A hat trick from on-loan Swiss striker Flo Kamberi secured Hibs fifth successive home league win, their best run since the days of Franck Sauzee.
Neil Lennon made two changes to the starting XI that beat Partick Thistle on Saturday. Ofir Marciano returned from suspension and took over from Cammy Bell whilst Steven Whittaker replaced Marvin Bartley who dropped down to the bench.
John McGinn who has been the subject of much transfer speculation following his performances for Scotland during the international break, completed his two game ban.
Hibs were looking to extend their good run of form but it was the visitors who took a shock early lead after Marciano fumbled Daniel Redmond’s cross and Marios Ogkmpoe was on hand to slot the ball into the net from close range.
Hibs fought back quickly and moments later Dougie Imrie was booked for a blatant body check on Martin Boyle.
The hosts almost equalised in the 11th minute when Lewis Stevenson’s free kick found Kamberi at the back post but the strikers first time effort rebounded off the post.
Stevenson then went close when his powerful cross was tipped onto the crossbar by Hamilton keeper Gary Woods.
Redmond was lucky to escape a yellow card when he chopped down Whittaker, a decision which annoyed the home supporters.
The equaliser arrived in the 16th minute with a contender for ‘goal of the season’ Dylan McGeouch and Kamberi played three 0ne-twos before the striker fired a superb 20 yard strike low into the bottom corner of the net.
McGeouch then sent Boyle free with a fantastic through ball but the wingers low cross just evaded Jamie MacLaren.
Scott Allan then set up Whittaker who fired wide from 25 yards.
Hibs almost took the lead in added time when Paul Hanlon headed a Stevenson corner inches wide.
Kamberi went close with two overhead kicks from Allan’s corners as Hibs pressed forward.
The turning point came in the 61st minute when Imrie was rightly sent off for chopping down Boyle then a minute later Lewis Ferguson should have joined his team mate in the dressing room after kicking Whittaker with the ball yards away.
Hibs took the lead moments later when Boyle’s cross was headed home by Kamberi to the relief and delight of the home fans.
Hibs played some possession football which frustrated a section of the supporters who were looking for more goals but they eventually rapped things up six minutes from full time.
Skipper Hanlon slid an inch perfect pass into the path of Kamberi who calmly fired the ball into the net from an acute angle to secure his hat trick and three points.
In time added on, substitute Danny Swanson almost made it 4-1 with a long range effort which Woods did well to parry away.
At full time Kamberi was presented with the match ball then received a well deserved standing ovation from the delighted fans.
Hibs remain fourth after Aberdeen beat Motherwell at Fir Park however they are now one point behind Rangers and three behind the Dons who visit Tynecastle this weekend.
Hibs: Marciano, Whittaker, Hanlon, McGeouch, Stevenson, Boyle, MacLaren, Kamberi, Allan, McGregor, Ambrose. Subs: Dabrowski, Bartley, Slivka, Swanson, Shaw, Murray, Porteous
Hamilton: Woods, Tomas, Imrie, Redmond, Mackinnon, Rojano, Lyon, Ferguson, Want, Sarris, Ogkmpoe. Subs: Fulton, McMann, Jenkins, Miller, Bingham, Crawford, Van der Weg
Referee Steven McLean
Attendance 15,818
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.
