After a disappointing set of results against the top three teams in the league, Hibs returned to winning ways by beating Ross County at Easter Road this afternoon.
Neil Lennon made two changes to the starting XI that lost to Aberdeen with Anthony Stokes and Oli Shaw replacing Marvin Bartley and Simon Murray.
Hibs started brightly but it was the visitors who opened the scoring with their first effort on goal in the 14th minute.
Craig Eagles’ cross from the left was deflected by Craig Curran and ended up in the net.
Hibs equalised in the 20th minute when Stokes headed home from a Martin Boyle cross to the relief of the home supporters.
Moments later Brandon Barker forced Scott Fox into a good save after a mazy run then Dylan McGeouch set up Stokes but his powerful effort went wide.
Ofir Marciano then did well to save from Ross Draper before Hibs finished the first half with a series of corners.
John McGinn went close with a long range effort and Fox did well to save a powerful free kick from Stokes as Hibs pressed forward.
A fantastic through ball from Stokes then set up Boyle but once again Fox blocked his strike.
The Staggies keeper then produced a sensational fingertip save to deny Stokes before Hibs eventually grabbed the winner when Barker’s cross from the byeline was diverted into the net by a combination of Oli Shaw and Kenny van der Wag.
After the game Lennon told BBC Scotland: “It’s a fantastic day, a great performance from the team. Having gone a goal down as well I thought we played very very well. In the context of where we are in our season it’s a fantastic win.
“They showed plenty of character, they didn’t drop the heads. Sometimes we can switch off and the opposition can get us with a sucker punch. That wasn’t apparent today. They kept going and played some lovely football at times and we got what we deserved.
“We have beaten a good side. As hard as I was on them last week, I’m lavishing praise on them this week. That was an important win.”
Hibs travel to Tynecastle on Wednesday night, five points clear of their city rivals.
Hibernian: Marciano, Hanlon, McGinn, McGeouch, Stevenson, Boyle, Barker (Bartley 88’), McGregor, Ambrose, Stokes, Shaw. Substitutes not used: Dabrowski, Gray, Slivka, Swanson, Murray, Porteous.
Ross County: Fox, Fraser, Naismith, Routis, Chow, Curran, Davies, Draper (Lindsay 59’), McKay, van der Wag, Eagles (Keillor-Dunn 75’). Substitutes not used: McCarey, Dow, Shalker, Mikkelsen, O’Brien.
Referee: Nick Walsh.
Attendance: 16,228.
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.
