Hearts ended their winless run in the SPL in the ideal fashion with a battling 1-0 success over Hibernian.
Velicka header settles Edinburgh battle
Hearts ended their winless run in the SPL in the ideal fashion with a battling 1-0 success over Hibernian in the Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle.
The home side had not tasted victory in the league in nine games, but Andrius Velicka's first-half header secured the points.
Former Hibs midfielder Michael Stewart had the first shot in earnest, with his 25-yard shot deflecting narrowly wide.
Hearts were on top in the early stages with Hibs keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay diving low to his left to turn away Deividas Cesnauskis' volley.
Ma-Kalambay then thrust out a hand to stop Ruben Palazuelos' well-struck shot before Hearts took the lead on 20 minutes.
Christophe Berra forced a corner back across goal for Velicka to stoop to head home from six yards, with Ma-Kalambay unable to prevent the ball crossing the line.
Hibs stepped up the pace and came close to equalising just before the half-hour mark when Stewart cleared Merouane Zemmama's effort off the line.
Despite concerted pressure in the second half, Hibs failed to create any clear-cut openings and Hearts could have scored a second in the latter stages.
Saulius Mikoliunas' header was kept out by Ma-Kalambay before Velicka's low cross was almost turned into his own net by Hibs' Kevin McCann.
