Ray McKinnon showed why he is in demand as he produced a managerial masterstroke by adding an extra element to the week’s big story in bringing Leicester City loanee Harry Panayiotou off the bench to score the winner in this Premiership play-off at Kirkcaldy’s Stark’s Park last night.

The Raith Rovers manager, who is reckoned to be his former club Dundee United’s first choice to replace Mixu Paatelainen, lived up to his insistence that he only has thoughts for Raith Rovers as he came up with the decision that changed a game Hibs were beginning to control.

“‘It hasn’t been difficult at all,” he said afterwards.

“My focus is on Raith Raith Rovers and trying to get into this Premiership.”

He paid tribute to Panayiotou for the way he took his chance.

“‘What a week it’s been for Harry, with Leicester winning the league and then him scoring tonight,” said McKinnon.

‘I’m absolutely delighted for him because he’s a great kid. What an impact he’s made.

‘No, seriously, what a great kid. He’s been brave to come up here and try to make a name for himself. Well done to him.”

However he knows it remains all to play for.

‘I think pressure is a funny thing. Some people deal with it, some people don’t.

‘That will be a nervy place, Easter Road, because I’m pretty sure they don’t want to spend another year in this division.

‘They’re a big club, a good manager, good players. They will be desperate. They might get a wee bit edgy if they don’t get it all their own way on Saturday.”

Ryan Hardie had forced the night’s first save from Conrad Logan, the portly looking Irishman who made such a sensational debut appearance for Hibs with a two hour shut out followed by penalty shoot-out heroics in last month’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Dundee United, a straightforward block at his near post as the striker shot from a tight angle on the right.

Thereafter, while it was far from one-sided in terms of the balance of play, Hibs set up the best of the shooting chances with Jason Cummings and Marvin Bartley both calling Kevin Cuthbert, the Raith goal-keeper into action, before a drilled Lewis Stevenson shot cum cross from the left, after good build up work by John McGinn and Anthony Stokes, buzzed just beyond the reach of Jason Cummings and past the far post.

James Craigen’s sweetly half volley at the other end drew gasps of excitement from the home support, while a Stokes header from a chipped Fraser Fyvie cross forced Cuthbert to dive sharply to his right to grasp it, before the best chance of the half came Cummings’ way when, one-on-one with the goal-keeper after McGinn had lofted a pass over the Raith defensive line, he opted for the lob but his touch deserted him and it floated harmlessly over.

Enthusiasm had out-stripped quality in the opening half and it continued in that vein in the second the only moment of alarm for either ‘keeper seeing Cuthbert forced into a double fisted block after Stokes whipped in a free kick from wide on the left.

Hibs were beginning to take control and another Stokes free kick from a similar area found Paul Hanlon, only for the defender to miss the target with his diving header.

Their failure to capitalise on their superiority meant they were vulnerable, however and McKinnon showed that sure-footedness in making the changes which were to transform the encounter, bringing Louis Longridge on along with Panayiotou in the 64th minute.

The pair took only eight minutes to conjure up the moment that broke the deadlock from the second of two corners from the left in quick succession, Longridge clipping it towards the near post where Panayiotou met it squarely and powered the ball into Logan’s top right corner.

“One Ray McKinnon,” came the chants from the home end as they sought to ensure that the target of Dundee United’s affections was feeling their love.

Having had a couple of penalty claims denied, one when a Fyvie cross appeared to strike a defender’s forearm and another when Stokes was pushed off balance as he shaped to shoot, Hibs’ frustration was meanwhile in danger of getting the better of them, as best exemplified by the yellow card their second half replacement Dylan McGeouch earned when he was probably right to be disappointed when a throw in was given the wrong away but lodged his appeal to the linesman with disproportionate vigour.

Their manager Alan Stubbs had to rein himself in afterwards too, particularly when commenting on the first of those penalty shouts which he said he felt “wasn’t even a decision” it was such a blatant hand ball.

“It leaves it wide open,” he said.

“We go to Easter Road. We’ll be able to get the ball down and play more. The pitch is the same for both teams. It’s not an excuse but you could see how difficult it was. The tie is wide open. It’s half time. It’s become clearer what we have to do – score a couple of goals.”