Kevin Nisbet struck his 10th goal of the season as Hibs edged a feisty Edinburgh derby and breathe new life into Lee Johnson's side's quest to hunt down Aberdeen to secure the coveted third spot in the Scottish Premiership.
Nisbet produced a man-of-the-match performance and it was no surprise when he pounced in the 67th minute to hammer high into the net for what proved to be the winning goal.
Hibs defender Paul Hanlon got his head to a Jack Doyle-Hayes at the back post and striker Nisbet provided a superb volleyed finish into the roof of the net.
If this was an on-the-job interview for interim Hearts boss Steven Naismith then it turned out to be a nightmare start for him in the technical area as Hearts lost veteran defender Michael Smith to injury after just three minutes as the visitors failed to make it 10-in-a-row games undefeated against their city rivals and as the men in marron slumped to their sixth straight domestic defeat.
The Gorgie men remain five points behind third-placed Aberdeen in fourth with Hibs seven points off the Reds in sixth position.
It was a welcome derby win for the Hibs who tasted success in this fixture for the first time since December 2019 and proved that they are not dead and buried just yet in the race to finish the best of the rest.
Early Hearts injury blow as Michael Smith limps off injured
Michael Smith's derby was cruelly cut short after just three minutes in this one as he limped off injured.
Hearts veteran 34-year-old defender expertly cut out Kevin Nisbet's through ball as he tried to release Elie Youan down the left flank but he paid a heavy price for his timely intervention.
The Northern Ireland international was always on the stretch and seemed to tweak his hamstring and it turned out to be game over for one of the Jambos' most experienced players.
Ironically former Hibs and Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart speaking on BBC Sports Scotland in his pre-match build-up had been waxing lyrical about how Hibs should target Smith as "his legs have gone".
How prophetic those words from the sports pundit actually turned out to be as Smith's legs did go and he didn't last long in the contest.
Evergreen Lewis Stevenson's staggering 48 derbies not out
Lewis Stevenson continues to defy the critics and his 35 years by being a mainstay of the Hibs first team under manager Lee Johnson.
Stevenson's legendary status at the club has already been assured after he lifted the League Cup and was part of that unforgettable 3-2 Scottish Cup win over Rangers at Hampden Park in 2016.
Astonishingly this derby outing at Easter Road was his 48th contest against Hearts in his 18 years of being involved in the Hibs first team as he made his 25th appearance of the season.
The left-back galloped around like a gazelle and got up in support of Elie Youan whenever he could and he barely gave winger Alan Forrest a sniff all afternoon.
Stevenson may be small in stature but he has been a huge presence for the green and white half of the capital city.
Feisty Edinburgh derby but a festival of football was not served up as the game lacked any real quality
Easter Road is a terrific venue and the atmosphere during the derby always crackles certainly off the park with the Hibs and Hearts supporters in great voice.
On the park to quote legendary broadcaster James Sanderson: "It was all perspiration and no inspiration." There was no shortage of effort and endeavour from both sides but they both lacked that vital spark and touch of real quality.
Hibs striker Elie Youan hammered a close-range piledriver off Hearts number one Zander Clark as he spread himself to block superbly from the Frenchman who would have given the hosts the lead if only he had shown a bit more composure in the box.
The same player shot weakly into the body of Clark from barely 10 yards out after the restart when a cooler head would have seen him burst the net.
On a bright sunny day when the weather was akin to Edinburgh festival time, it was apt that the best player on the park Kevin Nibset should take centre stage and grab the initiative and give Hibs the perfect platform from which to launch a last-gasp assault on capturing third place.
Kevin Nisbet is talismanic for the Capital club
What a time to produce your 10th goal of the season as well as hand your club their first Edinburgh derby win in three-and-a-half years.
Kevin Nisbet is as valuable to Hibs as Kyogo Furuhashi is to Celtic. That's no exaggeration. It was no surprise that the talisman would prove to be the difference between the sides on derby day.
Nisbet was the best player on the Easter Road pitch by a Royal Mile and it is no surprise that there he has attracted the attention of suitors both at home and south of the border.
Injury may have robbed Johnson and the Hibs supporters of their goalscoring focal point for much of the campaign but the men from Leith should rejoice that he is back to full fitness and sharpness and 10 goals in just 13 matches this season is a fantastic return.
To misquote Rab C. Nesbitt: "I will tell you this boy...this boy Nisbet is some player and is really going places."
Life after Robbie Neilson proves to be 'Nai' picnic for Steven Naismith
Steven Naismith may have been installed as interim Jambos boss but this is the worst possible start to his temporary reign that he could have envisaged.
Having parted company with Robert Snodgrass Naismith showed that he can take tough decisions by showing the veteran midfielder the door prior to the Edinburgh derby.
However, that is a sixth straight domestic for Hearts who under Naismith have assembled the best squad of players since he joined the Edinburgh club.
A few weeks ago the Gorgie men were in a shoo-in for the third spot. Now they are dropping like a stone and look to be in freefall.
Hibs lie menacingly in the sixth just two points behind the Tynecastle men who are in fourth position. The momentum is with both Aberdeen, St Mirren and Hibs for the Europa League spot.
Naismith does not exactly have his troubles to seek.
At The Herald and Times we know the importance of reaching you where it's convenient, which is why we've engaged top sportswriter James Morgan to bring you an irreverent daily update on what's happening in the world of sport. Be it football, golf, rugby, cricket or something more exotic, James will tread where the best stories take him. To get this exclusive bespoke piece sent directly to your email inbox for free every day at 5pm, simply take a few seconds to type in your email here. It's that simple!
