Lennon laps up wonder goal winner over Bairns
Delighted Neil Lennon last night celebrated James Keatings’ last-gasp wonder winner and a “pivotal day” in the title race for Hibs.
The Easter Road gaffer was in dreamland after his substitute’s stunning injury-time cracker sank fighting Falkirk and opened a 10-point lead at the top of the table.
Keatings’ curler sent the stadium into raptures and little wonder.
With Morton also losing, Hibs took a massive step towards the Championship crown and a cherished place back in the top flight.
It was a see- saw day for Lennon, who was thrilled by Efe Ambrose’s opener only to be dumped back to earth almost immediately with an instant equaliser from Craig Sibbald.
But Keatings had the final say in spectacular fashion with a special effort with his right peg.
Lenny said: “It could be a pivotal day in the run-in, so I’m absolutely delighted.
“It’s in our hands now, there is no question of that.
“Even if Morton win their game in hand, there is stillll a significant gap.
“We’ve still gotot a bit of work to do, but psycho-ologically, that wasas huge for us.
“It’s nice to winin the game in thehe manner we didid because we haven’tn’t done that enoughgh his season.
“It’s testamentt to the fitness and character of the team and their mindset is strong.
“It was a great game, very exciting and important to win.”
Lennon was right and judging by the joyous scenes at full- time the punters feel as though the three-year exile from the Premiership is just about to end.
It was a fitting finale to a contest that crackled with excitement from first to last.
Confrontations between these teams are usually feisty and the tone was set inside 20 seconds when Luke Leahy crunched Martin Boyle and John Baird and Andrew Shinnie squared-up in the aftermath. It did not letl up until it was over. H ibs probably just shaded the f i rst period, but, with the Bairns solid in the central areas m idd le - to- back with Mark Kerr and Peter Grant strong, away keeper Robbie Thomson didn’t have a proper save to make.
Lennon’s hitmen were frustrated, summed up when Jason Cummings was correctly booked by ref Kevin Clancy for a silly dive.
Peter Houston’s team carried a different threat. They passed it well and looked to spring Baird and Bob McHugh at pace.
Once or twice they almost got in, but it didn’t happen with home No.1 Ross Laidlaw just as idle as his oppos ite number a f ter Luca Gasparotto fired a volley over from a Sibbald delivery.
Lennon’s team had been rejigged at kick-off with Ofir Marciano and John McGinn on international duty.
David Gray and Keatings were also absent from the side that drew against Dumbarton in their previous outing but that was altered a minute before the break when Shinnie retired hurt with a damaged shoulder and the latter got the shout.
What a key moment that would turn out to be.
The contest opened up after the break and both teams had their chances before the stunning tripleblast in last 17 minutes.
Boyle produced a brilliant run and looked set to net before his netbound shot was blocked. Down the other end, Baird lashed a strike just wide and Laidlaw denied McHugh from close range before Fraser Aird’s follow-up effort from the rebound was hacked to safety.
It was there to be won and Ambrose was the man who initially put Hibs in position to do so.
Keatings’ free- kick into the danger area was an absolute peach and the Nigerian stole into space to glance a header into the net.
Hibs celebrated, yet Falkirk’s response was instant and they were level within a minute.
Aird’s corner found Sibbald’s run across the front post and the playmaker’s header squirmed beyond Laidlaw at the near post for a rapid counter punch.
Perhaps a point each would have been the right result but the quality of the winner from Keatings was undeniable. Lennon enthused: “It was a goal worthy of winning any game, he was due one. He’s got the ability.
“I’ve seen him do that a lot, he’s a technician and a good finisher. He put a good ball in for the first goal and that could be a huge goal in the context of the season.
“James has had to be patient. We’ve changed the way we play a bit because the pitch wasn’t great and we had to be more direct.
“We tend to overplay at times. We all want to play super-nice football but it doesn’t always get you results.
“I think we played this game the right way.
“We didn’t react well at the goal we gave away but I always felt we would get another chance in the game and we did.”