Mcnulty spared any blame

right-hand post. “He will be disappointed but he’s scored plenty for us and I’m sure he will score the next one. It’s just one of those things,” he said.

While Hibs’ unbeaten league run under Heckingbottom has stretched to ten games, they only cut the gap between them and Kilmarnock in fourth place to four points. Hibs were six minutes away from reducing the Rugby Park side’s lead to two points to leave the issue of finishing fourth – and possible European qualification – in their own hands.

Hibs travel to face Kilmarnock a week on Saturday between appointments against Rangers and Aberdeen.

“It could have been closer,” said Heckingbottom. “That’s what’s disappointing, regardless of who we were playing and it being a derby, it could have been two points and in our hands. That’s what we were playing for.”