Hearts 3 – 1 Hibernian

Andy Halliday scored a double as Hearts beat rivals Hibernian 3-1 at Tynecastle to secure third place and consign their rivals to the bottom six in the Scottish Premiership table.

Hibs went ahead with the first notable chance of the match in the fifth minute when Harry Clarke released Wright down the left and the attacker’s effort across goal was deflected into the net.

The visitors were well on top in the opening 10 minutes and Craig Halkett had to make a vital saving tackle to stop Elias Melkersen getting a shot away from close range.

After a slack start, Hearts started to come into the game and they had a great chance to equalise in the 23rd minute when Barrie McKay sent Ellis Simms clean through on goal, but the on-loan Everton striker saw his chipped effort beat the advancing Macey only to drift agonisingly wide of the post.

The hosts went close again six minutes later when Atkinson met a McKay cross at the back post and headed against the bar.

Hibs were forced to make a change in the 37th minute when Wright went off injured to be replaced by Josh Campbell.

The visitors threatened four minutes before the break when Melkersen met Chris Cadden’s cross at the near post and flicked it over the bar.

Hearts equalised in first-half stoppage time when Halliday drilled a low angled shot in off the inside of the post after great work by Peter Haring, Alex Cochrane and Simms in the build-up.

The hosts then got themselves in front within two minutes of the restart when Kingsley ghosted in at the back post and forced in a Haring delivery from the right.

Halliday stretched Hearts’ lead with his second of the match in the 58th minute when he fired a low left-footed shot in off the post from the edge of the box after good work by Cochrane and McKay to set him up.

This two-goal cushion allowed the hosts to see out the game comfortably as they geared up in style for next weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final rematch with their city rivals.