Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian betting tips: Scottish Cup semi-final preview, predictions and odds
Last Updated: October 30, 2020 12:10 pm
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Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian betting tips
This article covers Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian betting tips and predictions.
Also included is a thorough Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian betting preview.
Note: All odds mentioned in this article are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian: Match details
Match: Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian
Competition: Scottish Cup semi-final
Date: Saturday 31 October 2020
Kick-off time: 5:00 pm, October 31, 2020 (UK time)
Stadium: Hampden Park
Related article: Celtic vs Aberdeen Scottish Cup semi-final betting tips
Betting prediction: Heart of Midlothian 1-2 Hibernian
Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian: What are the betting odds?
Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian – recent form and head to head statistics
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – JANUARY 3 : A general view of Tynecastle Stadium the home of Heart of Midlothian F.C. during the Scottish Championship match between Heart of Midlothian F.C. and Hibernian F.C. at Tynecastle Stadium on January 3, 2015 in Edinburgh Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)[/caption]
These two may be in different divisions but the two great Edinburgh rivals will do battle once again.
Last season, all the Scottish league seasons were curtailed and Hearts, controversially, were relegated on points per game.
Despite this, Hearts won two of the three derbies played last season, winning both of their visits to Easter Road 2-1 and then 3-1.
The clash at Tynecastle, last Boxing Day, also saw an away victory with Hibs winning 2-1.
Heart of Midlothian are now a Championship club but they’re not looking likely to be hanging around in the second-tier for very long.
In their last game eight days ago, Craig Wighton scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Abroath at Gayfield.
That made it two wins out of two in the league, following a 6-2 demolition of Dundee a week earlier.
Robbie Nielson’s side have now won all five matches they’ve played this season having beaten Inverness Cally Thistle, Cowdenbeath and Raith in the League Cup group stages.
Thus, they come into this huge game full of confidence.
Hearts last reached a cup final in May 2019, losing to Celtic in the most recent final of this competition.
Their last major honour was also in this competition when they beat Hibs 5-1 in that infamous final in 2012.
Will the Jambos be preparing for another date at Hampden?
Will Hibs reach the final?
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – AUGUST 25: A general view of Easter Road stadium ahead of the Scottish Premier League match between Hibernian and Aberdeen at Easter Road on August 25, 2018 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Given their rival’s demise in 2020, Hibernian can not afford to lose this one.
The Hibees finished seventh in last season’s curtailed season but are doing much better this time around.
At the weekend, Kevin Nisbet’s penalty saw Hibs beat Kilmarnock 1-0 at Rugby Park.
That’s his eighth goal for the club since joining from Dunfermline Athletic in the summer.
Overall, Jack Ross’ side have amassed 24 points from their 12 Premiership games so far, only losing at home to Aberdeen and at Celtic Park.
Given that third place in the Scottish Premiership guarantees UEFA group stage football next season, they’ll be desperate to cling onto that position they’re currently in now.
As well as European qualification, winning cups is always a major aim for any Hibernian manager.
In 2016, they ended their 114 year wait to win the Scottish Cup, beating Rangers in the final, doing so as a Championship club.
That, and the League Cup triumph of 2007, are Hibs’ only major trophies since 1992, losing five finals in that period.
Will Hibernian beat their fierce rivals and keep alive their hopes of putting some silverware in the cabinet?
Heart of Midlothian team news vs Hibernian
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JANUARY 31: The Scottish flag is seen during the Scottish League Cup Semi-Final match between Dundee United and Aberdeen at Hampden Park on January 31, 2015 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Given Hearts’ great form, there is no reason for Robbie Neilson to make changes.
New goalkeeper Craig Gordon will once again start between the sticks.
He’s a three-time Scottish Cup winner including lifting the trophy as a Hearts player in 2006.
Zdeněk Zlámal, who started the last Cup final, can’t get a game just now.
At the back, another new singing Mihai Popescu, who joined from Dinamo București, has establish himself along Craig Halkett.
They have a strong selection of centre-backs given that John Souttar is injured and Christophe Berra is out of favour.
