Hibernian suffered a blow to their hopes of staying ahead of Rangers in the Bank of Scotland Premier League as they failed to break down struggling Falkirk at Westfield.

The result means champions Rangers can now leapfrog the Edinburgh side into third place with victory in Sunday's Old Firm derby.

The visitors dominated the first half but had an early scare when Russell Latapy sent Daniel McBreen clear, but the veteran midfielder's pass was overhit and Hibs goalkeeper Simon Brown rushed out to collect.

Hibs went close three minutes later when Derek Riordan sent Ivan Sproule clear in the box, but keeper Alan Ferguson was on hand to block with his legs.

The visitors had the bulk of the early pressure and threatened again in the eighth minute.

Steven Fletcher worked an opening in the box but he dragged a left-foot effort wide of Ferguson's post.

Tony Mowbray's side had Brown to thank for keeping them level on 16 minutes when he brilliantly tipped over a long range effort from Steven Thomson.

Latapy's resultant corner was then headed narrowly wide by Jean Lescinel.

The heavy rainfall throughout the match did not help any attempts to play flowing football.

Falkirk thought they had grabbed the lead in the 27th minute when Michael Stewart was sloppy with a goal-line clearance from a McBreen header, but referee Craig McKay had blown for a foul.

The hosts nearly snatched the lead in the 38th minute when a free-kick was lofted into the Hibs box.

McBreen ghosted in ahead of Caldwell, but the striker headed narrowly wide from close range.

Fletcher then had a fine opportunity for the visitors in the 42nd minute when a Stephen Glass corner found him at the back post, but the midfielder headed weakly into Ferguson's arms.

Hibs again went close in the 54th minute when Killen was sent clear on the right.

Team-mate Ivan Sproule was unmarked in the box and screaming for the ball to be released but Killen delayed and Kenny Milne cleared the danger.

This seemed to be enough for Tony Mowbray, who replaced his front-line two minutes later, with Amadou Konte replacing the struggling Killen, while Gary O'Connor came on for Sproule.

The home side then threatened in the 59th minute when Alan Gow was sent clear and laid the ball off to Steven Thomson, but the midfielder fired over from the edge of the box.

Three minutes later Hibs keeper Brown did well to save a low 20-yard effort from Steven O'Donnell.

Riordan almost broke the deadlock in the 70th minute with a left-foot snapshot from the edge of the box but Bairns keeper Ferguson did well to tip it over.

Latapy almost worked an opening for the hosts after 77 minutes when he jinked down the left flank and squared for Gow but the striker was unable to direct a left-foot effort on target.

The Bairns might have scored in the 81st minute when a Liam Craig free-kick was headed on target by Kenny Milne but Brown saved well.

Then O'Connor almost snatched a dramatic winner seven minutes from time with a powerful right-foot shot from 25 yards which rattled the crossbar with Ferguson beaten.

But the keeper was on hand to ensure the scoreline remained even with a fine point-blank save from Steven Fletcher in the 90th minute.

Teams

Falkirk Ferguson, Ross, Milne, Rodrigues, Lescinel, Latapy,O'Donnell (Craig 67), Cregg, Thomson (Lima 79),McBreen (Moutinho 79), Gow.

Subs Not Used: Howard, Lawrie, Twaddle, Scally.

Booked: Cregg.

Hibernian Simon Brown, Whittaker, Murphy, Caldwell, Hogg,Fletcher, Glass, Stewart (Konde 77), Sproule (O'Connor 57),Riordan, Killen (Konte 56).

Subs Not Used: Malkowski, McCluskey, Shields, Stevenson.

Booked: Glass, Sproule.

Att: 5,937

Ref: C MacKay (Scotland).