David Gray praised his side for seizing control in the second half of their 2-1 victory over Hearts after he became the first Hibernian manager to win back-to-back Edinburgh derbies in the league since Mixu Paatelainen in 2009.
Hibs extended their unbeaten run to 15 matches and strengthened their hopes of finishing third in the William Hill Premiership when centre-back Jack Iredale popped up with a stunning 74th-minute winner.
Martin Boyle had given the home side a sixth-minute lead but it was swiftly cancelled out by Jambos midfielder Jorge Grant.
Gray – named Premiership manager of the month for February ahead of kick-off – said: “When you think back to the week we’ve had, three real tough games, to beat Celtic here, to go up to Dundee United and win and then to finish that off by beating your local rivals at home, I’m delighted.
“First half we looked a wee bit nervy, turned the ball over too much, second half we were much more like ourselves. We really deserved the game based on our second-half performance and we saw the game out really well.”
Hibernian enjoyed a rousing rendition of Sunshine on Leith for the first time this season after last weekend’s victory over Celtic and they were able to experience that thrill once more – this time with coach Eddie May, who was recently involved in a car accident – after backing up their Boxing Day triumph over Hearts at Tynecastle.
It was the first time they had won back-to-back derbies since 2017, when they won in the Scottish Cup and then the league under Neil Lennon, and the first time they had achieved the feat in the league alone since 2009.
“I think we’re building something here all the time,” said Gray. “Yes, it was a derby against your local rivals, but there’s loads of records that we’ve set and broken today.
“Back-to-back for the first time in 16 years in a league game or something like that. And also it’s one defeat in 18 (in all competitions since late November).
“I’ve touched on it a lot with the players about can we keep moving forward and can we keep changing history in a real positive way? Before we played Hearts at Tynecastle it was five years since we won at Tynecastle, so that tells you – history tells you – these are difficult games to come out on top.
“And before today, the last team to win at Easter Road in a derby was Hearts, so we needed to make sure we corrected that. Loads of little incentives to try and drive the players on and we’re responding well to that at the minute, which is brilliant.
“To stand in the middle of the pitch (at full-time) and really feel that connection between the players, the staff and the supporters, that’s why we do it. And to get Eddie on the pitch at the end there, it was emotional at the same time because he’s been through a lot.”
Hearts failed to muster a notable chance in the second half as Hibs took control and Neil Critchley admitted his side, who are now back in the bottom six, got what they deserved.
“Look, it’s a bad defeat,” he said. “It’s a derby defeat so it’s not nice at all. The players have had enough praise in the last few months. Today we’ll get criticised and rightly so for the way we played in the second half. That was not us on the pitch.
“First half, we were the slightly better team. And then in the second half, I think we just lost belief in what we were doing a little bit, which is not like us.”
Leyton Orient remain on course for the Sky Bet League One play-offs after a 1-0 win which dented Wycombe’s hopes of automatic promotion.Randell Williams scored the only goal of the game and Orient’s victory, their fifth in succession, leaves them ahead of seventh-placed Reading on goal difference.Defeat for the Chairboys, though, has handed the initiative to Wrexham, who could seal the...
Doncaster clinched promotion to League One after goals from Rob Street and Billy Sharp secured a 2-1 win over 10-man Yorkshire rivals Bradford.In an incident-packed encounter in front of over 12,500 fans – the Eco-Power Stadium’s biggest crowd of the season – Doncaster hit the post through Jordan Gibson before on-loan Lincoln striker Street gave Rovers a 33rd-minute lead with his...
Reading’s hunt for a Sky Bet League One play-off spot will go to the final day of the season after the Royals beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 at the Memorial Stadium.Lewis Wing’s eighth league goal of the season after 67 minutes and Chem Campbell’s added-time effort leaves the Pirates staring at relegation after Noel Hunt’s side had to survive a first-half onslaught from the hosts....
Jamie Andrews struck a late equaliser as Woking twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Eastleigh in the National League.Tyrese Shade put the visitors in front after 14 minutes, played in on goal by Ben Close before finding the bottom corner of the net.Woking then drew level three minutes before the break when Aiden O’Brien headed in from Jacob Jones’ free-kick.Shade had Eastleigh back...
Port Vale secured automatic promotion to League One after beating AFC Wimbledon 2-0 at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.Second-half goals by Jayden Stockley and Jaheim Hedley ensured Vale would finish in the top three and also made a dent in the home side’s push for the play-offs.Vale created the first real attempt of the game which saw Lorent Tolaj fire over from 12 yards out following a cros...
Zian Flemming and Jeremy Sarmiento both scored twice as Burnley emphatically maintained their Championship title hopes by hammering QPR 5-0 in their penultimate match of the season.Josh Cullen also netted in a one-sided game as the Clarets, already promoted along with Leeds, won with ease to move to the top of the table, three points ahead of the Yorkshire side.However, Leeds, who are at home to B...
Nicolas Jackson ended his long goal drought to fire Chelsea a step nearer to the Champions League with a 1-0 win against Everton at Stamford Bridge.A dominant display was capped by the winning goal scored midway through the first half, the striker’s first since December 15 finished confidently from 20 yards past Jordan Pickford as though he had been scoring every week, as suspended head coac...
Celtic clinched the William Hill Premiership title in style with a 5-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice.Nicolas Kuhn and substitute Adam Idah both hit doubles after Ryan Strain’s 30th-minute own-goal kicked off the rout.Celtic had only needed a point but they wrapped up their fourth consecutive championship in similar fashion to last year, when a 5-0 win at Kilmarnock earned Brendan R...
Chris Wilder labelled his side’s 2-0 win over Stoke a “proper away performance” as they got back to winning ways.The Blades had seen their automatic promotion hopes ended after losing four of their previous five, including their last three matches away from Bramall Lane.An improved showing saw Sam McCallum, making just his eighth start of the campaign, score late in the first hal...
Goals from Sam McCallum and Andre Brooks ensured Sheffield United returned to winning ways with by beating Stoke 2-0.The Blades had seen their automatic promotion hopes ended after losing four of their previous five, including their last three matches away from Bramall Lane.McCallum had scored just one goal since his summer move from Norwich but popped up at the back post when Rhian Brewster&rsquo...
- 1 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 2 Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace dazzles in low-cut top and mini skirt
- 3 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 4 We always have a chance – Miron Muslic bullish as Plymouth boost survival hopes
- 5 Tottenham to compete with Man City for defender
- 6 Ten-man Falkirk beaten by Raith as late goals keep title race alive
- 7 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 8 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 9 Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola fumes over point claimed at 10-man Crystal Palace
- 10 Daily Laugh - Totttenham 1-2 N Forest