Hearts 1-0 Hibs: Tomas Magnusson scores late winner as Scottish Premiership leaders move six points clear

Substitute Tomas Magnusson scored a late winner as Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts defeated Hibernian 1-0 in a tense Edinburgh derby to tighten their grip on high spot.

The Icelandic midfielder popped up with the sport’s decisive second within the 88th minute to spark jubilant scenes inside Tynecastle.

The Jambos are six factors forward of Rangers, who’ve a sport in hand, and 9 forward of Celtic, who’ve two video games in hand.

Hearts boss Derek McInnes handed a primary begin to January signing Islam Chesnokov, whereas Frankie Kent changed Craig Halkett, who was suspended following his crimson card in final Tuesday’s defeat at St Mirren.

There have been additionally two modifications to the Hibs aspect that began final Wednesday’s win over Dundee United as Jordan Obita and Elie Youan made method for Nicky Cadden and Kai Andrews.

Amid a pumped-up ambiance, Hearts began brightly, with Landry Kabore driving a low effort simply extensive after chopping in from the proper earlier than Claudio Braga despatched an acrobatic effort excessive and extensive.

Hibs had a very good alternative on the counter-attack within the ninth minute as Felix Passlack drove in direction of the Hearts field however the German overhit his go to the supporting Martin Boyle, who teed up Nicky Cadden for an angled shot that was deflected away by Kent.

In a sometimes frenetic derby, either side had been struggling to search out any sustained high quality though Hearts had a few half-chances, with Chesnokov closed down by goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger as he tried to get on the top of a ball excessive earlier than Alexandros Kyziridis shot over from simply exterior the field.

Hearts went shut within the forty first minute when Kabore’s shot broke off Munashe Garananga and ran tantalisingly into the trail of Chesnokov however the Kazakh blazed over from shut vary beneath stress from Sallinger.

Hibs had turn out to be the extra assured aspect because the half wore on and so they threatened simply earlier than the break when Boyle turned within the field and noticed a low shot saved by Alexander Schwolow.

Hearts examined Sallinger for the primary time within the 53rd minute when Harry Milne unleashed a low shot from 20 yards after being teed up by Kyziridis following a cleverly labored nook.

Hibs began to crank up the stress across the hour mark and Cadden’s supply throughout the face of aim was brilliantly reduce out by Kyziridis with Boyle lurking unmarked within the centre.

The guests went shut within the 69th minute when Boyle fizzed a shot simply over from Cadden’s supply.

However Hearts finally discovered the breakthrough within the closing levels when Milne’s low cross from the left was compelled in from shut vary by the onrushing Magnusson.