Dwight Gayle reveals how HEARTS fans inspired his Hibs Edinburgh derby heroics

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