An fine second-half strike from John Rankin helped Hibernian to their first away win in the SPL since mid-November as Falkirk were beaten 2-0.The luckless Jack Ross had sent Hibs on their way to three points with a 12th-minute own goal, before Rankin settled the contest with a well-taken finish only seven minutes after the interval.

The deserved victory saw Mixu Paatelainen's side rack up a fourth straight league victory and move five points clear of their top six rivals in their quest for European football.

After a lethargic display at Dundee United on Saturday, John Hughes again watched his team lack their usual spark as they struggled to create clear openings against a resolute visiting defence.

Hibs captain Rob Jones was ruled out through injury, with Abdel Zarabi and Guillaume Beuzelin dropping to the bench. Martin Canning, making his debut, Ian Murray and Paul Hanlon all started.

Falkirk strikers Pedro Moutinho and Billy Clarke were relegated to the bench as Hughes went for a more cautious line-up, bringing in Russell Latapy and Stephen Bradley.

The Easter Road outfit almost broke the deadlock inside the opening 80 seconds with the first attack of the game.

Dean Shiels rode an illegal tackle to feed the ball to Colin Nish on the right, who quickly switched play to the left into the path of Rankin.

The former Inverness midfielder then wasted no time in unleashing a swerving 30-yard drive which rattled the crossbar.

But the Bairns' new-look midfield began to find their feet and, after a loose ball ran through to Graham Barrett, only a superb penalty box tackle from Chris Hogg stopped the Irishman.

Then, after neat work from Latapy and Bradley, Barrett was denied by a blocking save from Yves Ma-Kalambay, but the striker had just been ruled offside.

However, Hibs rose to the challenge and swiftly broke upfield to open the scoring on 12 minutes.

Shiels fed Nish on the right and his tempting cross was missed by Steven Fletcher in the six-yard box, only for Ross to knock the ball into his own net.

Buoyed by the goal, Nish and Merouane Zemmama tested Robert Olejnik as an entertaining opening to the contest unfolded.

Ross' fitness was 50-50 before kick-off and his unfortunate evening came to end after just 24 minutes when he was replaced by Gerard Aafjes.

Left-back Thomas Scobbie, fresh from earning a new five-year deal, sought to get the hosts back on terms but his curled angled 18-yard effort went over after Scott Arfield had fed him.

Falkirk's uncharacteristic poor passing was letting them down, with only a wild Aafjes shot to show for their continued probing towards the interval.

The visitors could have doubled their advantage when Zemmama robbed Kevin McBride and laid the ball off to top scorer Fletcher, who turned inside before dragging a strike past the left upright.

Nish had picked up a knock during the first half and he failed to appear for the restart, with Scotland Under-21 forward Ross Campbell handed his chance.

Within seven minutes the substitution had paid dividends as Hibs scored a sweet second goal.

Campbell collected a loose ball to break forward and pass to Fletcher on the left side of the penalty area, who quickly fed the on-rushing Rankin.

Without breaking stride, he coolly sidefooted the ball into the left corner from 17 yards.

However, Hibs were soon forced into a goalkeeping change as Ma-Kalambay gingerly walked off and Andrew McNeil took his place.

The Edinburgh men, though, were now well on top and Murray came close to a third goal when he almost headed in Zemmama's corner at the back post.

Falkirk battled for a lifeline and sub

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