Hibernian head coach Alan Stubbs celebrated victory in the Edinburgh derby but said that two “soft” red cards had spoiled the game.

The Scottish Cup fifth round replay was settled by a solitary Jason Cummings goal but the striker was shown a yellow card by referee John Beaton for his celebration.

Beaton showed Hearts defender Blazej Augustyn a second yellow in the 75th minute and moments later showed Cummings a second yellow for dissent.

Stubbs said that the dismissals robbed the game of momentum and suggested Cummings’ red may have been partly to even up the game.

“There was an element of that,” he said. “I thought the sending-offs actually spoilt the game a little bit.

"I thought they were soft red cards in the end. I don't want to see any players sent off. I just thought it affected the momentum of the game for both teams.

"I think in the first one, you are always running the risk but I didn't think he (Cummings) did anything wrong apart from stand there.

"He didn't make any actions towards the fans, he stayed on the pitch, which is what you are supposed to do.

"For the second one I think he was booked for booting the ball away but I am led to believe he was actually looking to fetch the ball and didn't boot the ball away.

"I am obviously guessing a little from what people are saying but I thought it was a bit harsh. But we won and we are delighted."

The win puts the League Cup finalists into the last eight of the Scottish Cup and Stubbs felt that his side had earned the plaudits in a tight game against local rivals he rates highly.

He said: "It is a great result for the players and the club but we had to dig deep tonight to come though.

"Hearts put us under pressure in the second half but we managed to contend with it and get the result we all wanted.

"I said it would be a close game, two good teams but we created the clearer chances in the game and we had to deal with some difficult balls into the box and defend properly and I knew there would be times when we would be under pressure.

"But there is no denying they are a good team. We have just beaten the third-best team in the county at this moment in time."

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson admitted his side lost the tie in the last 10 minutes of the clash at Tynecastle because they threw away a two goal advantage.

He says his team shouldn't have allowed the fixture to go to a replay but eventually paid the price for their lack of concentration.

"We didn't see it out, we lost two goals and had to come here tonight," he said. "We lost a poor goal at the start and had to fight back.

"We fought back well but didn't get the ball in the back of the net that wasn't offside.

"It was a big game for us, a big game for the players, the club and the fans but we failed to get through and we have to accept that and take it on the chin."