PREVIEW: Hibs host Hearts in Edinburgh Derby | OneFootball

Hibernian and Hearts will meet at Easter Road this evening for the first Edinburgh Derby of the season.

Both sides have enjoyed a solid start to the league season, winning two of their first three matches despite losing the other. Hearts have bounced back from their opening day defeat to Aberdeen by beating Dundee United and St. Johnstone, as well as reaching the league phase of the Europa Conference League. Meanwhile, Hibs have beaten Rangers and Dundee following their home defeat to Motherwell on opening day. They fell at the final hurdle for European qualification, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Gent.

Last season, as we all know, Hearts came incredibly close to lifting their first league title since 1960, but a controversial defeat at Celtic Park on the final day of the season saw them lose out to the Hoops. Hibs enjoyed a strong season themselves, finishing fifth with 57 points, securing back-to-back top-half finishes for the first time this decade.

There were four Edinburgh Derbies last season; Hearts won three whilst Hibs won one, that being a 3-2 victory at Easter Road shortly before the turn of the year. In fact, Hearts’ win in the final derby of last season was the point at which many thought they were finally going to topple the Old Firm and go on to lift the title, but of course, it wasn’t to be in the end.

That Hearts team has since been largely dismantled, with manager Derek McInnes and top scorer Lawrence Shankland departing for Rangers. However, Claudio Braga remains at the club and has looked just as impressive so far this term as he did last, registering a goal and two assists in his first three league outings.

Two key cogs in Hearts’ title-challenging side from last year, Stephen Kingsley and Craig Halkett, look set to miss tonight’s game due to ongoing injuries. Ageu, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Tom Renaud also remain on the sidelines.

Hibs appear to have a relatively clean bill of health ahead of the game, with central defender Rocky Bishiri the only doubt for the game due to a tendon injury sustained at the back end of last season.

Tonight’s game is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm BST and will be broadcast live on Premier Sports.