Queen of the 'South 0, Hibs 0: Ten man Hibs make their point in Dumfries

Hibs were reduced to ten men for the second week running as Lewis Stevenson saw red in this table-topping clash with Queen of the South.

A disconsolate Lewis Stevenson walks off after picking up an early second half red card at Palmerston Park

Already booked for a first half foul on Jamie Hamill,. Stevenson picked up a second yellow card just ten minutes into the second as he impeded Queens Dale Hilson. But the Capital side battled away and left for home with a no-scoring draw to remain one point behind the Dumfries side in the Championship.

Lennon made three changes to the side which went down to Ayr United, Dylan McGeouch, Martin Boyle and Brian Graham all from the start as Fraser Fyvie, Andrew Shinnie and Grant Holt all dropped to the bench.

There was an early scare for Hibs as Hilson was given a free run in on Ofir Marciano but the goalkeeper used his legs superbly to block his parting shot.

Hibs began to settle, Boyle cutting in from the right only to send his shot straight down the throat of Queens goalkeeper Lee Robinson who was also well positioned to take Jason Cummings downward header from a Boyle corner before Paul Hanlon threw himself at another corner from the winger only to see his header fly over.

It had, though, been a half of poor quality, both sides surrendering possession far too easily with too many passes failing to find a team-mate although to be fair to the players they weren't helped by the rain which was driving from one end of Palmerston Park to the other.

Hibs had the wind behind them in the second half and skipper David Gray attempted to use it to his advantage straight away sending in a shot from long-range which Robinson had to tip over. John McGinn took the resulting corner and the ball dropped at the feet of Jason Cummings only a couple of yards out but he was unable to react quickly enough.

The Easter Road side were reduced to ten men for the second week in succession, Stevenson, already booked for a first half block on former Hearts defender Hamill, picking up a second yellow in the 55th minute for impeding Hilson, a decision with which the little full back obviously disagreed.

Lennon was forced to ring the changes, bringing on Jordon /Forster to play in central defence with Hanlon moving out to left back.

Queens, seeking to go four points ahead of Hibs at the top of the Championship, sought to make their numerical superiority count, Hilson driving in a powerful shot but Marciano made sure he got everything behind it.

Hibs, however, weren't prepared to settle for just a point, McGinn forcing Robinson into a spectacular leap to push his dipping shot over the bar.

But it took a terrific one-handed reaction save from Marciano to keep Hibs on level terms, the goalkeeper keeping out Hilson's shot as the game moved into the last five minutes.

Queen of the South: Robinson, Hamill, Dowie, Brownlie, Higgins, Millar, Lyle (Anderson 76), Hilson, Dobbie, Jacobs (Pickard 62), Dykes.

Substitutes not used: Atkinson, Rigg, Hooper., Moxon, Brotherston.

Hibs: Marciano, Gray, McGregor, Hanlon, Stevenson, Bartley, McGeouch (Fyvie 71), McGinn, Boyle (Keatings 84), Cummings (Forster 57), Graham.

Substitutes not used: Laidlaw, Holt, Shinnie, Harris.

Referee: Steven McLean.

Attendance: 3703