Match Report

Hibs stretched their unbeaten run to five matches but had to work hard to see off Hamilton at Easter Road.

A goal in each half from Derek Riordan and Rob Jones were enough to seal the three points in an entertaining game.

John Rankin - after his goal against Celtic last Sunday - was being urged to have a go by the home fans whenever he got the ball in midfield.

He duly obliged after 13 minutes with a 40-yard shot but Tomas Cerny was alert to it and made sure he got his body behind it.

Cerny had to be on his toes moments later to clutch a head flick from Colin Nish underneath his crossbar as Hibs started to show their claws.

There was a major blow for Hibs after 18 minutes when Steven Fletcher was crocked by a late challenge from David Elebert.

The Hamilton defender was fortunate to escape a booking and, after treatment at the side of the pitch, Fletcher had to be carried to the dug-out with Riordan replacing him.

Hamilton tried to take advantage when Hibs were temporarily down to ten men with James McCarthy coming close with a low shot which Yves Makalamby touched just past his post.

Sol Bamba came even closer when he out jumped Cerny to get his head to an Alan O'Brien corner but saw the ball come back off the post.

Nish should have turned in the rebound but somehow screwed his shot wide from just six yards with Cerny out of his goal.

Nish tried to make amends with a great effort from 40 yards after James McArthur had given up possession but it was just a yard too high with Cerny struggling to get back.

The Hamilton goalkeeper then did well to tip a Jones header over his crossbar after a deep free-kick from Chris Hogg.

But there was a let-off for Hibs five minutes from the break. David Van Zanten tackled McCarthy in the box, but the ball broke to Simon Mensing who shot straight at Makalmby.

Hibs responded with a well-worked goal two minutes later. Ian Murray looked to have lost control of the ball in the area but he picked out Riordan with a perfect pass and the substitute applied the final from just a yard out.

There was a scare for Hibs in the opening moments of the second half when Richard Offiong cracked a shot against the underside of the bar.

Accies had the better of the second half but Hibs held on grimly to their lead with some desperate defending.

But it was Jones who almost snatched a second for Hibs eight minutes from time when he headed Hogg's free-kick against the post.

The Hibs skipper finally grabbed the second when he headed in a Riordan corner with just two minutes left.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides