Robbie almost repeats the feat
Heroic Ayr go so close to an Easter Road double
Robbie Crawford goals are collector’s items — only six in six years — and he hadn’t netted since the opening day of the season.
But his stunning solo effort which rocked Easter Road is one the Ayr United midfielder will treasure for the rest of his career.
It was worthy of being a match winner and for a long time Ayr looked like holding on for their second win in the capital this season.
But the dream was undone by sub Jason Cummings with 16 minutes to go as leaders Hibs battled back to salvage a point.
Ayr had been written off as 16/ 1 no hopers — the bookies had clearly forgotten their coupon busting 2- 1 win in September, the only time Hibs have lost on home soil in the Championship this season.
Only four minutes in and Crawford picked up a Nicky Devlin pass and danced past three defenders in a mazy 30- yard run.
And despite being surrounded by green and white shirts, he squeezed home a left- foot shot that bobbled past keeper Ross Laidlaw, who got a hand to it but couldn’t prevent from crossing the line.
The 250 Ayr fans in the 14,349 crowd were having a capital party while the Hibees support could only look on in stunned silence.
Hibs had loads of the ball as they tried to conjure up a response but Neil Lennon’s men were laboured in their build- up and when they did break through, they found the Ayr defence was rock solid.
Greg Fleming saved well from Andrew Shinnie and then the same player headed over just before the break.
Hibs went for the jugular in the second half and Grant Holt and Cummings were soon summoned from the bench — but still Ayr stood firm.
Fleming saved well, Darryl Meggatt made a great sliding tackle and Devlin headed off the line to frustrate the home attack.
Ayr also shuffled their pack with Brian Gilmour replacing Jamie Adams, while teenager Craig McGuffie took the place of Paul Cairney.
The Hibs pressure eventually told when Cummings rose to head home an inswinging cross from James Keatings.
Mike Rose took over from Gary Harkins as Ayr prepared to batten down the hatches.
Fleming pushed away a shot from Cummings and from the resultant corner, Holt’s header was cleared off the line by Gilmour.
Deep in injury time, goal hero Crawford took a hefty knock and had to be helped off the field. But by then, true grit Ayr had soaked up everything that Hibs could muster and headed back down the road with their fourth Easter Road point of the season.
And that’s an effort that will no one will better this season against the champions elect.
Hibs boss Lennon claimed afterwards: “Our build- up play was poor, pedestrian, looked like there was a bit of panic out there at times. I don’t know where that’s come from.
“In the second half, we made a few changes and got the goal we deserved and on balance should probably have won.”