Hibs instant analysis as Youan inspires dramatic comeback

Nick Montgomery’s side, second best for long periods, fell behind to an Allan Forrest rocket and a Christian Doidge own goal that looked set to ensure defeat in the first Edinburgh derby of the campaign.

But a remarkable quickfire double from Elie Youan stunned Tynecastle and earned the Hibees an unlikely point at the home of their rivals. The result maintains Montgomery’s unbeaten record since replacing Lee Johnson, and Hibs could even have won it when Joe Newell drove into the box only to be denied by Zander Clark.

Here, Patrick McPartlin and Liam Bryce provide the instant analysis from Gorgie.

Two minutes of madness

We had seriously begun to wonder where the spark was coming from as Hibs sunk into a two-goal deficit and Tynecastle slipped into party mode. There had been next to nothing to shout about for the 3000 strong in the away end, their side failing to seriously trouble Zander Clark in goal, and the back four stationed in front of him.

But I suppose the most obvious source of inspiration and momentum is, well, sticking the ball in the back of the net. Having been on the fringes of the action for extended spells, and occasionally berated by the home support for a few dodgy touches, there came a moment when Elie Youan decided something had to change.

It was as if his lashing of the ball high into Clark’s net to reduce Hearts’ advantage gave Tynecastle collective whiplash. The Hibs fans behind the goal had barely taken their seats when their side surged forward again down the right, and when the ball broke to Youan again he made no mistake.

To describe the Roseburn Stand as carnage thereafter would be a serious understatement.

Liam Bryce

Heroics from Youan

The word mercurial might have been invented for Élie Youan. The Frenchman has the ability to light up a game with his skill but for 65 minutes of this Edinburgh derby he was a shadow of his usual self - sleeping, you might say - and then something seemed to wake him up. His first goal was an emphatic finish into the roof of the net, his second a slightly fortunate finish low past Zander Clark after he got the break of the ball in the box. The second goal seemed to spark both Hibs and Youan into life and for the remainder of the game he seemed to be everywhere. His defensive work, which improved towards the end of last season, had been lacking and he looked particularly susceptible in the lead-up to Hearts’ second, but even that side of his game improved with the score level again. He would be such an asset if he could do it for 90 minutes. But if he could, he wouldn’t be at Hibs.

Patrick McPartlin

Subs change the game

When Hibs brought it back to two apiece, Steven Naismith reacted by throwing on Liam Boyce and Jorge Grant - attacking changes with a view to winning the game. But Montgomery matched him and having already introduced Adam Le Fondre before Youan’s goals, he introduced Dylan Levitt for Jimmy Jeggo. It was the Welshman’s first senior appearance under the new manager but it showed a desire to steal the game, and while Hibs lived dangerously at times in their own box, the attacking change almost, almost paid off. And it will also serve as a boost for Montgomery, knowing his midfield corps is getting stronger going into another tough couple of games.

Patrick McPartlin

Poor start still a concern

Hibs side’s stepping out at Tynecastle can ill-afford to start poorly, and a sluggish one here set the tone for a poor first period. Hearts flying out the traps aggressively can have been no surprise to anyone in green and white, but they were unable to really match their rivals’ intensity from the outset.

Allowing Hearts to impose themselves early then starts a chain reaction that brings the crowd even further into play, and puts Hibs players even further under the cosh of sheer hostility.

The primary issue was a lack of control. Coming here, it’s inevitable Hearts will have spells, possibly extended ones, but Hibs simply allowed too much maroon momentum to build over too long a period. Forrest’s scorching opener left David Marshall with no chance, but a goal had been coming for a worryingly long time beforehand.

If Hibs can’t establish early control of matches against the league’s stronger sides, that first-half could become a repeat scenario.

Liam Bryce

No backward steps

Nick Montgomery said before the game that he was a winner and sought to win every match. At 2-0 down, previous Hibs teams might have crumbled. But Montgomery’s efforts in changing up the culture at Easter Road are clear to see. Youan’s first hauled Hibs off the canvas and the second sparked a genuine belief that the visitors could win a game that they’d looked completely out of with 25 minutes to play. Not since 2016 have we seen a Hibs team produce a fight back like this. And while their winless run at Tynecastle continues this result will have, most importantly, kept up that momentum that the new regime has been fostering.