It is the third eighth host where the hosts are unbeaten in four games, winning three of them and scoring eight goals in the last three and where the visitors have lost five in a row away from home.
Based on those stats there should only be one winner at Tynecastle on Monday, but we all know derbies are particularly adept at defying the form book.
However, Hearts also have recent history on their side – since a 2-0 defeat at Tynecastle in December 2019 they are unbeaten in seven encounters with Hibernian.
After just two defeats in their last 10 games, Robbie Neilson’s side have overcome a plethora of key injuries to climb back up the Premiership table.
They will have to do so again – and until the end of the season – without captain and talisman Craig Gordon, but on Wednesday they managed a brave 3-2 win at St Johnstone in his absence with Zander Clark in goal and striker Lawrence Shankland in the carry the armband.
Shankland was Hearts’ goalscorer when the sides drew 1-1 at Easter Road in August and it’s the continued injury absence of the goalscorer of Hib’s late equaliser – Australian winger Martin Boyle – that still lingers like a cloud hangs over Lee Johnson’s crew.
They have only won twice in ten games, their last game being a 4-0 win at home to Celtic.
However, there are still just five points between the capital sides despite Hearts having a game in hand and Hibs will be keen to put pressure on a home defense which has conceded fewer goals than any other in the top flight this season. The Hearts have recorded just one shutout in their 18 games — and none in their last 11 league games.
In fact, Hearts played tie-win-tie-win, so even if this sequence continues, this game should end the honor.
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