Raith Rovers 1 - 3 Hibs: Consecutive wins for Hibs

HIBS clocked up back-to-back league wins for the first time in 2014 as they came from behind to defeat Raith Rovers.

Hibernian's Dominique Malonga (right) celebrates having put his side 1-3 ahead. Picture: SNS

Barrie Mackay fired Rovers ahead before Jason Cummings equalised on the stroke of half-time with goals from Liam Fontaine and Dominique Malonga clinched victoriy.

David Gray had recovered from the groin problem which forced him off during last week’s win over Alloa Athletic allowing head coach Alan Stubbs to name an unchanged side.

Hibs carved out the game’s early chances, Dominique Malonga firing into the arms of David McGurn from Liam Fontaine’s through ball before the Raith goalkeeper came racing from his line to thwart Jason Cummings.

Danny Handling drove in a powerful shot which McGurn could only push aside and then David Gray couldn’t turn in Scott Allan’s driven low cross at the back post.

Ross Callachan, however, reminded Hibs that the home side were still a threat with a low shot which Mark Oxley managed to turn round the post.

But it was Hibs who continued to dominate, another shot from Malonga taken by McGurn while Liam Craig thought he’d opened the scoring in the 26th minute when he got on the end of Gray’s superb pass and lifted the ball over the goalkeeper only to see his effort drift wide.

McGurn denied Cummings and Malonga before Raith struck on the break, Christian Nade’s well-judged pass down the side of Fontaine giving McKay a clear run, the on-loan Rangers youngster placing the ball between Oxley and his near post.

Raith’s enjoyed that lead for only five minutes as Hibs equalised on the stroke of half-time, Rory McKeown’s attempted clearance of Malonga’s ball into the danger area falling into the path of Cummings who thumped it into the empty net.

Having dominated that first half Hibs rather fell out of things after the interval as Raith seized the initiative without really threatening Oxley other than a vicious drive from Jason Thomson which the goalkeeper blocked at his near post.

Nade drove a shot over before Hibs recovered their poise, Fontaine heading home from Allan’s cross and then Paul Hanlon playing in Malonga to clinch the victory.

TEAM LINE-UPS

Raith Rovers: McGurn, Thomson, Watson, Hill, Stewart, Scott, Callachan, Conroy (Anderson 82), McKay, McKeown, Nade (Ellioit 90). Subs not used: Laidlaw, Vaughan, Ellis, Matthews, Barr.

Hibs: Oxley, Gray (Booth 70), Hanlon, Fontaine, Stevenson, S Allan, Robertson, Craig, Handling (Stanton 67), Cummings, Malonga (Heffernan 90). Subs not used: Perntreou, Harris, Jake Sinclair, Kennedy.

Referee: Don Robertson

Attendance: 3166