CHAMPIONSHIP
DUNFERMLINE 1 Higginbotham (22 pen.) HIBS 3 Wedderburn (55 o.g.), Holt (66 pen.), Graham (90)
SOME home truths at half-time helped Hibernian battle back from a goal down to see off Dunfermline at East End Park.
The Pars looked dangerous and took the lead from the spot but, following a stern talking-to at the interval, the Championship leaders were much improved in the second half and overran their hosts.
Hibs assistant manager Garry Parker admitted: “We had a go at them at half-time. I thought we were unlucky with the penalty but you’ve just got to get onwith it.
“After half-time we came out and I think we deserved it.”
Having looked the more likely to make the breakthrough, Dunfermline were awarded a 22nd-minute spot-kick.
Referee Alan Muir judged John McGinn to have pushed Lee Ashcroft and, amid Hibs protestations, Kallum Higginbotham remained calm and sent Ofir Marciano the wrong way from 12 yards.
The home celebrations had barely died down when Farid El Alagui should have made it 2-0. The ball broke to the striker 20 yards out, but the former Hibs man could only shoot low into the gloves of Marciano and the keeper was able to smother the ball.
A lack of creativity had been Hibs’ downfall during their recent poor run and such woes were again in evidence during the first half.
However, Hibs bossed the second period as the home defence began to look a little desperate.
And it was a defensive error that led to the equaliser in 55 minutes.
Higginbotham gave the ball away to James Keatings deep in his own half.
The striker drifted
inside on to his favoured left foot and sent a shot which was deflected past his own goalkeeper by Nat Wedderburn.
Hibs were then awarded a penalty after Ashcroft barged Andrew Shinnie in the back and Grant Holt had no problem converting the spot-kick.
Lewis Stevenson and Shinnie both came close to adding a third.
When the goal did arrive, Shinnie was the architect, cutting back from the goal line for Brian Graham to fire in, minutes after coming on for Holt. And there was still time for a last bit of action as the Pars’ Michael Moffat saw red for a foul.
Pars boss Allan Johnston was disappointed in the manner of the equaliser.
He said: “It’s goals that change games and it’s going 10-15 yards wide and taken a deflection and gone into the net.”