IT LOOKED like it would be Déjà vu for the Hibs fans when Hearts took a fourth minute lead at Barclay Hampden yesterday.

But Manrik Reedijk’s men defied expectation and fought back to secure an historic victory over their city rivals and a place in next month’s Premier Sports Cup final.

Both teams made one change each to their starting line-ups from midweek.

Stephen Kingsley replaced Rogers Mato for Hearts.

For Hibs, Martin Boyle returned from illness to take over from Nicky Cadden.

Reedijk went into the game still looking for his first Hibs victory but he ended a three-game losing run with a draw at St Mirren on Wednesday. 

Hearts took the lead in the fourth minute when Claudio Braga headed home a Calvin Miller corner from the right.

Hibs had a chance to equalise when Joe Newell slipped in Felix Passlack but Beau Reus produced a fine save.

Hearts were then forced into a change andYan Dhanda replaced Tomas Magnusson who suffered an injury following a clash of heads in the box.

Hibs continued to dominate possession and equalised when Boyle latched onto a lobbed pass from Owen Elding then slotted the ball into the net off the post.

First glance appeared to suggest he was offside but VAR eventually awarded the goal to the delight of the Hibs fans.

Joe Newell then hit bar from 25 yards before Hibs took a dramatic lead.

Boyle’s corner was cleared into the path of Newell. His shot was saved but the ball fell to Jamie McGrath who calmly knocked it into the net,

Just before the break Braga should have equalised but his free-header went wide.

The second-half was full of action with Hearts having the majority of possession.

Raphael Sallinger was called into action several times and the keeper stood up to everything thrown at him.

And Hibs held on to secure their first ever victory over Hearts at the national stadium and the players celebrated in front of the fans as Sunshine on Leith blared out.

By that time there were no Hearts fans left inside.

Hibs now face Rangers in the final on Sunday 13 December.

After the final whistle Jamie McGrath told Premier Sports: “It’s been a frustrating start to the season obviously, we knew we just had to keep working.

“We had that belief, for whatever reason we haven’t got the results our performances merited.”

Hearts: Reus, Altena, Fagan-Walcott, McCart, Kingsley, Mendy, Magnusson, Kerjota, Miller, McPake, Braga.

Substitutes: Fulton, Williams, Kabore, Findlay, Guendouz, Wilson, Benjaminsen, Dhanda, Pollock.

Hibernian: Sallinger, Passlack, Kerr, Ivezic, Mayor, Newell, Chaiwa, Mulligan, McGrath, Boyle, Elding.

Substitutes: Smith, Hanley, Iredale, Klidje, Cadden, Suto, Wright, Matondo, Abdulai.