QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 0 HIBS 1
McGinn (52)
NEIL Lennon was relieved to see John McGinn hit the net after watching his Hibernian side dominate the opening 45 minutes without scoring.
The midfielder’s cracking 25-yard shot early in the second half proved the difference between the sides.
Hibs boss Lennon said: “The goal was something we had worked on and and it gave us the points.
“I thought we played very well and controlled long periods but I was concerned that we hadn’t tested their keeper in the early stages and that was what our half time talk was about.
“Their keeper turned in some fine saves after that and it was a significant victory in a hard league.”
Lennon had watched his side set the pace from the off.
Andrew Shinnie was denied when keeper Lee Robinson beat him to a low cross.
Then Grant Holt had a chance but put the ball just over the bar.
The Easter Road side were running the show and James Keatings was unlucky with a drive from the edge of the box which just cleared the bar.
However, they weren’t finding things as easy in front of goal as they had in their 8-1 Scottish Cup victory over Bonnyrigg Rose a week earlier.
Queen of the South, without a home league win since mid-September, were only seen in flashes, Hibs’ defenders coping with any threat.
However, on the half-hour mark keeper Ross Laidlaw had to dive across his line to pull down an effort from John Rankin.
But Hibs quickly regained control. Shinnie threatened the Dumfries defence just before the break with a 20-yard drive which again just cleared the bar.
However, Hibs had failed to test the Dumfries keeper in the first half.
It was a different story just after the break when a corner from Keatings
cleared the Dumfries defenders and McGinn cracked a shot into the back of the net in 53 minutes.
For a spell, Queens went on the offensive and Thomson forced Laidlaw into a save.
But Hibs were quickly back buzzing around the Dumfries goal and only a fine save by keeper Robinson prevented David Gray putting his side further ahead.
Queens, however, still felt they could salvage something from the game and pushed for an equaliser.
Stephen Dobbie had an opportunity from close range but his finish went over.
But despite a spirited late show from the Palmerston outfit, they could not find a way through and Hibs collected the points.