Hibs' run of relatively poor results was banished on Saturday afternoon with Lee Johnson's men able to break down St Mirren in a 1-0 win in Paisley
Alongside the anomaly of the 6-0 win over Jim Goodwin's admittedly pathetic Aberdeen side at Easter Road last weekend, Hibs had won just two of their previous eight games. That included disappointing results at home to Dundee United and away to Ross County respectively, and a result on Saturday was almost imperative to their chances of European qualification.
And that they did. Elie Youan's late winner after a poor first half was the remedy to Lee Johnson's shortcomings of late, leaping over their opponents in the table and crucially keeping within touching distance of Hearts and Livingston. European football could well be on the cards at Easter Road next season as a result - here is what Edinburgh Live learned.
Kevin's not here...
Much like the MacAllister family in Home Alone, alarm bells have started ringing when Kevin isn't present.
In this case, it isn't Macauley Culkin's character; instead Nisbet, who was hauled off in midweek with injury.
The Scotland striker was hauled off midweek against Ross County and played no part in Saturday's game, which was plain to see.
Just one shot on target from 71 per cent possession in the first half showed that the team lacked a clinical edge in the final third; and Nisbet's absence has a huge say in that.
The difference in quality between him and Harry McKirdy is vast, and with Elie Youan only scoring 11 league goals at professional level throughout his career despite his goal today, his record isn't good enough consistently and things were looking bleak.
Nisbet's absence this weekend showed that he has to be fit throughout.
McKirdy off injured
When it rains, it pours. McKirdy has waited all season for a chance in to impress after joining from Swindon in the summer.
But he was replaced after 20 minutes when he caught his studs in the turf.
With just three starts in the league this season - with two of those coming in January - all seem to be for nothing with the attacker now set to be sidelined.
That leaves on-loan striker Matthew Hoppe thrown right into the deep end with his knowhow from the Bundesliga needing to be called on rather desperately with Nisbet's injury proneness quite concerning.
But the club will be hoping McKirdy's injury is not too bad and he can play a part in the run-in to help Hibs to a top-five finish.
Happy Hibees set for European stint?
Let's not take anything away form the hosts here; Stephen Robinson has the Buddies firing on all cylinders.
Despite the loss of Ethan Erhahon and Dylan Reid on deadline day, the arrivals of Thierry Small and Tony Watt gave the club some impetus to carry on in their current form.
In one of their tougher home games of the season, they showed they could mix it with the more reputable names. But Hibs were too strong, and they have now swapped places with St Mirren in the table.
With the signings of CJ Egan-Riley, Hoppe and keeping Nisbet, Hibs might start to pull away from the current crop with results having picked up ever so slightly in the last seven days.
They are now unbeaten in three, it will be interesting to see how they continue.
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