By Thomas McGuigan

Scorer Ivan Sproule was the scourge of Dunfermline's defence

A rampant Hibs strolled to their first win since manager Tony Mowbray left for West Brom - despite heroics from Dunfermline's goalkeeper.

Dorus De Vries frustrated the visitors with a number of superb saves as the Edinburgh side threatened to run riot.

Hibs' patience paid off on 44 minutes when Ivan Sproule collected Chris Killen's pass and lobbed De Vries.

Killen fired home after Sproule's mazy run, before Abdessalam Benjelloun and Killen's second completed the scoring.

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Dunfermline mounted sporadic attacks as they struggled to contain a free-flowing Hibs side in this season's first SPL Monday night game.

Mark Burchill appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty when he tumbled after a challenge from Hibs keeper Zbigniew Malkowski, and the home side struggled to find any kind of rhythm.

Scott Brown looked lively for the visitors in the opening 10 minutes as they attempted to put the disappointment of losing manger Mowbray behind them.

The Edinburgh side thought they had opened the scoring after seven minutes when Killen shot home from just inside the area, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Merouane Zemmama saw plenty of the ball on the left wing for Hibs, but his passing in the early exchanges was not up to his usual standard.

Brown found Sproule down the right wing on 12 minutes but the Irishman's near post cross was cleared for a corner.

A minute later Rob Jones headed Zemmama's cross towards goal, but De Vries denied the defender with a fantastic reaction save.

The Pars were finding it difficult to clear their lines and should have fallen behind a minute later, but Killen somehow shot over from about six yards.

Then, Sproule's cross eluded Michael Stewart who slid in at the back post.

Dorus De Vries performed heroics in the Pars' goal

The home side had loud penalty appeals waved aside when striker Mark Burchill tumbled in the box after attempting to round keeper Malkowski.

De Vries thwarted the visitors after 28 minutes when he saved from Sproule's crisp drive.

Zemmama could not find a way past the outstanding Pars keeper on 32 minutes when his drive from the edge of the area was easily gathered.

Hibs took the lead a minute before the break when Sproule latched onto Killen's clever through ball to lob De Vries from 12 yards.

In the second half the Edinburgh side continued to attack the beleaguered Pars defence and it was no surprise when they got a second goal through Killen.

The forward swept home a pass from Sproule in the 62nd minute after the Irishman's mazy run down the right flank.

Stewart curled a right-foot shot towards goal but his effort cannoned back off the crossbar.

Mason tested Malkowski with a fierce drive from the edge of the box, but the keeper palmed the ball to safety.

Benjelloun drilled the ball home in the 89th minute following clever play by Zemmama on the right.

Killen then rose to head home Zemmama's corner two minutes later to compound the Pars' misery and complete a memorable night for the Edinburgh side.

Dunfermline: De Vries, Labonte, Shields, Bamba, Woods (McCunnie 73), Ross (Daquin 46), Mason, Young, Burchill (Owen Morrison 78), Crawford, Hamilton. Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Simmons, Tod, Dunn.

Booked: Ross.

Hibernian: Malkowski, Whittaker, Martis, Jones, Murphy (Glass 54), Sproule (Benjelloun 80), Stewart, Thomson, Zemmama, Killen, Scott Brown (Shields 90). Subs Not Used: McNeil, Hogg, Fletcher, Shiels.

Goals: Sproule 44, Killen 62, Benjelloun 89, Killen 90.

Att: 6,057