Robbie Neilson's Hearts have gotten their Championship campaign off to a stormer. After beating Rangers away in the first game of the season, the Gorgie club faced a stern test at home to their biggest rivals Hibernian at Tynecastle.
The first-half was largely uneventful, seeming like your average lower league match as both sides looked strong in the tackle, resorting to route one football.
Liam Craig won Hibs a first-half penalty when he was brought down by Jambos' reserve 'keeper Jack Hamilton, but the Irishman blazed the spot kick wide - remarkably by half-time, Alan Stubbs' men hadn't had a shot on target.
The second-half provided much of the same and it looked like it would end goalless. That was until Sam Nicholson fired the home side into the lead with a sublime strike; nutmegging the on coming Scott Robertson and taking the ball under control before launching a rocket shot with his left foot off the post and in.
Minutes later, Hearts had a penalty of their own as Robertson bundled over Prince Buaben in the box, a challenge which resulted in the Hibs midfielder receiving his second yellow.
Buaben doubled Hearts' lead as he powered his kick into the top right hand corner of Mark Oxley's net.
The late drama didn't end there, though. Osman Sow, Hearts' hero at Ibrox last week, was given his marching orders for an elbow on Michael Nelson.
Farid El Alagui pulled back a late goal for Hibs with a superb volley from distance, but it was too much too late as the match ended 2-1.
Rangers' match in Falkirk on Friday evening got off to a similar slow start. The Bairns arguably had the better of Ally McCoist's side for large spells of the game and Cammy Bell produced some fine saves in net for the Gers.
Late goals from Lewis McLeod and Nicky Clark sealed a 2-0 win for Rangers against Falkirk - their first win of the league season.
Other Championship results:
Alloa Athletic 0-1 Raith Rovers, Dumbarton 0-4 Queen of the South, Livingston 2-1 Cowdenbeath
Premiership:
Inverness Caley Thistle continued their unbeaten run in the league as they defeated Motherwell 2-0 at Fir Park. Greg Tansey scored with a blistering strike in the first half, but the score persisted at 1-0 until stoppage time when former 'Well striker Richie Foran doubled the score.
Celtic ran riot at home to Dundee United, defeating the Arabs 6-1. Loannee Jason Denayer only took three minutes to open his Celtic scoring account, while Kris Commons, Stefan Johansen, Anthony Stokes and Jo Inge Berget (x2) scored the others. John Rankin netted a late consolation for United.
Other Premiership results:
Dundee 1-1 Partick Thistle, Hamilton 1-0 St. Johnstone, Ross County 1-2 Kilmarnock