Full-back Callum Paterson scored twice as Hearts beat Hibernian 2-1 at Easter Road on Sunday afternoon.
Paterson netted with two headers late in the first half and Gary Locke's men held on after Jordan Forster pulled one back midway through the second period.
Substitute James Collins missed a great chance to equalise late on as Hearts made it three derby wins out of four in the Scottish Premiership this season.
The result means only two points separate five clubs in the bottom half of the table as the battle to avoid the relegation play-off place intensifies.
In the day's later game, Celtic thrashed Inverness CT 6-0 at Parkhead, helped by an Anthony Stokes hat-trick - one of them from the penalty spot.
Leigh Griffiths, Efe Ambrose and Teemu Pukki were also on target for Neil Lennon's team while Aaron Doran missed a penalty for Caley Thistle.
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