Hibernian manager Mixu Paatelainen feared his side were going to throw away a three-goal lead before eventually beating Gretna 4-2 in the SPL.

The Easter Road side outfit led by two goals at half-time thanks to a home debut goal from Colin Nish and a superb 25-yard drop volley from Steven Fletcher.

Despite Gretna's bright play at times, Fletcher quickly swept home a third to seemingly end the contest on 57 minutes.

But Hibs took their eye off the ball and two late goals from Gavin Skelton and Kenny Deuchar threatened a remarkable comeback from the league's bottom side.

However, Nish was then felled by Greg Fleming - earning the Gretna goalkeeper a straight red card - and Fletcher took advantage to seal a last-gasp hat-trick.

The victory, Hibs' first at home in the league since September, took them into the top six on goal difference and was also their first league success since way back at Gretna on November 10.

But Paatelainen, who handed a debut to Algerian defender Abdel Zarabi, was not impressed with the second-half display.

He said: "I was worried, totally worried. I felt after the first half's good offensive display, the second half was nowhere near good enough.

"We stopped playing, simple as that. We can't afford to do that, they could easily have equalised which would have been a disaster.

"Thankfully we got the fourth goal but the second-half performance was not good enough."

However, the Finn reserved praise for hat-trick hero Fletcher, his display coming days after he was linked with a £4million move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Paatelainen added: "He is a top finisher and has very good technique when he shoots - you saw that. I'm delighted for him after his injury lay-off. You need strikers on form and confident.

"It's great to be in the top six and hopefully we can keep looking forward and have a good performance on Sunday at home to Aberdeen."

Meanwhile, Gretna head coach Davie Irons was proud of his battling new-look young side and felt they could have taken something from the game to aid their relegation fight.

He said: "I don't think it would have been unfair, to be honest, if we'd got a point.

"I thought we played well, a group of young lads who are playing together for only the second time.

"I thought their attitude and willingness to get at Hibs was first class and I'm proud of them.

"People will say Hibs switched off, but we had chances and maybe deserved a wee bit more than we got."

Irons, who revealed owner Brooks Mileson has improved after he was admitted to hospital on Monday, may appeal against Fleming's red card once he has reviewed it on video.

He said: "I think [the sending off and penalty] was unjust. But the boy [Nish] has been cute, he's knocked it past and caught Greg as he goes past him. Greg has pulled out of it.

"It was game over then but for a few minutes there was a wee chance.

"I'd love to appeal against the sending off, but it costs you money and I'd have to see it again on the replay."

TeamTalk / Eurosport