Hibs keep three-point lead at top

JUST four points now separate the top four teams in the Scottish Championship table.

Hibs showed great resilience in coming back from a goal down to beat Dunfermline 3-1 at East End Park and continue to lead the way by three points from Dundee United, who leapfrogged Queen of the South on goal difference.

Hibs trailed at Dunfermline to a Kallum Higginbotham penalty after a push by John McGinn on Lee Ashcroft but rallied in the second half to win 3-1.

Nat Wedderburn put through his own goal in 55 minutes, then Grant Holt put the visitors in front from a penalty after Andrew Shinnie was barged.

Brain Graham made it 3-1 in time added, just before Pars’ Michael Moffatt was red-carded.

United keeper Cammy Bell made two excellent first-half saves from Dumbarton’s Garry Fleming and Robert Thomson but United clicked into gear after the break.

It was an own goal from Dumbarton’s Mark Docherty which set them on their way when he headed a Fraser corner past Martin.

United’s second came when the ball broke to William Edjenguele and he blasted it into the roof of the net.

Thomson pulled one back for Dumbarton when he bundled in a cross from sub Andy Stirling.

At Brockville, Mark Stewart returned to haunt his old club Falkirk by scoring twice to help Raith Rovers claim their fifth league win.

Iain Davidson gave Raith the lead with a close range strike but within 60 seconds John Baird took advantage of poor defending to equalise.

Stewart headed his first then set up Declan McManus to make it 3-1.

Sub Lee Miller pulled one back with a header but, two minutes later, Stewart netted Rovers fourth.

Early in the second half, Falkirk manager Peter Houston was sent to the stand by referee Barry Cook.

Ayr United climbed to sixth in the table as they extended their hot run of form to just one defeat in nine games, thanks to a well-taken winner from Paul Cairney, who struck seven minutes after the interval, driving home a Gary Harkins lay-off for the game’s only goal.