THE question scrolled on the banner for the attention of Craig Levein was clear to see. It was just a shame for the Hearts manager his team couldn’t stop Hibernian from delivering the answer their fans craved.

The Famous Five stand at Easter Road was a bursting image of song and celebration at around 9.35pm last night. Scarves aloft and vocal chords stretched to the tune of Sunshine on Leith, scenes of bedlam in three quarters of this Edinburgh ground had subsided and a rousing love-in had commenced.

As the Hibernian team approached the stand away to the left, a large message in green and white simply read: ‘Natural Order?’ a question poking a dig at Levein who in January claimed that very thing had been restored in the wake of their Edinburgh derby win in the Scottish Cup. On the back of his team being soundly beaten 2-0 here to fall 12 points behind Hibs, his response post match was simple: “The points tell

the story.”

So did the intentions and result of this Edinburgh derby. While Hibs were in control in the first half, Jon McLaughlin in the Hearts goal wasn’t overly troubled. That all changed on 59 minutes with a truly wonderful half volley from Scott Allan kicked things off. Jamie Maclaren topped it with 80 minutes to go, but in truth it probably wasn’t needed.

Sometimes you get what you deserve in life and that philosophy was applicable here. There was only ever one team who made it their mission to win this game come what may, while the other relied on its muscle and determination to hang in and hope for a stroke of luck at the other end. While defensively they held firm for long spells, that stroke never came.

Under Levein Hearts have found a steel previously missing under Ian Cathro. They are far from the best footballing side in the top flight – they’re not even close to being the top footballing side in Edinburgh – but over the last few months they have at least been hard to break down and bully into submission.

Their robustness has been a trademark during an upturn in form which included a 10-game unbeaten run that began in November and ended in January. However, Neil Lennon’s team were every bit a match for them during a sobering evening for the 3840 travelling fans, many of whom didn’t even stay to watch their team trudge off with their tail between their legs. The midfield trio of Dylan McGeouch, Martin Boyle and John McGinn scrapped as if their lives depended on it, standing up to crunching tackles and bruising aerial battles while dishing out some of their own.

But the difference between the sides was quite simple. Amid the rough and tumble of battle, it was Hibs who drove forward trying to play football amid the anarchy. They got their reward.

Hearts’ plight wasn’t helped early on as they were forced into a change. Harry Cochrane last just 15 minutes of play before hobbling off clutching his left hamstring. He was replaced by Anthony McDonald.

For all Hibs’ control, it took 24 minutes before first shot of intent was blasted off amid a flurry of fire, fury misplaced passes and Connor Randall’s inability to trap a ball.

Unsurprisingly it came from the hosts. Even more unsurprisingly it involved both Scott Allan and John McGinn, culminating in the former’s short corner being worked to the latter on the edge of the Hearts box. Under pressure, his right footer flew just over the bar from the edge of the area.

That soaring strike mirrored the intent of a Hibernian who roared forward with the power. Just three minutes later Martin Boyle broke

free in the middle of the park to begin a surging run. He skipped by McDonald’s attempted grab as the Hearts defence retreated in fear, his eventual shot 18 yards out skittering its way into the grateful of arms of Jon McLaughlin.

At the other end the closest scare Hearts could cause was a Michael Smith cross that was flapped at by Ofir Marciano.

The pivotal moment of the night arrived on 59 minutes, and it was a goal and evening which belonged to Allan. The on loan Celtic man could well have been playing a minor role in tomorrow’s Old Firm match, but with the opener here he became the star of a Hibs show. It started with a Florian Kamberi ball into the box from the left towards Paul Hanlon.

The defender’s lay off for Allan was perfect, and with a swing of his left boot the ball arrowed through a ruck of bodies, across McLaughlin and into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards.

Hearts simply didn’t respond as Neil Lennon’s side piled forward. Maclaren went inches close soon later after bringing down a long diagonal before turning and running at Christophe Berra. The forward eventually cut on to his left and smashed a thumping strike at goal which McLaughlin somehow touched on to the bar before it came crashing back out.

But the Australian would not be denied as the clock ticked down. Somehow the man on loan from Darmstadt 98 wriggled free in the box, took a deep breath and swept a low shot into the same corner as McGinn from the middle of the box.

The celebrations started. The banner was unfurled. The question was answered.