Murray gives Hibs victory over Hearts

Simon Murray's stunning strike after just three minutes secured Hibernian's victory over local rivals Hearts in the Edinburgh derby.

The forward lashed the ball high into the net in the third minute, after nutmegging Hearts defender John Souttar inside the area.

Hibernian dominated for long spells at Easter Road and might have increased their lead through John McGinn.

Christophe Berra came closest to equalising, but Hearts fell short.

The defender saw a second-half header saved by Hibs goalkeeper Ofir Marciano, and the home side saw the victory out.

Victory moved Neil Lennon's side into the top six, one point and two places clear of their city rivals.

These games have more of a reputation for fire and brimstone than football beauty, but this one did have a class beginning in the shape of Murray's goal.

The striker, so prolific at the start of the season and yet goalless in recent months, was only in the team due to Anthony Stokes' injury, but he didn't take long in exploiting his chance and, as it turned out, winning the game.

Hibs took the lead after Brandon Barker and Murray combined on the left. Murray cut through the Hearts defence and lashed a shot high into Joe McLaughlin's net. It was a strike that electrified a packed Easter Road and it was also a portent of things to come.

Lennon had the kind of pace in his team that his Hearts counterpart Craig Levein just does not possess. Barker, on the left wing for Hibs, sought to take on Michael Smith at every chance - and usually beat. On the other side, Martin Boyle took young Jamie Brandon to the cleaners more often than not.

This was the way of it for much of the night. Hibs pressed and Hearts hung on. That was the flow of the game. Hearts had little ball, little accuracy and, apart from a Jamie Walker chance, little or no threat until late on.

The hosts, on the other hand, were full of running, if not goals. It wasn't that Hibs were bombarding McLaughlin with shots. What they were doing, though, was owning the ball.

They had mountains of possession and a few opportunities. Not many, given their dominance, but enough to put the game to bed a lot more comfortably than they did.

Just before the break, Boyle forced a save from McLaughlin and Steven Whittaker really should have scored from the rebound. At half-time, Levein brought on 16-year-old Harry Cochrane for Rafal Grzelak, who was over-run in the heart of the midfield. Hibs' control of the game carried on regardless.

Murray threatened and Boyle wasted a decent chance. A slight edginess took control of the Hibs fans at this point. The lack of a second goal opened up the doomsday scenario of a late Hearts equaliser. Chasing the goal, Levein brought on Isma Goncalves.

Hearts pushed on, briefly. Berra had a header. Cole Stockton, a second-half substitute, gave the home crowd a fright with a close-range shot. So, too, did Isma on the follow-up. The finale would have been so much more straightforward for Hibs had McLaughlin not done so well in pushing away a McGinn shot nine minutes from time.

They would have deserved that second goal, but they didn't need it. Only 1-0, but comprehensive enough for Lennon and his followers. They basked in it afterwards, bragging rights in the bag.

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