For the fourth successive league game Hibs failed to win after taking the lead when Hamilton Academical came from behind to secure a draw at the Fountain of Youth Stadium this afternoon.
Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom watched from the stands as he began a two-game touchline ban and he made one change to the starting XI that drew with Aberdeen as Joe Newell took over from Scott Allan.
Christian Doidge retained his place in the team after his much criticised performance at Pittodrie.
Daryl Horgan missed a great chance to open the scoring in the fifth minute after Joe Newell’s low centre picked him out on the six-yard line but his effort was just off target.
Hibs dominated much of the opening period and took a deserved lead when Newell’s cross was partially cleared and dropped to Stevie Mallan who fired a superb volley into the net.
On the hour mark Mallan turned from hero to villain when he brought down Blair Alston inside the area and Ross Cunningham made no mistake from the resultant penalty.
Once again the players’ heads went down after conceding a goal which invigorated the hosts and Chris Maxwell did well to save from Scott McMann.
Scott Allan replaced Horgan as Hibs looked to regain their lead then Tom James went close with a powerful strike which flew just over the bar.
Hibs were denied a late penalty when Newell appeared to be brought down inside the area before he was replaced by Fraser Murray.
With two minutes remaining Florian Kamberi replaced Josh Vela then in time added on Doidge had the ball in the net but his effort was ruled out.
After the final whistle Heckingbottom told BBC Scotland:” I’m disappointed, frustrated, it’s lots of similarities again. We took the lead, were playing really well and should be talking about a superb goal from Stevie Mallan and other great opportunities where the football is fantastic.
“The game should be put to bed. I can’t remember Chris Maxwell having a save to make. We came here for three points and should have got them.”
The result leaves Hibs in 10th place – three points above the bottom – and they have now gone 10 matches without a win in 90 minutes.
Hamilton: Fon Williams. Martin, Stubbs, Easton, McMann, Hughes, Gogic, Alston, Smith, Ogboe, Miller. Substitutes Davies, Oakley, Cunningham, MacKinnon, Moyo, Southwood, Hamilton
Hibs: Maxwell, James, Porteous, Hanlon, Stevenson, Vela, Hallbeck, Mallan, Horgan, Doidge, Newell. Substitutes: Marciano, Jackson, Middleton, Naismith, Kamberi, Allan, Murray
Referee John Beaton
Attendance 2680
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.
