There's nothing better than an early season Edinburgh derby, unless you're Ron Gordon.
The Hibs owner took aim at the SPFL for scheduling the first capital clash of the season in just the second week. City rivals Hearts are the first visitors to Easter Road of the 2022/23 Premiership campaign, which the American insists will see his side miss out on the extra walk ups a so-called lesser home game would have seen through the turnstiles at this stage of the season.
Robbie Neilson is all for it though, and no wonder. The Jambos went unbeaten against their neighbours last term drawing the first two meetings before back-to-back wins in Spring defined each side's season. Hearts came from behind to win 3-1 at Tynecastle in March, sealing third place and condemning Hibs to the bottom six in the process. A week later, they did it all again at Hampden. And it was the Gorgie Boys with the bragging rights yet again after a 2-1 win guaranteed them European group stage football until at least November.
The cost was high for Shaun Maloney, who paid with his job just days later. Now Neilson's former Tynecastle teammate Lee Johnson is in the opposing dugout and will sample his first Edinburgh derby for 16 years after making his Jambos debut in a 4-1 win over their rivals in 2006.
Martin Boyle will be back but not in the squad for the game. The Australian international has agreed a return to the club on a three-year deal, and will be presented. to the fans before kick-off.
He'll no doubt get a warm welcome back from the 3,800 away fans in the South Stand, who will be hoping to wreck Boyle's homecoming with another derby win.
Here's how the Record Sport writers think the game will go.
Keith Jackson
It’s hugely important for Hibs to lay some sort of marker down early in the new campaign and home advantage could give Lee Johnson’s men an edge. But Hearts were the third best team in the top flight for a reason last season and will take a bit of beating. Robbie Neilson might settle for a point from this one and his team is more than good enough to get it.
Hibs 2 Hearts 2
Scott Burns
Hearts have held the upper hand in recent games and have added well again this summer. It will be Lee Johnson’s first derby in green and I would expect a reaction from his team. They looked solid in Perth and if they can produce a similar defensive performance then I can see them taking something.
Hibs 1 Hearts 1
Craig Swan
Hibs will be desperate to try and impose themselves on the game and get a result at home. They will make a real fight of it, but it’s still a new team gelling. Hearts look stronger and have the weapons to edge it at Easter Road.
Hibs 0 Hearts 1
Gordon Parks
Record Sport ’s columnist Ryan Stevenson may be writing off Hibs but the Jambos have so much to prove if the first half of last week’s clash with Ross County is anything to go by. If ever there was an incentive for Hibs to rise to the occasion then it’s now and they can gain an early bragging right.
Hibs 1 Hearts 0
Fraser Wilson
A ferocious 90 minutes lies in wait as new-look Hibs look to bury their derby misery from last year. But even at home this one will come too early for a side still looking to find their groove against a slick Hearts outfit with serious goal threat through the middle and from out wide.
Hibs 1 Hearts 2
Ross Pilcher
It’s too early in the season to properly get a sense of where Hibs and Hearts are, or to even be playing this game according to Ron Gordon.
Both recorded narrow wins in their opening day fixtures last weekend. The Hibees benefitted from a red card call against St Johnstone while the Jambos needed a half-time rocket before moving through the gears against Ross County.
Lee Johnson’s men made a mess of their Premier Sports Cup group on and off the pitch, while Hearts have looked fairly decent in their pre-season friendlies and seem to have signed a proper goalscorer in Lawrence Shankland.
Hibs 1 Hearts 2
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