Ten man Hibs fought back from being a goal down to rescue a point in a thrilling encounter with Partick Thistle at Easter Road.
The home side entered the game on the back of an abysmal run of form which had saw them drawn deep into the relegation play off mix and ended the match cursing Jags keeper Paul Gallagher but also pleased with rescuing a point through Sam Stanton’s late header.
Poor defending had cost the Easter Road side dear in last weekend’s Edinburgh derby but Terry Butcher resisted the temptation to throw James McPake back into the mix with the long term absentee having to make do with a place on the bench.
Thistle started the game with a greater attacking impetus and took the lead when a Higginbotham header saw Kris Doolan beat Ben Williams to the ball and his effort looped into the net despite Lewis Stevenson’s valiant effort to clear.
Thereafter it became former Scotland keeper Gallagher’s day as he produced a string of fine stops to deny the hosts.
Two wonder stops in a minute from Hibs centre half Michael Nelson left the home fans cursing their luck particularly as the first save saw Jason Cummings head against the post.
The Hibees lost influential midfielder Kevin Thomson just after the second half began and missed the players guile as they sought an equaliser.
Despite pushing forward at any opportunity Butchers boys were struggling to create gilt edged chances although Cummings did see a header smothered by Gallagher.
It seemed like the Easter Road side were heading for seven Premiership defeats in a row when Nelson saw red following a second bookable offence on ChrisErskine.
However they kept pressing and Liam Craig was next to test Gallagher but the stopper pulled off another top notch save from the Hibs captain.
Just when all seemed lost, Ryan McGivern swung in a cross which James Collins headed on and young Sam Stanton ghosted between last defender and keeper to nod over the previously unbeatable Gallagher.
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