Hibernian claimed a timely lift ahead of next Sunday's CIS Insurance Cup final after inflicting an eighth straight defeat on 10-man Falkirk at a blustery Easter Road.

A second-half double from Abdessalam Benjelloun - taking his tally for the season to 12 - allowed John Collins' side to approach the Hampden final with Kilmarnock in good heart after a first win over the Bairns this season.

But Hibs' cause was undeniably helped by the controversial 42nd-minute straight red card for Falkirk left-back Dean Holden for a tackle on Moroccan Merouane Zemmama.

With a man advantage, the home team bossed the second half as Falkirk's woes under ex-Hibs captain John Hughes continue.

As expected, Collins dropped goalkeeper Simon Brown after his two errors in the 2-0 defeat to Rangers and Andrew McNeil was restored.

Falkirk, meanwhile, were dealt a late pre-match blow with striker Alan Gow ruled out due to a thigh injury.

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 wide.

The Bairns battled back and Vitor Lima struck a free-kick over before ex-Hibs star Russell Latapy saw a 35-yarder free-kick held by McNeil.

At the other end, Steven Fletcher wriggled past challenges before laying off to Steven Whittaker just seven yards out. However, Jack Ross deflected the shot almost off his own goal line. Latapy and David Murphy then traded long-range efforts as both sides sought the opener.

But controversy, never far away in this fixture after four players were ordered off the last time the teams met at Easter Road in September, surfaced again in the 27th minute.

Zemmama played in Benjelloun on the left side of the penalty area and his countryman appeared to be brought down by Ross. But to a chorus of boos from the home support, referee Craig Thomson booked Benjelloun for diving instead of awarding a penalty.

Then, on 42 minutes, the complexion of the game changed dramatically with the sending off of Holden after the defender slid in to challenge a 50-50 ball with Zemmama.

Hughes was irate on the touchline and Holden held his hands in the air in disbelief as he trooped off.

Hibs, inevitably, finished the half on top with Kasper Schmeichel producing two good saves from Brown.

Collins' men were again straight on the front foot after the break and grabbed the opening goal after 51 minutes.

Murphy and Fletcher combined well on the left and after the ball sped across the box, half-time sub Ivan Sproule cut it back for Benjelloun to ruthlessly fire home from eight yards.

Chris Hogg came near to doubling the lead when he nodded a header over.

However, the Bairns almost grabbed a surprise equaliser just before the hour mark after Kenny Milne flicked Lima's inswinging free-kick just a foot past the far post.

Darren Barr came even closer when from sub Liam Craig's free-kick he looped a point-blank header on to the top of the net.

But Hibs re-grouped and Brown saw a 'goal' ruled out after the ball was adjudged to have gone out of play before Fletcher nodded it back to Brown at the far post.

However, Hibs were not to be denied and Benjelloun added the decisive second on 74 minutes.

Sproule robbed Bairns sub Marc Twaddle on the right and went on a mazy run before feeding the ball to another replacement, Michael Stewart.

The ex-Manchester United youth flicked the ball into Benjelloun's path on the right and the striker angled a shot past the despairing Schmeichel.

The lively Sproule was then denied by the Danish keeper before sub Thomas Sowunmi hit the underside of the bar from close range.

Teams

Hibernian McNeil, Whittaker, Hogg, Jones, Murphy,Zemmama (Stewart 71), Scott Brown, Beuzelin,Stevenson (Sproule 46), Benjelloun (Sowunmi 75), Fletcher.

Subs Not Used: Simon Brown, Martis, McCann, Lynch.

Booked: Benjelloun.

Goals: Benjelloun 52, 74.

Falkirk Schmeichel, Ross (Allison 82), Barr, Milne, Holden,Lima, Thomson, Latapy (Craig 58), O'Donnell, Finnigan,Moutinho (Twaddle 43).

Subs Not Used: Lambers, Uras, Mcstay, Roberston.

Sent Off: Holden (42).

Booked: Milne, O'Donnell.

Att: 12,572

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).