Ross County were ruthless in collecting successive Premiership wins for the first time since March with victory at Hibernian.
With their first two shots on target, Malky Mackay’s side found themselves 2-0 ahead.
For Hibs, a fifth defeat in six games was too much to digest for the home supporters as they turned on their team during the insipid defeat.
They did not even wait until the final whistle to express their disapproval. The sight of Alex Iacovitti turning in a second goal 12 minutes from time was the trigger for a cacophony of jeers as the home fans made their way for the exit.
The soft centre that Hibs manager Lee Johnson has alluded to in recent weeks reared its head again.
Despite a bright start from Hibs, George Harmon notched the first on the stroke of half-time before Iacovitti struck.
This victory propelled the Staggies out of the Premiership relegation zone.
Hibs made life difficult for the visitors with their energetic running and pressing during the early stages.
It was not so much as trying to weather a storm, but the Highland side certainly ceded plenty of territorial possession.
Mykola Kuharevich was involved in Hibs’ first real chance in the 26th minute when he got his head on the end of a Demi Mitchell but he could not find the target at the near post.
With Scotland manager Steve Clarke watching on from the directors’ box ahead of his squad announcement for next week’s friendly in Turkey, this was a chance for Hibs centre-back Ryan Porteous to reinforce his attributes.
Until the final few minutes before the break, Porteous and his fellow defenders were basically redundant due to County’s lack of penetration.
But suddenly the away team came to life. The first warning sign for Hibs came in the 42nd minute when Jordan White met an Owura Edwards cross only to see his shot being deflected over by Paul Hanlon.
County did break the deadlock in first-half injury time. Hibs failed to clear a corner, and George Harmon swept Yan Dhanda’s low delivery into the net.
Hibs’ effort could not be faulted in the second half but that did not disguise the fact that their attacking play was bereft of any quality.
Their misery was compounded when Iacovitti turned in Harmon’s cut back from 12 yards.
