HIBS LOST out on fourth place – then lost the plot amid shameful full-time scenes at Tynecastle.
Boss Lee Johnson angrily clashed with Steven Naismith following the 1-1 draw.
And that sparked furious scenes as both sets of players and benches clashed on the pitch.
Hibs sub Rocky Bushiri had to be held back after Jambos sub Ross Stewart swung at him.
And goalkeeper coach Paul Gallagher also clashed with CJ Egan-Riley.
Tensions boiled over after the ten man Jambos got the point they needed to claim a Euro spot.
They went ahead through Yutato Oda, the Japanese starlet’s first goal for the club.
Kevin Nisbet levelled after Alex Cochrane was sent off for a challenge on Lewis Miller.
But Johnson’s men were unable to get the winner they needed to pip their Capital rivals.
And his feud with Naisy, which had been simmering throughout, boiled over at the whistle.
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It means Hearts will go straight into the Conference League qualifiers.
Hibs must wait to see if Celtic win the Scottish Cup to see if they will join them.
Lawrence Shankland signalled Hearts intent with a meaty challenge on Lewis Miller from kick-off.
It saw the Jambos skipper spoken to by ref Don Robertson with less than 30 seconds gone.
It was a day when set-pieces would prove pivotal for both sides.
And sure enough the opener came in the seventh minute from a Hearts throw on the right.
James Hill hurled the ball into the box, where it was headed out only as far as Oda.
The Japanese striker was still waiting for his first goal since his arrival in January.
He’d snatched at some chances and been denied by good goalkeeping with others.
But here he composed himself and drilled a low left foot shot into Marshall’s bottom corner.
Hill was booked in the ensuring celebrations as three sides of Tynecastle erupted.
And Johnson was less than impressed with Naismith’s conduct a couple of yards away.
It was just the start Hearts were looking for and they looked well on top.
But there was obvious concern when Peter Haring clashed heads with Jake Doyle-Hayes.
The midfielder had not long returned after missing six months of the season with concussion.
So the Jambos took no chances with Kio replacing the Austrian in the 17th minute.
Doyle-Hayes was booked for a late challenge on McKay soon after as the Jambos looked to break.
Lewis Stevenson then saw yellow following a clash with Oda on the touchline.
Hibs were rattled. They needed something to get them back in the game.
And in the 26th minute they got it. Newell’s initial flick played Nisbet through on goal.
Kye Rowles got in to deny the striker but Miller was following up.
And as he got to the ball he was taken out just outside the box by Cochrane.
Ref Don Robertson pointed to the spot and then booked the left-back.
But VAR then told the whistler to have another look.
And having done so Robertson then upgraded the decision to a red.
Naismith immediately withdrew McKay and sent on Toby Sibbick.
But it made no difference as Nisbet curled the free kick into Clark’s bottom right corner.
Now it was Hearts turn to be rattled as their city rivals took control.
Clark turned a Paul Hanlon shot over in the 35th minute after good play with Miller and Stevenson.
The keeper did even better to turn Newell’s shot over during first half injury time.
And when the corner came in Miller should have nodded Hibs ahead.
It was a let off for Naismith’s Jambos who looked happy to get to the break.
Johnson changed things at the interval, sending on Harry McKirdy and Ewan Henderson.
Nisbet headed wide from Cadden’s cross in the 48th minute, another good chance.
Doyle-Hayes suffered a shoulder injury soon after and was replaced by Josh Campbell.
Clark held McKirdy’s low effort in the 53rd minute as Hibs continued to boss the game.
Marijan Cabraja came on for Stevenson in the 55th minute.
Kio stepped in to deny Cadden in the 62nd minute after Josh Ginnelly had let him in on goal.
Cadden was booked for stopping Oda in his tracks following a rare Jambos break.
And then he had to go off after hurting himself dealing with the resulting free kick.
Clark saved from Youan in the 73rd minute after the striker had cut inside Nat Atkinson.
And then the keeper superbly tipped away a Hanlon header from Newell’s corner.
Campbell fired over from distance soon after as Hibs continued to look for the goal they needed.
McKirdy headed wide from Cabraja’s cross with 10 minutes of normal time left to play.
Hearts were now camped inside their own half as they looked to hold on to what they had.
And Will Fish then saw a header deflect off Clark’s right post as they went close yet again.
As tempers flared Johnson clashed with Gordon Forrest and was shown a yellow card.
That bizarrely led to a hot water bottle being thrown in the direction of the Hibs manager.
Shankland was booked for refusing to give the ball back after a foul on Campbell.
As the clock ticked down McKirdy volleyed over as Hibs hopes of a win faded.
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And at full-time their frustration spilled over as Johnson jostled with Naismith, sparking wild scenes.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
