Dwight Gayle insists taking pelters from the Hearts support fired him up to be the Edinburgh derby hero.
The veteran striker climbed off the bench to nab the winner and spark a Hibs party in Gorgie as David Gray’s side ended a five-year wait to take bragging rights back across the capital from enemy territory. Gayle revealed he was feeding off the hostility raining down from the home sections of the Tynecastle support as he warmed up before making his second half entrance.
And the Englishman had the last laugh as he brilliantly diverted Nicky Cadden’s cross into the net in the 76th minute right in front of the baying masses in the Gorgie Stand to send Hearts back into the bottom two.Gayle’s strike, his third for the Hibees, sparked an almighty Boxing Day celebration in the away end at full time. And the 35-year-old former Newcastle United and Crystal Palace ace said: “I love the hostile environment when we are warming up.
“The boys were trying to stay by the Hibs supporters to keep out the way of it whereas I enjoy it – it gives me the extra edge. It means a lot more to the game too. That’s what we play football for. The goal was more relief, we started to feel a bit of pressure as a team. Hearts started to get a good edge to the game and controlled a lot of possession but we always looked a threat with the two strikers we had.
“Boyley made a really good run peeling to the back which opened up the space for me. Then yeah, it was really nice to score it. Where I was celebrating was really quiet. You could hear the Hibs fans going crazy behind us.
“But to experience the limbs at the end of the game and to celebrate with the fans… at one point I remember closing my eyes and trying to take it all in. These opportunities don’t come around every day and you have to enjoy them when they come.”
Gayle netted at Anfield, Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and in manic West Midlands derbies during his Premier League playing days south of the border. But he admits few of his 152 career goals will match the magnitude of the touch of class he showed at Tynecastle. Just last week the striker hinted at hanging up the boots in the summer – claiming his body was breaking down.
Those thoughts might just be parked now though after playing a central role as HIbs continue to salvage a season that looked wrecked. He said: “Obviously with what the goal means to the fans, there’s not going to be many better. It’s such a big derby and to score the winner it’s definitely going to be one of my favourites to look back on.
“These are the moments we love but you just have to enjoy them for what they are and keep progressing as a team. Hopefully we get some more moments like that before the end of the season. As soon as you come into the club you realise how big this game is in the city and to the fans.
“It’s a bit more special to win here because it hasn’t happened too much recently so it was a massive game we’ve been looking forward to for weeks now. Hopefully it will give us a lot of confidence moving on.”
Belief certainly looks to be coursing through Gray’s side after making it four wins from their last five games. That run has turned a season that looked to be heading to disaster into one of hope that European spots could well be a reality. And Gayle said: “Results is a big thing. It creates a bit more belief in the team and you noticed the little things start to go your way more.
“When they are going your way you need to act on them. We’re getting them at the moment and wee need to keep doubling down on our hard work. The boys are willing to put their bodies on the line for each other. The fans can get right behind that and it’s why they were so happy to see us win on Sunday.”