When it was suggested that a lack of finishing power was undermining Hibs following their Scottish Cup semi-final exit last weekend Alan Stubbs bridled.

Little wonder since, as he quickly pointed out, even in a league that has seen city rivals Hearts banging goals in at an average of more than 2.5 per game it is Hibs striker Jason Cummings who was atop the individual scoring charts with 16and 18 in all this season.

The issue arose, however, because a failure to hit the target has been the major factor in three of the four defeats Hibs have suffered following the 15 match unbeaten run that briefly looked to have given them the upper hand over Rangers in the race for the second place finish that will reduce the end-of-season work-load.

Hibs have arguably continued to look the best footballing side of the four Championship play-off contenders, but they need to have confidence in their capacity to reward their own build-up play.

Consequently Stubbs would not be human if he did not feel a wee flicker of vindication when, after a first attempt was blocked, Cummings calmly reclaimed possession of the ball and stuck it away to regain the lead for Hibs almost as soon as they had lost it to Livingston on Wednesday evening.

Just as the 3-1 victory demonstrated that they can continue to dominate matches without the creative talents of Scott Allan, who was suspended, so they cannot be over dependent on a teenager, however good, which made the more experienced Dominique Malonga's first goal since February.

It was only his third this year, having registered 11 in his first 14 appearances of the season and afterwards the 26-year-old explained that he has been troubled by a knee injury.

The way he raced into the Livingston penalty area, stopped, pirouetted to shake off his pursuer, then slotted the ball home was impressive evidence that he is on the mend and with a real bonus having been the return of Farid El Alagui after a six month lay-off as a result of what had looked a career threatening Achilles tendon injury when he had scored four goals in the first five matches of the season.

Since El Alagui's comeback has included the goal which sealed the first win in six derbies suddenly Hibs look spoiled for choice up front and in that context Stubbs understandably expressed pleasure at how Malonga has reacted to having been out of the team.

From a manger's perspective the expectations the French-born Congolese striker is making of himself, given his explanation for his low-key reaction to scoring that match sealing goal and the team ethic he expressed will be all the more satisfying.

"It's a good goal for me but I lost many balls, my first touch wasn't good," said Malonga.

"It was a good win for us after the blow out on Saturday and on Saturday we have another game and we just need to keep going and prepare for the play-off.

"We've lost some games because of experience. It's just experience. We just need to learn about that. In the play-off, no matter what's happened, it's just about winning. We have two games now to prepare well for the play-off."

To that end Malonga believes Hibs' latest Scottish Cup disappointment can yet stand them in good stead.

"A game like that you need to score, you need to win and you just need to learn about that because in the play-off you win or you go home... you win or die," he said.

"We just have to learn and today we responded well and I'm happy for the team. Now we just keep going."