Substitute Blair Spittal scored a late winner as Hearts eventually ground down nine-man Hibernian to take a big step towards the Premiership title with a 2-1 Edinburgh derby victory at Easter Road.
On a day of high drama in the race for the Scottish crown, the Jambos fell behind early on to a Martin Boyle goal. But Hibs soon had keeper Raphael Sallinger sent off, before Felix Passlack was also dismissed just three minutes into the second half.
Hearts made heavy weather of finding their way back into the game but eventually eked out victory as Lawrence Shankland’s flick led to an own goal by Warren O’Hora and Spittal grabbed the winner, with substitute Sabah Kerjota creating both goals for Derek McInnes’ side.
It came after Rangers FC suffered a serious title blow with a 3-2 defeat by Motherwell at Ibrox. Danny Rohl’s team had battled back from two goals down for the second game in a row, only for Emmanuel Longelo’s drive in the final minute of normal time to leave Rangers in third place, one point behind Celtic and four behind leaders Hearts.
Hearts, meanwhile, remain three points clear of Celtic with a superior goal difference and four ahead of Rangers, who they host a week on Monday.
Hearts – missing injured duo Oisin McEntee and Cammy Devlin – made four changes to the team that defeated Motherwell last time out, and switched to a 3-4-3 formation in an effort to match up against the Hibees.
The visitors made a bright start but had the wind removed from their sails when Hibs went ahead from their first notable venture forward in the seventh minute.
Jamie McGrath, having been fouled by Jordi Altena, whipped in a free-kick from the left and Boyle got away from Beni Baningime at the back post to guide a close-range volley high into the net.
With Hibs’ support still revelling in the afterglow of the goal, the hosts suffered a huge setback when they were reduced to 10 men in the 11th minute. As Hearts forward Landry Kabore chased down a ball over the top from Stephen Kingsley, Sallinger raced out and caught the ball just outside his box. The incident was flagged by VAR a few moments later and the Austrian was sent packing for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
After substitute keeper Jordan Smith had replaced Cadden, Marc Leonard curled the resulting free-kick over the bar.
Just after the 20-minute mark, news of Motherwell’s stoppage-time winner over Rangers was greeted with delight in the packed away end.
Despite their numerical advantage, Hearts did little to hurt Hibs for the remainder of the first half, with a 33rd-minute header over the top from Claudio Braga their only notable attempt.
McInnes sent on Albanian winger Kerjota in place of Altena for the start of the second half.
Hibs’ hopes of holding on were dealt a further blow in the 48th minute when Passlack – booked in first-half stoppage time for squaring up to Kingsley – received a second yellow card for a foul on Baningime.
The equaliser came in the 63rd minute when Kerjota’s low delivery from the right was scrambled over the line by Shankland via a touch off Hibs defender O’Hora.
Hearts seemed to lose their way slightly after the equaliser and Hibs looked like they might just cling on for a point until Spittal slammed in Kerjota’s cutback from 12 yards out, sparking delirious scenes in the away end.
