Stubbs halts the Warbo revolution
The win cuts the gap at the top of the table down to five points with the shadow of administration hanging over the Ibrox side.
Fearing a test against full-time opponents Warbo dropped wonder kids Nathan Oduwa and Gedion Zelalem to the bench with Hibs out playing the league leaders despite the early loss of Dylan McGeouch through injury
Jason Cummings opened the scoring in the 11th minute but that was cancelled out two minutes into the second half when Darrren McGregor deflected a shot into the net.
Hibs took 15 minutes to recover from that shock and got the goal they deserved when Paul Hanlon headed home from a corner in the 74th minute.
Dom Ball, Andy Halliday, substitute Oduwa and Martyn Waghorn were all booked with Halliday and Waghorn lucky to escape further punishment after a punch up in the closing stages was overlooked by referee John Beaton.
With their lead cut down to five points the pressure is now on Warbo up against opponents who have budgeted to get through the season without having to send out the begging bowl.
Confirming that his January spending would be limited former city trader Warbo said: “We will be looking at one, maximum two players in January. We have a good dressing room and they are where they are in the league because they deserve to be there.
“I think it would almost be disrespectful to go and get five or six players in. The unity and harmony of a dressing room is vitally important, and you saw that against Queen of the South with the late goal and the late victory.
“You saw the celebration together, so you can’t talk about working together on a daily basis and then talk about bringing in five or six players. The moment you do that, you lose all the harmony within your ranks.
“I think you’re always busier in May, June and July – that goes without saying. Why? Because you have the eight weeks of pre-season to bed-in new players.
“In January, the season is up and running. If you bring in five or six players then, it’s a huge risk. If you’re in the bottom third of the table and you have had some poor performances, or if you’re maybe losing three or four players, then go ahead with that.
“Right now, it’s a very dangerous proposition, so one or two in January then four or five more in the summer period.”
Liam Henderson was replaced by former Celt James Keatings midway through the second half with Ronny Deila watching the lower division action from the stand at Easter Road.
Having tasted defeat for the first time after a record breaking start to his career Warbo will be anxious not to follow the crash suffered by Ally McCoist in 2011. The former Question of Sport skipper had Rangers (IL) sitting 15 points ahead of Celtic on November 5, after losing to a Joe Ledley header at Celtic Park the Ibrox side fell behind the hoops with administration and liquidation following within six months.
