Hearts 'know what Hibs are thinking' as Tynecastle derby handed blockbuster comparison
Hearts-Hibs clash given top billing by former midfielder
This weekend’s “mouth-watering” Edinburgh derby between Hearts and Hibs has been labelled as the biggest games between the two sides in well over a decade and compared to a cup final.
The two rivals meet for the fourth time this season at Tynecastle on Sunday afternoon in the final Scottish Premiership fixture of the weekend. Kick-off is scheduled for 4.30pm, and the result is set to have major implications on both the title race and the battle for Europe.
Currently top of the league, the Jambos are a point clear of Rangers in second and three clear of Celtic in third. However, they could be knocked off their perch temporarily, with both Glasgow sides scheduled to play their weekend fixtures before them, meaning capital rivals Hibs have an opportunity to seriously dent Derek McInnes’ team's hopes of winning their first league title in 65 years.
As for Hibs, just three points separate them from Motherwell, meaning they could leapfrog the Fir Park outfit into fourth, depending on their result against Rangers earlier in the day. With so much riding on the result of the game for both sides, Premier Sports pundit Michael Stewart, who played for both sides, believes it is the most important game between the sides since the 2012 Scottish Cup final, a game which Hearts won 5-1.
“It's huge, said Stewart. “You're talking about what's riding on it, and you instantly think back to the cup final. It is the biggest since the 5-1 cup final. Obviously, that was a sore for Hibs. But huge game, huge ramifications. And what a mouth-watering finish to the end to the season it is.”
Former Rangers and Scotland full-back Alan Hutton echoed the thoughts of his co-pundit Stewart, saying: “Sunday is a belter. For the first round of split fixtures, it is brilliant. Not just the top three teams, the bottom ones as well. And Hearts have to wait until the very last game. It'll have fireworks. You know what Hibs are thinking - they don't want Hearts to be winning the league. I can't wait.”
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