Hearts fans' passion for the Edinburgh derby inspires John McGlynn

John McGlynn knows all about the derby between Hearts and Hibs.© SNS Group

Hearts boss John McGlynn will be inspired by the passion of the fans to maintain the side’s unbeaten derby run.

Hearts are 11 games without defeat to their neighbours Hibs and Sunday will mark McGlynn’s first derby as permanent manager of the club.

The former Raith Rovers manager, 50, is familiar with the occasion from his various roles at Tynecastle in the past and said it did not take him long to understand what the match means to Hearts fans.

Ahead of the trip to Easter Road on Sunday, McGlynn told Hearts TV: "I've had many Edinburgh derbies as youth team coach, reserve coach and caretaker.

"I'm no stranger to them and as far as I can remember I have a reasonably good record in most of them.

"I understand what it means to the fans and we will certainly try to keep our unbeaten run going."

McGlynn also suggested both sets of players could be feeling the weight of expectation at Easter Road on Sunday, but backed his side to get a positive result.

He said: "Does it put more pressure on Hibs that we have been winning them most of the time or more pressure on us to keep winning them?

"We are full of confidence so we have to make sure we are not complacent in any way, shape or form and that we go down there and are very professional and very determined and that is the way we intend the team to go out and play."

Hearts go into the derby on the back of a 2-0 opening day victory over St Johnstone, who finished the game with ten men after Gregory Tade was sent off during the first half.

McGlynn said he was happy with both the result and the performance and hopes the Tynecastle crowd equally as satisfied.

He added: "I'm pleased with the amount of chances we created, I think if the fans come to Tynecastle between now and the end of the season and we create that amount of chances, I imagine they will have been entertained.”

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