Scottish Championship: Hearts fight back to draw 1-1 with Hibernian in Edinburgh derby

Hearts maintained their proud unbeaten league record as they fought back to claim a 1-1 draw in a typically attritional Edinburgh derby on Saturday.

Hibernian made the brighter start at Tynecastle and deservedly went ahead through Jason Cummings but Jamie Walker's thunderbolt ensured the runaway Scottish Championship leaders' run without defeat reached 19 games.

There was plenty of noise in the stands during the opening quarter but precious little heat on the pitch, the odd niggly foul notwithstanding.

But the away side had a decisive midfield edge on the back of an intense pressing game, a fact that was amply illustrated when they went ahead midway through the opening half with the game's first attempt on target.

The influential Scott Allan was the architect, slinging in a fine cross from the right that bamboozled Alim Ozturk but not Cummings, who provided the clinical first-time finish from seven yards (23).

It might have been worse for the hosts as Cummings planted a free header wide from eight yards shortly after following a pinpoint Lewis Stevenson delivery. 

Hearts finally stirred as Walker worked some space but dragged his shot wide but the home frontman's aim was true when he cut in from the left and arrowed his shot across Mark Oxley into the far corner (40).

Allan was soon orchestrating more Hibs pressure but clear chances were in short supply, penalty claims for Morgaro Gomis and Danny Handling falling on deaf ears.

A looping Callum Paterson header dropped on the roof of the net and Sam Nicholson went closer with his headed attempt.

Paterson hooked the ball clear from under Dominique Malonga's nose as pace of the game dropped while a late flurry in front of Neil Alexander's goal failed to yield a winner.