A late Derek Townsley goal earned Hibernian a vital point after they had
fallen behind against Dunfermline in a Scottish Premier League clash at Easter
Road.
The Pars took the lead after 59 minutes through Steven Hampshire in what had
been an evenly matched game.
The Hibs supporters have remained staunchly supportive of troubled manager
Franck Sauzee throughout the last few difficult months but fans swarmed out of
the ground with 20 minutes remaining.
But Hibs produced a fightback through substitute Townsley for an important
point to maintain a healthy gap over bottom side St Johnstone who stunned
Livingston with a convincing win.
Dunfermline headed for Leith knowing that they had not left Easter Road with
three points since 1961.
On the other hand, Hibs manager Franck Sauzee did not have a single league win
to his credit ahead of his 11th attempt since taking over from Alex McLeish in
December.
After the first half there were no real clues as to what the eventual outcome
would be as both teams enjoyed chances to open the scoring without managing to
find the back of the net.
An incredible fightback by the Pars on Wednesday night that allowed them to
take a share of the points at Dundee despite falling two goals behind in the
first five minutes would have done no harm to their confidence.
Within three minutes of the game kicking off, they were threatening the Hibs
goal when Barry Nicholson flighted a free-kick into the box and the ball
deflected into the path of Gary Mason but his first-time effort fell wide.
It was 10 minutes before Sauzee's men managed their first chance on goal when
Craig Brewster called goalkeeper Scott Thomson into action with a header from
the six-yard line but the ball was easily held.
But the Pars still looked the side most likely to score.
A long ball from Scott Thomson found Chris McGroarty on the left wing and he
did well to take the ball into the box before attempting the shot, but his
effort was easily held at the near post by goalkeeper Nick Colgan.
After 25 minutes Mason was unlucky once again not to open the scoring with a
shot from the tightest of angles that whizzed across the face of goal.
Both teams looked capable of opening the scoring and Hibs starlet Garry
O'Connor forced Dunfermline goalkeeper Thomson into a good save after half an
hour with a long-range shot.
Three minutes later the Pars were looking just as dangerous at the other end
when Scott Thomson squared the ball into the path of the onrushing Jason Dair
but his thunderbolt effort cannoned off Gary Caldwell to safety.
As the game headed towards half-time, Dunfermline increased the pressure.
Lee Bullen met a Thomson cross only to bullet a header just past the post
after 37 minutes.
And three minutes later McGroarty came even closer when his shot produced an
impressive block from the Hibs goalkeeper.
Barry Nicholson tried to follow up with the rebound but he was denied by
Jarkko Wiss.
Hibs started the second half well and their first real chance came just two
minutes after the restart.
Ulises de la Cruz went on a good run down the right flank before picking out
O'Connor with the cross but the Hibs youngster did not connect well and his
close-range shot was easily held by Thomson.
O'Connor was threatening again after 54 minutes. This time he met a short pass
from Brewster and bulleted a shot that fell just inches over the crossbar.
Dunfermline had probably enjoyed the best of the chances and they took the
lead after 59 minutes.
An inswinging Nicholson corner found Hampshire unmarked at the back post and
he nodded home the opener.
It proved to be his last contribution to the game though and he was
substituted for Seyni N'Diaye three minutes later while Sauzee chose to replace
O'Connor with Derek Riordan.
Riordan had the chance to make an impact after 77 minutes with a long-range
low effort but he was denied by the Dunfermline goalkeeper.
But Thomson was left helpless just a minute later. A Frederic Arpinon cross
was met by fellow substitute Townsley, the Pars goalkeeper raced off his line,
and the former Motherwell player coolly nodded the ball over Thomson into the
back of the net.
Despite that set-back, the Pars could have grabbed all three points five
minutes from time through Mason but he nodded just over and, seconds later,
Colgan was forced to block a diving header from N'Diaye.
Teams:
Hibernian: Colgan, Martin, Smith, Caldwell, Murray,
De la Cruz (Townsley 55), Arpinon, Orman, Wiss,
O'Connor (Riordan 63), Brewster (Hurtado 84).
Subs Not Used: Caig, Fenwick.
Goals: Townsley 79.
Dunfermline: Scott Y Thomson, Dair, Skerla, Scott Thomson,
Nicholson, Mason, Nicholls, Ferguson (Skinner 68), McGroarty,
Hampshire (N'Diaye 63), Bullen (Panopoulos 83).
Subs Not Used: Harrower, Nish.
Booked: Ferguson.
Goals: Hampshire 59.
Att: 9,788
Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).
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