The Edinburgh derby finished with a share of the spoils as both sides failed to pick up a win to lift them up the table.
A draw was probably fair in a game which Hearts had the lions share of possession but Hibs had far more chances to score.
Hibs had the first proper sniff when Craig Gordon was forced into action to beat away Elie Youan’s cross. Dwight Gayle maybe should have done better on the follow-up with James Penrice clearing off the line.
The veteran striker had another brilliant opportunity from Junior Hoilett’s pick-out but his header was too close to Gordon, who stood firm.
Lawrence Shankland was allowed to advance too far at the other end and had a shot beaten away by Josef Bursik. But for all their territory, the Jambos couldn’t cut their opponents open.
A third similar situation arose for Gayle early in the second half, the visiting goalkeeper again comfortably holding the headed effort.
His replacement, Mykola Kuheravic did what he couldn’t though, bundling the ball over the line after Marvin Ekpiteta had kept another Hoilett delivery alive at the back door.
Shankland could have equalised very quickly after a good move involving Jorge Grant and Blair Spittal, but fired wide.
Nectar Triantis could have settled things after being allowed the freedom of Easter Road in the box but his effort was tame.
He would regret that when Hearts pounced at the other end, teenage striker getting on the end of a ball in the box to finish well.
Here are Not the Old Firm’s takeaways from the action.
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Typical Edinburgh derby between Hibs and Hearts
This wasn’t a terrible game of football but it wasn’t brilliant either. It was the sort of thing we often see in this fixture with a cagey encounter, both teams nervy and not able to really go and take the game to one another. There was certainly football played and Hearts had more of the ball in the first half, 63 per cent to be precise. But Hibs had the better chances and Gayle should have scored at least one of his. A similar pattern followed in the second.
Hibs approach almost pays off
One thing that wasn’t typical of a capital derby was the Hibees almost sitting off their opponents and allowing them that aforementioned possession, rather than pressing and harrying. It worked to a point as Hearts often found the route to goal crowded after getting to the final third, and the home side eventually took their moment at the other end. But the visitors went for it at the end and got the equaliser.
Neil Critchley gambles
Neil Critchley went for it at the end, of that there is no doubt. He had Jorge Grant and Blair Spittal as his ‘holding’ midfielders towards the end, sacrificing Cammy Devlin and Malachi Boateng for more attacking options. He also trusted teenager Wilson and was rewarded for that. Hearts fans will be pleased to see a manager take a gamble, especially as it worked.