Analysis The numbers behind the result
Hearts clinical despite Hibs' possession dominance
Hearts' 3-1 victory was justified by superior finishing efficiency, despite Hibernian controlling 55% possession and outshooting their opponents 17 to 12. The visitors were ruthless in front of goal, converting half of their 5 shots on target compared to Hibs' 1 goal from 4 on-target attempts. James Wilson's 13th-minute opener set the tone, with Laurent Mendy doubling Hearts' lead before halftime (43'), while Josh McPake effectively killed the game at 66' after A. Major's brief resurgence for Hibs (51').
Hearts' compact 4-4-2 absorbed pressure effectively, restricting Hibs to just 4 clear chances from 12 shots inside the box, while creating higher-quality opportunities - evidenced by their 8 corners to Hibs' 7 despite having 10% less possession. Key contributors McPake (1 goal, 1 assist) and Spittal (1 assist) demonstrated decisive quality in transition. The decisive stat: Hearts scored 3 from an xG of just 1.7, while Hibs underperformed their 1.9 xG - a 5-shot swing in clinical finishing defined the match.