At full-back, Stephen Kingsley and Michael Smith are expected to keep their places ahead of Aidy White and Jamie Brandon respectively.
In midfield, Andy Halliday, who’s come in from Rangers, has formed a good partnership with Olly Lee.
So much so that Peter Haring, Andy Irving and Loïc Damour will all be left out.
Further forward, the experienced Steven Naismith will come back in with Elliott Frear, potentially, making way.
Jamie Walker and Josh Ginnelly would therefore be on the wings.
Up front, Craig Wighton’s winner at Arbroath could see him get the nod over Liam Boyce up front.
Make no mistake about it, if this Hearts squad was in the Premiership, most people would be tipping them for Europe.
So, despite being in the Championship, they defiantly should be able to compete with the country’s best.
Will Hearts beat their great rivals?
Hibernian team news vs Heart of Midlothian
Hibernian’s Christian Doidge celebrates scoring his side’s second goal of the game with team-mate Martin Boyle during the Scottish Premiership match at Easter Road, Edinburgh. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)
As for Hibernian, Ofir Marciano who recently played twice at Hampden for Israel against Scotland, is their number one goalkeeper.
At left-back, Lewis Stevenson’s injury at Rugby Park means he will miss out.
So, Josh Doig, 14 years Stevenson’s junior, will come back in after impressing in August and September.
Paul Hanlon, Ryan Porteous and Paul McGinn make up a very settled back four.
David Gray, who scored the stoppage time winner in the cup final four years ago, will be on the bench.
In midfield, Cypriot international Alex Gogić has been outstanding since joining from Hamilton in the summer.
He’s formed a good partnership with Stevie Mallan who’ll get the nod over the more defensively solid Melker Hallberg.
Joe Newell and Martin Boyle will remain out-wide, the latter likes to get forward, often turning this rigid looking 4-4-2 into a 4-3-3.
Up front, top scorer Kevin Nisbet and Christian Doidge will look to fire Hibs to the final.
Scott Allen is injured but Kyle Magennis could be a good option off the bench after joining from St Mirren for a six-figure fee at the start of this month.
Will Hibs claim the Edinburgh bragging rights?
Predicted Heart of Midlothian line-up vs Hibernian
Predicted Heart of Midlothian line-up vs Hibernian.
Predicted Hibernian line-up vs Heart of Midlothian
Predicted Hibernian line-up vs Heart of Midlothian
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Scottish Premiership table:
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glasgow Rangers | 25 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 65 | 7 | 58 | 69 |
| 2 | Celtic Glasgow | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 48 | 18 | 30 | 46 |
| 3 | Aberdeen FC | 23 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 31 | 24 | 7 | 42 |
| 4 | Hibernian FC | 24 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 33 | 24 | 9 | 40 |
| 5 | Livingston FC | 23 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 30 | 29 | 1 | 32 |
| 6 | Dundee United | 24 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 19 | 29 | -10 | 28 |
| 7 | Kilmarnock FC | 23 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 24 | 28 | -4 | 24 |
| 8 | St Mirren FC | 21 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 16 | 24 | -8 | 23 |
| 9 | St Johnstone FC | 24 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 22 | 33 | -11 | 23 |
| 10 | Ross County FC | 25 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 18 | 48 | -30 | 20 |
| 11 | Motherwell FC | 23 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 35 | -16 | 19 |
| 12 | Hamilton Academical FC | 23 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 21 | 47 | -26 | 19 |
Scottish Championship table:
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart of Midlothian FC | 13 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 39 | 17 | 22 | 30 |
| 2 | Dunfermline Athletic FC | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 21 |
| 3 | FC Dundee | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 20 |
| 4 | Raith Rovers FC | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 24 | 17 | 7 | 18 |
| 5 | Greenock Morton FC | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -4 | 16 |
| 6 | Ayr United FC | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 14 |
| 7 | Queen of The South FC | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 19 | 30 | -11 | 14 |
| 8 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 12 |
| 9 | Alloa Athletic FC | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 28 | -16 | 8 |
| 10 | Arbroath FC | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 18 | -10 | 7 |
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