Pars 1-3 Hibernian

IT was a tale of two penalties at East End Park as a powerful second half display saw Hibernian come back to defeat the Pars this afternoon.

In what was at times a bad-tempered game, Kallum Higginbotham gave Dunfermline a first half lead from the penalty spot after Farid El Alagui was pushed inside the box.

A deflected James Keatings shot 10 minutes into the second half pulled the visitors level before a second penalty of the game, awarded for a foul on Andrew Shinnie by Lee Ashcroft, turned the contest on its head.

A stoppage time strike from Brian Graham sealed it for the Hibees, with Athletic’s misery compounded when substitute Michael Moffat was sent off for a cynical foul on Darren McGregor.

Pars boss Allan Johnston made three changes from the team that lost out to Falkirk last Saturday.

Ben Richards-Everton returned to central defence in place of Ryan Williamson as Lewis Martin was deployed at right back, Nat Wedderburn made his first league appearance of the season in central midfield while Gavin Reilly partnered El Alagui in attack, with Nicky Clark absent.

For the visitors, their match-winner from the teams’ Easter Road meeting in August, Jason Cummings, began on the bench as Neil Lennon searched for the formula that would end a run of six games without a win for his team.

A minute’s applause was held in memory of 1961 Scottish Cup winner George Peebles ahead of kick-off following his passing earlier in the week and Hibs, roared on by an impressive travelling support, started slightly the brighter.

There was danger in the eighth minute for the Pars when Keatings sent a dangerous looking ball flashing across the six yard box but there were no takers in a green jersey, while at the other end Michael Paton had Athletic’s first sighter with a 25-yardebeforer that was deflected to safety by Liam Fontaine.

The visitors though went close in the 14th minute when an excellent free-kick from Keatings clipped the top of Sean Murdoch’s bar but midway through the half, Pars opened the scoring.

There didn’t appear to be much issue with El Alagui heading off target from a Higginbotham corner but referee Alan Muir deemed there to be a push on the Pars forward and pointed to the spot.

With memories of the three missed spot kicks against Dundee United last month no doubt in mind, Higginbotham calmly stepped forward to send Ofir Marciano the wrong way.

El Alagui should have made it two almost immediately as Wedderburn led a break forward, with Reilly supplying the ammunition for the on-side striker. However, with just Marciano to beat, his effort was weak and saved by the Hibs stopper.

The penalty award seemed to rile Hibs, whose passing began to go astray and had John McGinn correctly booked for a petulant swipe on Andy Geggan.

Shinnie did cause a moment of concern with a free-kick to the near post that Sean Murdoch did well to save, before a short corner to the unmarked Fraser Fyvie at the edge of the box ended up behind the goal.

The game became a bit tetchy with niggly fouls from both sides, but Shinnie sent another dangerous cross into the Pars box but with visiting players desperate to get on the end of it, none could and Dunfermline survived.

Richards-Everton was next in the book minutes before the break after Hibs dispossessed El Alagui and broke forward and, from the resulting set-piece, Murdoch did well to tip Fyvie’s effort over.

The Athletic number one was in action again five minutes into the second half as the visitors came agonisingly close to a leveller.

A free-kick played deep to the far post was met by the head of Paul Hanlon, who sent it back across goal and on to the post. Murdoch did well to get his gloves on to the loose ball as the Pars scrambled it out for a corner, which Grant Holt nodded wide.

Dunfermline were struggling to retain possession with Lennon’s team quickly pressing, and that paid dividends in the 55th minute.

After winning the ball back in midfield, Keatings broke forward and was allowed to cut in from the right on to his left foot. His effort from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection off Lee Ashcroft and it flew beyond Murdoch and into the net.

Keatings was almost immediately forced off with injury to be replaced by Martin Boyle and it was the visitors’ tails that were up.

They had loud appeals for a penalty waved away as Higginbotham appeared to barge Boyle over as the Pars fans tried to rally their side.

A last-ditch tackle from Ashcroft on Boyle after he raced away from Richards-Everton prevented another shooting opportunity as the home side had to dig deep and stem a green tide heading towards their goal.

But Hibs did take the lead in the 66th minute and, once again, slack defending cost Dunfermline.

A hopeful long ball wasn’t dealt with by Ashcroft and, as Shinnie raced passed him, he barged the midfielder over and gave Muir no choice but to award a penalty. A red card was avoided but a second Hibees goal wasn’t as Holt tucked the spot kick home.

Johnston threw on David Hopkirk and Moffat for El Alagui and Higginbotham in a bid to chase the game and Hopkirk did at least have a sight of goal, having an effort from the edge of the area deflected wide.

At the other end, Murdoch reacted well to push a lovely Lewis Stevenson strike out for a corner while Ashcroft blocked out Shinnie from six yards after some neat football from the visitors created the opportunity.

To rub salt into Dunfermline’s wounds, Hibs grabbed a third in stoppage time when a tired Pars defence allowed Shinnie to reach the goal-line and cut the ball back for substitute Graham, who slammed beyond Murdoch.

A bad day then got even worse as Moffat was sent off for a late challenge on McGregor as he moved upfield as Athletic crashed to their seventh loss of the season.

Pars: Murdoch, Martin, Talbot, Ashcroft, Richards-Everton, Geggan, Wedderburn, Paton, Higginbotham, El Alagui, Reilly.

Subs: Williamson, McCabe, Hopkirk, Fordyce, McMullan, Moffat, Hutton.

Hibernian: Marciano, Gray, Hanlon, Fontaine, McGinn, Fyvie, Holt, Stevenson, Keatings, Shinnie, McGregor.

Subs: Bartley, Boyle, Forster, Graham, Harris, Cummings, Laidlaw.

Referee: Alan Muir.