WHETHER Neil Lennon employs the carrot or the stick, the results appear inseparable.

The Hibernian manager this week told of how he treated his players to a team-bonding session at a plush Edinburgh hotel in a bid to inspire them out of their current malaise.

After several doses of tough love, he felt it was time for a change of tact to bring about a change of fortune.

Instead, yesterday’s battling 0-0 draw against Raith Rovers was deja vu.

While he was delighted by the tempo and spirit of his side, Hibs’ winless run was extended to five and, for the third time in four league games, they were reduced to 10 men when Marvin Bartley was adjudged to have kicked out at Bobby Barr.

There was, at least, a silver lining for Lennon under leaden skies in Kirkcaldy as news filtered through that the point was enough to take Hibs back to the top of the table following Queen of the South’s capitulation against Morton. A point that did little to dampen his ire.

“I need to be careful with what I say, but That’s three games out of the last four [Championship] we’ve ended up with 10 men – and it’s not a red card again,” Lennon fumed.

“He [referee Stephen Finnie] has said Marvin retaliated and stood on Barr’s groin. I’ve seen it and he’s nowhere near his groin. He’s maybe had a little kick out which did not merit a red card.

“We are not getting fairness. I am not accusing referees of dishonesty, or anything like that, however I am questioning their competence. We need a bit of justice and fairness. It is comical now.”

Prior to Bartley’s early bath, it was Rovers’ left-footed schemer who was first to threaten, with Rangers loan star Jordan Thompson forcing a sharp low save from Ofir Marciano with a pop from distance.

Hibs wasted no time in responding and only a superb block by Raith defender Jean-Yves M’voto stopped Grant Holt from lashing home the opener after the big striker found room in the box.

From the resulting John McGinn corner-kick, Paul Hanlon rose highest to rattle the crossbar.

The defining moment of a fiery clash came on the cusp of half-time when Barr barrelled into Bartley, provoking a furious reaction from the midfielder, who was shown a red card by referee Finnie for lashing out in retaliation.

In his first start since being dismissed against Ayr United last month, Bartley again made the long, lonely walk.

Regrettably the second period descended into disjointed football and penalty claims.

Any sense of injustice felt by the band of Hibees in the Val McDermid Stand was only exacerbated when Finnie waved away two claims for penalties as Holt and Iain Davidson wrestled in the box.

Another shout was waved away when M’voto appeared to handle the ball inside the box. However, it was deemed that Holt had fouled him.

Following a contest high on controversy but short on goalmouth action, Raith Rovers boss Gary Locke added: “The defensive performance is a massive positive for us. We’ve not had enough clean sheets this season, so to get one against Hibs is something to build on.”