Hibernian 2-0 Falkirk

Abdessalam Benjelloun claimed both goals as Hibernian got the better of 10-man Falkirk at Easter Road.

Dean Holden was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Merouane Zemmama near the end of the first half.

The home side took advantage when Benjelloun finished off a cut back from Ivan Sproule with a fierce shot.

Hibs dominated for long spells and Benjelloun drilled in a great angled strike, while Thomas Sowunmi was denied when he hit the crossbar.

Hibs goalkeeper Simon Brown was dropped after his two costly errors in last weekend's 2-0 defeat at home to Rangers, with Andrew McNeil recalled.

Moroccan pair Zemmama and Benjelloun also started with Sproule and Sowunmi relegated to the bench.

Falkirk striker Alan Gow was a late absentee, while Patrick Cregg and Thomas Scobbie were suspended.

But central defender Darren Barr returned after a back injury to partner Vitor Lima.

Hibs were first to threaten on two minutes when Scott Brown surged down the right and saw his cross only partially cleared but Zemmama could only screw the loose ball into the ground and wide.

Steven Fletcher saw a deflected drive grasped by Bairns keeper Kasper Schmeichel, but the striker almost turned provider in the 12th minute.

he teenager wriggled past two challenges in the penalty box before laying the ball off to Steven Whittaker just seven yards from goal.

However, Falkirk defender Jack Ross deflected the full-back's weak shot almost off his own goal-line.

Former Hibs favourite Russell Latapy then went close with a low 25-yard strike after a loose pass from Easter Road captain Rob Jones.

Home fans were upset when Benjelloun appeared to be hauled down by Ross but referee Craig Thomson booked the striker for diving instead of pointing to the penalty spot.

Five minutes before the interval, Thomson angered the visitors when he presented Holden with a red card for a reckless lunge at Zemmama.

Schmeichel then kept out a low strike and a header from Brown before the first half came to a close.

Hibernian grabbed the opening goal after 51 minutes when David Murphy and Fletcher combined well on the left and after the ball sped across the box, half-time substitute Sproule cut it back for Benjelloun to fire home.

Defender Chris Hogg came near to doubling the Hibernian lead when he nodded over but the Bairns almost grabbed a surprise equaliser after Kenny Milne flicked Lima's inswinging free-kick just a foot wide.

Barr came even closer for the visitors when, from Craig's free-kick, he looped a point-blank header onto the top of the net when it looked easier to score.

Benjelloun bagged his second goal on 74 minutes, tucking away a neat lofted flick from substitute Michael Stewart from the right side of six-yard box.

The lively Sproule was then denied by Schmeichel before Sowunmi hit the underside of the bar from close range.

Nice to see The Hibs get back to Winning Ways :)