After another rain-soaked night in Gorgie and another Hearts celebration party, supporters are now digesting the magnitude of beating Hibs. Moving six points clear at the top of the Premiership is significant with 12 games remaining, but whether that lasts depends on Rangers’ result at Motherwell this evening. Hearts are focused on themselves as they continue a title charge nobody thought possible just a few months ago.

Victories like Tuesday night’s are why this league challenge is now reality. Earlier in the season, Hearts were scoring goals freely. Now they are grinding out wins – but they are still winning. They are still posting three points. Only three defeats from 26 league games underlines their momentum, strength and desire. They needed those commodities and more amid the rain and mud at Tynecastle.

Hibs are tough opponents to break down under David Gray and it took 88 minutes for Hearts to source a winner. Tomas Magnusson’s introduction was pivotal as he claimed the winning goal, but other issues were just as crucial. Here are three conclusions from the Edinburgh derby which all contributed to Hearts’ success on the night:

ISLAM CHESNOKOV THROWN IN

After only one appearance in maroon, this was a surprise selection. The Kazakh international winger was working on fitness after arriving in Edinburgh short of match sharpness last month. He started wide on the right in front of Oisin McEntee, who took the right-back position ahead of Michael Steinwender and Jordi Altena. From the opening minutes it was obvious Chesnokov was fired up and sensed the chance to cement a starting place with his new club. He was up winning headers and sliding in for full-force tackles in midfield. Not normally what you would associate with an attacking wide player.

His aggressive approach helped underpin a strong Hearts start as they forced Hibs back with a combination of energy and high pressing. On 41 minutes, a sniff of goal transpired for Chesnokov as a deflected shot from Landry Kabore bounced towards the back post area. The winger arrived to get to the ball first but could only prod it high over the crossbar with his left foot, and in the process collided with Hibs goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger.

There was more rolling around in the mud to be done after the interval and, again, Chesnokov wasn’t slow to indulge. His match fitness was always likely to become an issue as the evening wore on, particularly given the Tynecastle pitch was wet and heavy due to so much rain. He ended up playing right wing-back in the second half and worked hard to defend when necessary, but had to cope with the marauding runs of Hibs wing-back Nicky Cadden down his side. He was replaced on 75 minutes by Altena, looking understandably tired after a demanding and industrious shift. He will have endeared himself to the Gorgie support with his attitude and application. There will definitely be more craft to come from him in time.

CLAUDIO BRAGA TACTIC

Rather than stay high with fellow forward Kabore, Braga dropped on to Daniel Barlaser whenever Hibs had the ball in the first half. It was a deliberate and necessary tactic by the Hearts head coach Derek McInnes to ensure his midfield did not get outnumbered when out of possession. Braga stuck to his task diligently, following Barlaser around like a puppy dog, but with the bite of a rottweiler any time the Englishman tried to get on the ball. You got the feeling that had Barlaser gone for a pee, Braga would have been standing right beside him at the urinal. His role was important in making sure Hibs didn’t get space in the centre of the park to work the ball forward.

As a result of their midfielders all being closely marked – Beni Baningime and Marc Leonard picked up Miguel Chaiwa and Kai Andrews – the visitors were forced to play instant longer balls over the top of the Hearts defence. This wasn’t an approach which worked particularly well for them. The overall quality of the game was poor as both sides struggled to pass the ball on a sodden and slippy surface. The more direct deliveries were often safer in a fixture where nobody wants to make a mistake. However, there is not doubt Braga’s off-the-ball work was a crucial factor in Hearts’ win because it denied Hibs any control of midfield.

DEREK McINNES’ SYSTEM AND PERSONNEL CHANGES

At half-time, McInnes switched Hearts’ formation from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 and shunted left-back Harry Milne into midfield. That meant Chesnokov and Alexandros Kyziridis were now playing as wing-backs outside a back three of McEntee, Frankie Kent and Stuart Findlay. Milne got himself involved in midfield with an array of tackles, forward passes and attacking runs. He also had a vicious shot at goal which looked briefly like it might trouble Sallinger. McInnes then moved him to wing-back later on in the half and, with only minutes remaining, he produced the most decisive ball of the night.

Stepping forward on 88 minutes, Milne collected a free-kick and supplied a low left-footed delivery into the Hibs penalty box for Magnusson to fire first-time into the net. With that, derby victory belonged to Hearts. McInnes deserved credit for Magnusson’s introduction on 76 minutes having told him to make specific runs like that deep into opposition territory. Moving Milne back out to an area where he is most effective was equally important, as was the introduction of Jordi Altena on the opposite flank. With two wingers playing wing-back, the hosts looked more vulnerable. The changes late on helped make Hearts more secure and laid the platform for Magnusson to win them a huge three points.