Hearts vs Hibernian: Neil Critchley and David Gray look ahead to Scottish Premiership Edinburgh derby clash

When Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian last met on Boxing Day, Martin Boyle’s double kept Hearts rooted to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership table.

Five months later, they were relegated.

Five years on, that same fate threatens both clubs. After disappointing starts to their league campaigns. Hibs occupy eighth spot whilst Hearts languish in 10th, each just four and two points off the league’s plummet respectively.

Edinburgh’s big two have spent almost two months https://ufabet999.app as the Premiership’s bottom pair but with just one league defeat in each of their last four matches, a win could lift the victor closer to the top six than the foot of the table.

Four of the last five meetings between these sides have ended in a draw despite visitors Hibernian winning just one derby in 15 since their Boxing Day victory in 2019.

Both Neil Critchley and David Dray will be looking for their first Edinburgh Derby wins as head coaches when their sides meet at Tynecastle Park

ahead of his first Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle Park, Hearts head coach Neil Critchley said:

“It’s massive, I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a game that everyone looks forward to and we have been for the last few weeks.

“We come in off the back of a win but so do Hibs, so it makes for a really good game. It means an awful lot to the people in the area. It’s a great atmosphere, great occasion, but we have to make sure we are calm.

“If you look at the points we’ve collected while we’ve been here, we’re doing quite well but we want to do better. We’re close in the league and close on points. It’s quite congested down at the bottom of the table and we’ve got a busy period coming up.