Live on ESPN: Sun 12.30: Hearts have won the last four derby matches with Hibs and are 11/8 (Stan James) to make it five in the SPL today.
Hapless Hibs just can’t shake off their Hearts hoodoo having now gone eleven derby clashes without a victory and that dismal run, stretching all of the way back to May 2009, could be extended at Easter Road this afternoon.
The Jambos came out on top in all four meetings last season and when you add to the mix the pair’s contrasting opening day results, it doesn’t take a genius to work out that the Jambos will kick-off as deserving favourites at 11/8 with Stan James while the Hibees, despite enjoying home advantage, are underdogs at 11/5 with bet365 to gain a modicum of revenge for their 5-1 cup final mauling back in May.
Punters expecting Pat Fenlon’s men to make a modest improvement in their first home game of the new campaign can tackle BetVictor’s 9/4 for the points to be shared but the formbook undoubtedly points to John McGlynn’s charges, who are 3/1 at bet365 to shade it by a one-goal margin.
Having kept clean sheets in four of their last seven against their neighbours and kept St Johnstone’s attack at bay a week ago, Hearts are well placed at 11/4 (Paddy Power) to combine victory with a clean sheet and more specifically, Stan James offer 6/1 for the Jambos to bag the game’s only goal.
Front man John Sutton meanwhile, put the Gorgie outfit 1-0 up from the penalty spot in their opener at Tynecastle and he has to be fancied at 6/1 via William Hill to follow that goal up by breaking the deadlock again at Easter Road. The former ‘Well man will be keen to prove himself this term after a disrupted first season at Hearts and he’d like nothing more than endearing himself to the Jambos faithful by notching in his first derby start.
Recommended Bets:
John Sutton to score first – 6/1 (William Hill)
Hearts to win by one – 3/1 (bet365)
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