Scottish Premiership: Will doubters believe in Hearts’ title chances now?

Here both sides decided to get to the point from the very beginning. No feeling their way, no shadow boxing. With Hearts pushing for the title and Hibs doing everything they can to derail them, there is a feeling that this is the biggest Edinburgh derby in the league.

And that’s how I felt. Boy, it bubbled and crackled. Seven minutes later Martin Boyle scored. It was his last derby and he was writing his own farewell scenario. Or so he hoped.

Jamie McGrath’s superb free-kick, Beni Banigime napping and charging at Boyle; cool and calm, a sidestep into visitors’ solar plexus. And the ending of Down the Hearts. A perfect image of the beginning of his nightmares.

Easter Road was not just basking in the sun, but also the anxiety of its guests, reflecting on the indescribable horror of having their league dreams dashed by their greatest rivals.

What emerged was exciting; Sallinger was given a red card just four minutes after Boyle had scored, a foolish move to handle the ball outside his own area and an easier decision for the referees to make than it seemed.

Everyone knew Sallinger gave him goosebumps on the first or second viewing. Officials took five or six minutes. This was a disaster for Hibs.

The mood changed completely and changed some more when the news arrived that Rangers had been blinkered first in the title race. McInnes then talked about the importance of winning your first post-split game, and he was right.

Hearts and Celtic are in the spotlight at the moment.