Hibs manager Jack Ross believes Christian Doidge can help fire his side to a third-place finish after the striker finally halted his barren run in front of goal.
The Welsh frontman struck the equaliser in the Hibees' 1-1 draw at Livingston to stop a 16-game drought.
And his relief was clear to see with the Easter Road side going ever closer to their goal of pipping Aberdeen to this season's coveted spot that could give the Edinburgh side a crack at group stage European football.
Ross always believed Doidge would come good - with the gaffer insisting that scoreless streak never bothered him.
He said: “I was chatting to him yesterday and that was one of the things we spoke about.
“I’ve said before that the fact he has not been scoring genuinely doesn’t bother me because his overall contribution is so good.
“But it was an important goal for us at an important time of the game because we weren’t playing that well at that point in the game.
“They are a close group. We’re small in numbers but we’ve fostered a common ambition as well which helps and they recognise the job that Christian does for the team. I think they all understand that.
“He’s a popular boy in that changing room and I’m really pleased for him."
Fellow forwards Kevin Nisbet and Martin Boyle have taken the plaudits in Leith this season but the boss reckons Doidge can come alive in the nitty-gritty of the split.
"Over the last few weeks, I think we’ve had individual players who look at their best and Christian is one of them,” Ross added.
“He’s looked really sharp, really lively. It’s good to have players hitting form at the right time.”
Hibs were well on top in the second half at the Tony Macaroni arena, despite trailing from Craig Sibbald's opener before Doidge levelled the score.
And with Aberdeen losing 1-0 to Dundee United at Tannadice it means the capital club are seven points clear in their aim to finish best of the rest.
Ross said: “I’m disappointed we didn’t get the result we deserved in the second half, but I’m pleased with how we played and then given results elsewhere, it’s another step forward.
“But it’s not easy coming to a venue against a team that have been good this season.
“I felt that if we matched Aberdeen’s result coming into the split we would be in a good position and we’ve bettered it.
“We’re in a healthy position. The group feel good about themselves, so we’re looking forward to it.”
