Hibs’ eight match unbeaten run came to an end this afternoon in the Falkirk Stadium thanks to a last minute goal from David McCracken.
The result means that Hibs passed up the chance to leapfrog Queen of the South who lost to Hearts at Tynecastle, and they remain in fourth place only two points above Falkirk.
Head coach Alan Stubbs made two enforced changes, with Paul Heffernan replacing the suspended Dominique Malonga whilst midweek hat-trick hero Sam Stanton took over from skipper Liam Craig who was injured during last week’s Scottish Cup win over Alloa Athletic.
Former Hearts’ keeper Jamie MacDonald did well to clear a slack back pass with both Heffernan and Jason Cummings pressing before Stanton went close with a header from a Scott Allan cross over.
The Bairns fought back and it took a last-ditch tackle from Paul Hanlon to prevent Falkirk taking the lead.
Loy then hit the side-netting with a fierce shot before Liam Fontaine managed to block a Botti Biabi strike.
Hibs almost took the lead shortly before half time when Heffernan set up Stanton but his shot deflected just wide of target.
Jason Cummings (pictured) was replaced by Lewis Allan at half time as Hibs looked to grab the initiative then Danny Handling almost opened the scoring but his strike was parried by MacDonald.The ball fell to Heffernan but the strikers powerful shot was blocked on the line by Luke Leahy.
With 18 minutes remaining, Hibs were denied a clear cut penalty when Scott Allan was hauled downinside the box, but referee Finnie ignored the pleas from the players and fans.
In the last minute, McCracken pounced on a Hanlon clearance and hammered the ball into the net from the edge of the box.
Falkirk: MacDonald, Duffie, McCracken, Vaulks, Taiwo (Cooper 68), Alston (Shepherd 81), Sibbald, P Grant, Leahy, Biabi (Smith 65), Loy.
Substitutes not used: Bowman, Dick, T Grant, Maybury.
Hibs: Oxley, Gray, Hanlon, Fontaine, Stevenson, S Allan, Robertson, Stanton, Handling, Cummings (L Allan 46), Heffernan (Harris 81)..
Substitutes not used: Perntreou, Booth, Kennedy, Jake Sinclair, Martin.
Referee: Stephen Finnie.
Attendance: 4983.
Photo by John Preece
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
