Hibs moved level on points with Rangers thanks to a controversial last minute goal from substitute Dominique Malonga against Queen of the South at Easter Road this afternoon.
Head Coach Alan Stubbs made two changes to the starting XI that drew with Falkirk last weekend at Easter Road with goal-scorer Martin Boyle replacing Malonga up front and Liam Henderson taking over in midfield from Paul Hanlon who dropped to the bench.
Lewis Stevenson recovered from a head knock and John McGinn was available after his red card was downgraded to a yellow.
Dylan McGeouch, Marvin Bartley and Farid El Alagui failed late fitness tests although Islam Feruz returned to the squad after recovering from a cold.
The Hibs’ fans who had generously donated over two tonnes of food for a foodbank were in good fettle following the news that league leaders Rangers had lost to Falkirk in the days early kick off.
Hibs started brightly and created several early chances but should have opened the scoring in the 9th minute. A McGinn corner reached Henderson who beat his marker before sending a perfect cross into the six yard box however the normally reliable James Keatings miscued his header and the ball flew well wide.
Shooting ‘downhill’ toward the Famous Five stand, Hibs dominated possession although the ‘Doonhamers’ looked dangerous on the break and Mark Miller almost opened the scoring with a long range free-kick which Mark Oxley did well to tip over the bar.
Moments later a long pass from Fraser Fyvie was well controlled by Jason Cummings but his powerful effort was well saved by Robbie Thomson.
In the 22nd minute, Cummings showed tremendous skill to beat three defenders but he was unable to get his shot away, then Boyle went close after good work from McGinn.
Hibs went close with two free kicks before half time then ten minutes after the break Keatings fired just over the bar after McGinn had been brought down on the edge of the area.
By this stage, the Hibs’ fans started to become impatient and Stubbs made a double substitution with Malonga and Henri Anier replacing Boyle and Cummings.
Malonga almost scored moments after coming on but his goal-bound effort was headed over the bar by a Queens’ defender.
Henderson went close when his strike was deflected just past the post then Liam Fontaine headed just wide from Henderson’s cross as Hibs pressed for an opener.
Feruz replaced Keatings in the 82nd minue and Hibs had a penalty claim denied five minutes later when Malonga went down after a challenge by three defenders.
Hibs eventually scored the decisive goal in the 93rd minute in controversial circumstances. Kyle Hutton went down with a head injury and with the ball at the other end of the pitch, the referee stopped play. Hutton then tried to get up before the trainer entered the field to prevent him having to go off however the ref insisted that he do so.
The referee then ran to the other end of the pitch and dropped the ball at the feet of Fontaine who immediately found McGinn on the left wing. The midfielder beat his marker and crossed the ball to Anier who did well to control it before slipping it into the path of Gray. The skipper beat the Queens’ full back and cross the ball into the danger area when Malonga was on hand to head the ball into the net from five yards to the delight of the Hibs’ fans.
The Queens’ players surrounded the referee complaining that the drop ball was given to Fontaine but the decision stood and the three points remained at Eater Road.
Hibs: Oxley, Gray, Henderson, Fontaine, Fyvie, Stevenson, Boyle, McGinn, Keatings, McGregor, Cummings. Subs: Reguero, Hanlon, Malonga, Stanton, Feruz, Anier, Forster
Queen of the South: Thomson, Kidd, Dowie, Higgins, Millar, Lyle, Conroy, Russell, Jacobs, Hutton, Marshall. Subs: Atkinson, Brownlie, Rutherford, Pickard, Moxon, Smith, Coogans
Referee Brian Colvin
Attendance 9163
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.
