Preview: Hearts vs. Hibernian - prediction, team news, lineups

Two places abstracted Edinburgh rivals Hearts and Hibernian successful the Scottish Premiership table heading into gameweek 19's Boxing Day derby astatine Tynecastle Park.

HMFC returned to winning ways earlier Christmas and purpose for consecutive Premiership wins for the archetypal clip this play against an hostile chasing 3 league victories connected the trot.

Match preview

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Hearts person had an inconsistent league run arsenic the midway constituent approaches, with Neil Critchley's men failing to triumph consecutive matches.

While Critchley inherited the Jam Tarts' erratic performances and results aft taking complaint successful October, pursuing Liam Fox's interim spell, the Englishman has yet to find the modus operandi to unafraid wins consistently to emergence successful the standings.

Hearts' latest victory, a 2-1 triumph implicit St Johnstone, was the club's 2nd successful three, with occurrence earlier Christmas either broadside of a 1-0 nonaccomplishment astatine Kilmarnock.

The Gorgie Boys person different accidental to grounds back-to-back victories connected Boxing Day; playing astatine home, wherever they person secured six points from the past 2 against Dundee FC and St Johnstone, bodes good for their prospects.

Victory implicit their superior rivals Hibs would instrumentality them supra their visitors successful the standings, a effect that would extremity the visiting club's two-match winning run.

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David Gray's men person scored oregon conceded 3 goals oregon much successful their past six Premiership matches, though the Hibees person lone been connected the incorrect extremity 3 times: the 4-1 nonaccomplishment to Dundee, the 3-3 gully with Aberdeen and the 3-0 nonaccomplishment astatine Celtic.

That reverse astatine the location of the defending champions is mollified erstwhile the results preceding it (a 3-0 triumph astatine Motherwell) and 3-1 victories implicit Ross County and Aberdeen are considered.

Nevertheless, getting the amended of their chap Edinburgh outfit volition delight supporters, who purpose to observe 3 Premiership victories connected the trot for the archetypal clip since December 2023, erstwhile Hibs defeated Kilmarnock (1-0), Dundee (2-1) and Aberdeen (2-0).

The ongoing tally is the distant side's longest winning streak successful 12 months, highlighting the broader inconsistency successful performances and results implicit an extended period.

It remains to beryllium seen if that changes connected Boxing Day, with 4 of the erstwhile 5 match-ups betwixt the clubs ending successful people draws and Hearts winning the different astatine the extremity of 2023.

Hearts Scottish Premiership form:

Hearts signifier (all competitions):

Hibernian Scottish Premiership form:

Team News

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Although Frankie Kent and Calem Nieuwenhof are doubtful for Hearts, the brace of Gerald Taylor and Stephen Kingsley are not expected to play immoderate portion successful the Edinburgh derby.

Blair Spittal and Lawrence Shankland person each netted 3 goals, accounting for six of the Gorgie Boys' 20 goals, and the attackers purpose to adhd to their tally.

The brace besides pb for large chances created, six for Shankland and 5 for Spittal, highlighting their value to the location side's attacking crippled plan.

Hibs volition cheque if the trio of Marvin Ekpiteta, Rudi Molotnikov and Mykola Kuharevich are disposable to play connected December 26; Kieron Bowie is ruled retired for the visitors.

Nicky Cadden has been progressive successful 4 goals and an assistance this term, 1 shy of the team's top-ranked Martin Boyle, who has six extremity involvements.

With Josef Bursik present playing backup to Jordan Smith betwixt the sticks, the Englishman could beryllium overtaken by Hearts' Craig Gordon for cleanable sheets (both goalkeepers person 2 shutouts earlier circular 19).

Hearts imaginable starting lineup:
Gordon; Forrester, Oyegoke, Rowles, Penrice; Boateng, Devlin; Drammeh, Shankland, Spittal; Wilson

We say: Hearts 2-2 Hibernian

Although Hearts person claimed 4 wins successful the erstwhile 10 derbies, lone 1 of those victories has travel successful the erstwhile 12 months.

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