Hearts claimed the bragging rights and took three vital after a 3-1 demolition of Hibs at Easter Road on Tuesday.
Three second-half goals – a Sean Clare penalty, a fine Oliver Bozanic strike, and a Conor Washington counter – earned Daniel Stendel’s side the victory that edges them above Hamilton Academical.
It is the first time since 1996-97 that Hearts have won two league derbies at Easter Road in a single season.
Melker Hallberg netted late on as Hibs slipped to a second defeat in 12 games.
Hibernian head coach, Jack Ross, said “You can’t down play the soreness of losing a game like this. It means an awful lot to people that come to watch the club and people that are associated with the club.
“It hurts and it stings, but in terms of the bigger picture it’s very easy to get caught up in the extremes of the emotion in football. That’s what we’ve got to make sure we don’t do.”
Hearts manager, Daniel Stendel, said “I’m very proud of my team, it was a great result for us. We are under pressure at the moment, but how solid the players were was great.
“The penalty was good for us because we got more spaces in the counter situation and scored another two goals. Not only am I happy, but a lot of people today are happy.”
