Hibs now have Livingston in their top six sights after after giving themselves a pre-split cushion over seventh placed Kilmarnock.
Greg Docherty’s stunner gave them a first-half lead at Rugby Park on Sunday before Chris Burke’s equaliser, but Adam Jackson fired in a big winning goal to leave them four points clear of Killie in the final top six berth.
They can now leapfrog Livingston with a win over them at Easter Road this Saturday.
The gap to the Lions’ is now just one point after Gary Holt’s team went down 1-0 at Ibrox as Jack Ross’ side were winning in Ayrshire.
And Docherty insists the onus will be on Hibs to get on the front foot as they seek a first victory of the season over the West Lothian outfit and make it a trio of league wins on the bounce.
“It’ll be another tough game against a team that have been doing quite well of late,” he said. “But we’re at home at have to take the initiative to them.
“There’s no reason why we can’t win again.
“Sunday was massive. Any win is [at Kilmarnock]. We know how difficult it can be, it’s a really stuffy place at times but we dug deep second half and got the win.”
Docherty’s wonder strike set Hibs on their way and made it two goals in his first four appearances in green and white.
The on-loan Rangers man cut infield before sending an unstoppable curling strike past the outstretched arm of Jan Koprivec.
But teammate Martin Boyle was reluctant to oversell the goal given the conditions. “He’s watched it back five times,” he joked. “It’s decent. It’s arlight. Wind assisted, but we’ll credit him.”
