Loan bhoys Liam Henderson and Anthony Stokes were on target for Hibs in yesterday’s 3-1 win over St Mirren at Easter Road.
The addition of Stokes to his squad has given Alan Stubbs an extra confidence about his side’s promotion hopes with the Celtic duo central to their plans.
The win puts Hibs just two points behind Sevco with Mark Warburton’s side in action tomorrow night away to Morton.
Having already travelled twice to Ibrox and the Falkirk Stadium Easter Road will host the run in to the title race with more than 10,000 fans inside the ground yesterday to welcome Stokes back after five and a half years along the M8 picking up medals with Celtic.
The Ireland striker had to make do with starting the match on the bench with Hibs taking the lead in the tenth minute with a brilliantly placed free kick from Henderson.
Two minutes from half time Hibs looked sure of the points when John McGinn completed a great passing move with a low shot past Jamie Langfield.
Stevie Mallon pulled a goal back straight away for the visitors with a nervousness spreading among the home support as the second half developed.
In the 70th minute Stokes replaced Chris Dagnall with another sub, former Celt James Keatings, setting up the decisive goal in the 89th minute with Stokes rolling the ball into the empty net.
Next up for Hibs is two trips to Tynecastle on cup duty but in-between times they have a trip to Cappielow for a rearranged league match with Morton.
While cup success will be very welcome three points from Cappielow will be essential if Stubbs’ side are to avoid the play-off’s or even worse- a third season in the second tier of Scottish football.
Would dearly love it if Hibs could take the title, and like last year the huns didn’t make it up, piling more financial pressure on them. With the court case’s coming up shortly and the lack of finance, that might happen anyway, here’s hoping.
HH