A superb goal from a Kris Commons’ free kick in the 87th minute secured a valuable three points for Hibs against promotion rivals Falkirk at the Falkirk Stadium this afternoon.
That result coupled with Dundee United’s shock defeat to Dumbarton means that the Easter Road side sit one point clear with a superior goal difference.
Hibs host the Tangerines on Friday night and a large crowd is expected to witness a game which could go a long way in deciding who gets automatic promotion this year.
Neil Lennon retained the same starting XI that drew at home to Raith Rovers last weekend as the game kicked off in poor conditions due to heavy rain and a strong wind which persisted throughout the game.
With only three stands there was little protection from the elements for the players as the wind and rain battered down.
Falkirk started brightly but Hibs could have taken the lead when Andrew Shinnie found Grant Holt who beat keeper Danny Rogers to the ball before cutting the ball back to Commons but his effort failed to find the target.
Moments later the Bairns took the lead when Craig Sibbald was first to react to a rebound from Ross Laidlaw.
Hibs fought back immediately and Jason Cummings latched onto a pass from Commons and beat Rogers t the delight of the large travelling support.
Holt had a great chance after being put through on goal but Rogers did well to gather the ball
Both teams spurned chances as play raged from end to end and Lennon replaced Cummings with last week’s goal scorer Martin Boyle and two minutes later holt was replaced by Brian Graham.
Falkirk also made changes, bringing on two players who have in the past caused Hibs problems, Bob McHugh and Lee Miller.
With time running out McHugh missed a glorious chance after a mistake by Paul Hanlon then with three minutes left Hibs were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area.
Falkirk lined up a defensive wall but on-loan Commons fired a thunderbolt high into the net sparking wild scenes from the 2,000 Hibs fans behind Rogers’ goal.
After the game Lennon told BBC: “It was a difficult game. I thought we had chances to be in front comfortably. Then Kris came up with the bit of quality that we’ve been waiting for since he came in the door. You know, he’s on the periphery of the game at times, but he sets one up and scores the other.
“You can see he’s been out of the game for 10 months. But if you want one man in front of a free-kick, then it’s him.
“You’ve just got to keep going and that will give the boys a huge lift, without playing great football. We played a lot better last Saturday and got a draw. We deserved the win over the piece and there aren’t many teams who will come here and get three points.”
The Hibs’ Head coach also confirmed rumours that former Motherwell winger Chris Humphrey will be joining the club during the January transfer window. He continued: “We’re hoping that is finalized We’ve done a loan deal from Preston and hopefully he’ll be in on Monday. Not many (other new arrivals) unless there’s a bit of to and fro-ing out of the squad to bring players in. Hopefully John McGinn’s not far away, and Marciano’s not far away, and [Fraser] Fyvie’s not far away, so we’ll almost be back to full strength again.”
Falkirk: Rogers, Muirhead, Taiwo, Kerr, Baird (McHugh 67’), Sibbald, Hippolyte, Grant, Gasparotto, Shepherd (Miller 75’), Gallacher. Substitutes not used: Mehmet, Kidd, Leahy, Rankin, Craigen.
Hibs: Laidlaw, Gray, Hanlon, Holt (Graham 82’), McGeouch, Commons (Forster 90’), Stevenson, Shinnie, McGregor, Cummings (Boyle 79’), Martin. Substitutes not used: Virtanen, Fontaine, Bartley, Keatings.
Referee: Crawford Allan.
Attendance: 6,747.
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.
