Hibs’ first back to back league win this year saw them leapfrog Queen of the South to move into third place in the Championship this afternoon thanks to a comfortabe 3-1 win away to Raith Rovers.
Head Coach Alan Stubbs kept faith with the starting XI who beat Alloa Athletic last week and the large travelling support were delighted to see David Gray recover from the knock which saw him leave the field early.
Hibs started brightly and Dominique Malonga went close after four then Danny Handling’s shot was parried by McGurn in the Raith goal.
David Gray had a bad miss before Mark Oxley was called into action to save a long range effort from Ross Callachan.
Gray then found Liam Craig but the skipper’s chip went inches wide as Hibs dominated possession.
Five minutes before the break, Raith Rovers scored against the run of play when McKay hammered the ball low past Oxley.
Hibs equalised a few minutes later when Malonga beat McGurn with a fierce strike which was stopped on the line by Rory McKeown only for Jason Cummings (pictured) to hammer the ball into the net from close range.
Raith Rovers dominated possession in the early stages of the second half and Mark Stewart and Christian nade both went close before Hibs took the lead with 12 minutes remaining when Liam Fontaine headed in Scott Allan’s cross from the left.
Malonga wrapped things up moments later with a fne finish after good work from paul Hanlon.
Hibs next two fixtures are at home to Rangers next Saturday then away to leaders Hearts for the New year’s derby on 3rd January.
Raith Rovers: McGurn, Thomson, Watson, Hill, Stewart, Scott, Callachan, Conroy (Anderson 92′), McKay, McKeown, Nade (Elliott 90′). Substitutes not used: Vaughan, Ellis, Matthews, Barr, Laidlaw.
Hibernian: Oxley, Gray (Booth 71′), Hanlon, Fontaine, Robertson, Craig, Stevenson, Handling (Stanton 67′), Allan, Malonga (Heffernan 91′), Cummins. Substitutes not used: Perntreou, Harris, Sinclair, Kennedy.
Referee: Don Robertson.
Attendance: 3,166.
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.
