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 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 on Thursday – live on Sky Sports from 12pm.
Critchley: Hearts moving forward but I need time
Speaking to Sky Sports News 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.
“You always want to do better. We’ve had some progression in performances, and I think we’re moving forward. I still think we’ve got a lot of work to do and like any manager or coach would say: ‘we want time’, but we need to get some wins.”
Gray: The greatest day in the calendar
Speaking to Sky Sports News ahead of the trip to Tynecastle Park, Hibernian head coach David Gray said:
“This game doesn’t need much of an introduction. I’ve been lucky enough to be involved for the last 10 years, it’s the greatest day in the calendar and if you get three points it makes it even more special.
“It’s been five years since we last went and done it on Boxing Day, so hopefully that’s a good omen and we can send them home happy tomorrow.
“For all the players, the fans, for everyone involved, it’s the one they look forward to. I’m sure everybody can’t wait for it.
“We have been quietly confident that things would improve. You’re starting to see now that the togetherness has always been there and with a few positives results the confidence is starting to come, which is great.”
