Black has faith in quest to overhaul rival Hibs

And the little midfield battleship insisted justice was done after referee Dougie McDonald awarded the home side a highly-dubious penalty, judging Gorgie skipper Marius Zaliukas had tripped Hibs star John Rankin, allowing Anthony Stokes to fire Hibs ahead from the spot.

Despite that body blow, Black was adamant he always felt he and his team-mates had it within themselves to shatter Hibs, and they duly did so with goals from substitute Suso Santana and David Obua's last-gasp winner.

While boss Jim Jefferies cautioned that John Hughes' side remain favourites for a place in Europe with just two SPL matches remaining, Black firmly believes Hearts can continue to turn up the heat on a Hibs team reeling from a sixth successive defeat.

He said: "We went to Easter Road six points behind but looking for the win to cut the gap to three. We've done that and we have definitely given ourselves a chance with two games to go. If we can take maximum points from them then we are in with a shout."

While admitting Stokes' 21st goal of the season was a setback, Black insisted his faith never wavered saying: "I didn't think it was a penalty, it was harsh. But there was a fair amount of time left and I knew if we worked hard we'd get chances."

Black also highlighted the experience and knowledge of Jefferies, not only in the timely substitutions he made to help swing the game but the way in which the veteran manager had handled the fall-out from the dismal defeat by Motherwell seven days earlier.

He said: "He was very disappointed after that game and told us so. But then it was behind us, he got us back training, working hard and picking up the spirits so we came out against Hibs buzzing.

"And during a game he knows who to bring on at the right time. He's an experienced man who knows a lot about the game, who keeps us motivated so we worked hard to give him the three points."