Derby classic coming as Hearts belief grows

Whenever opposition fans fall over themselves to launch into a snide rendition of Joy Division's biggest hit and chant, 'Hearts are falling apart', it tends to feel a little premature.

Our rivals may have gleefully watched us lose our first four competitive games, but Hearts have since responded with back-to-back league victories, earn a favourable away draw in the League Cup quarter-final and progress to the Conference League league phase - restoring a little national pride in the coefficient along the way.

Conveniently, 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' isn't the most requested song in the jukebox in Leith or Aberdeen pubs these past few weeks.

Some players and managers can spend an entire Hearts career without producing one defining memory. Yet only a couple of months in, Wouter Vrancken and several of his players already have their 'maroon moment' after the penalty shootout victory over Rapid in Vienna.

Down to 10 men, with two out-and-out wingers and a striker still on the pitch, Vrancken responded to Blair Spittal's injury by sending on attacker Rogers Mato for the 30 minutes of extra time. It was one of the boldest tactical gambles I can remember from a Hearts manager.

Thankfully, fortune favoured the brave. Hearts earned their reward at the end of a nerve-shredding shootout, with Beau Reus producing two excellent saves to swing it our way.

Calvin Miller's night in Vienna will be remembered for years. It was a talismanic display; he switched positions several times, finished the game hobbling in central midfield and scored one of the most iconic European goals in the club's history.

Six league-phase games now await, including former European heavyweights Monaco at home. Admittedly, that fixture might have been even more alluring on the Cote d'Azur, but I'm sure our visitors will appreciate the dreich Edinburgh weather in November.

The Petroclub debacle from a couple of seasons ago showed that seven points do not guarantee progression to the knockout stage. Even so, if Hearts continue on this upward trajectory under Vrancken, I fancy us to take three wins from these fixtures. And, as Benfica away demonstrated, this side does not play for stalemates.

Excluding that late collapse at Pittodrie in the opening game of the season, there's a growing confidence with supporters in this Hearts side, so much so that St Johnstone's late rally last Saturday didn't spook too many supporters inside Tynecastle as we eeked out a 2-1 win to go into third in the Scottish Premiership.

A Thursday evening Edinburgh derby will feel strange, although European commitments mean both sides are becoming accustomed to midweek football. As long as most of Easter Road is as despondent at full-time as it was after the defeat by Gent, I'll be delighted.

Hearts' recent league record at Easter Road is almost evenly divided between wins, draws and defeats. Across the past 25 meetings there, we have won eight, Hibs have won 10 and seven have ended level.

History puts our chances of victory at roughly one in three, but I have a feeling a classic is coming. Both defences look vulnerable; Hearts have conceded in eight of the past nine games and Hibs in seven of their past 10. I'm going for a 3-2 Hearts win.

European progression has restored the belief; victory at Easter Road would confirm this Hearts side is no longer falling apart, but coming together at exactly the right time.