Nish and Fletcher combined well up front for Hibs

Colin Nish scored twice and set up another as Hibernian put their summer woes behind them with a fine victory over Falkirk in the SPL.

Nish's cool finish after just 24 seconds was the signal for some red-hot action from the Edinburgh side and he headed the second after 25 minutes.

But Michael Higdon glanced in a reply before half-time.

Paul Hanlon restored Hibs' advantage from close range before Higdon drove home to signal a rousing finish.

But it was the home side who secured their first victory of the season to leave Falkirk without a point after two games.

Hibs' Mixu Paatelainen had become fed-up answering questions about reported dressing-room unrest and his own position as manager ahead of kick-off at Easter Road.

But his much-criticised side took just 24 seconds to put memories of last week's defeat by Kilmarnock behind them.

John Rankin had been restored to Hibs' starting line-up and it was the midfielder's deflected cross that fell to Nish on the edge of the box and the big striker strolled forward before slotting the ball past Robert Olejnik at the near post.

Falkirk captain Darren Barr received his first call-up to the Scotland squad in midweek, but the defender presented Steven Fletcher with another chance after being dispossessed.

However, the striker with whom Barr will team-up at international training dragged his shot wide from 25 yards.

Hibs should have doubled their lead when Fletcher teed up Nish inside the box, but the striker missed the target from close range.

Barr appeared to be determined to hand his Scotland colleague a goal, a poor defensive header this time giving Fletcher the chance to send a 12-yard volley from 12 yards was superbly blocked by Olejnik.

The Falkirk defence were all at sea and it was no surprise when Hibs went further ahead.

Fletcher just failed to connect fully with a Hanlon cross and Nish was left with an easy header at the back post.

Higdon put Falkirk back into the game in Edinburgh

Falkirk dragged themselves back into the game against the run of play five minutes later.

Higdon beat Rob Jones to a Gerard Aafjes cross to glance the ball home to usher in a hectic period of goalmouth action.

Hibs should have extended their lead, but Rankin somehow missed the target from 18 yards with just Olejnik to beat after a through ball by Alan O'Brien.

John Stewart then broke into the box for Falkirk, but his low drive from an acute angle was well blocked by goalkeeper Andrew McNeil.

Falkirk looked the more composed at the start of the second half - but they were undone after just three minutes.

Hanlon pounced on a Nish header to put Hibs two goals clear and Fletcher came close to a fourth only for Olejnik to punch clear the striker's attempted chip over the goalkeeper's head.

The Bairns responded again and poor defending allowed Higdon to collect a Jackie McNamara through ball before driving the ball home.

Hibs responded once more and Olejnik was forced into a superb save from a great left-foot volley from Fletcher.

The home side were peppering the Bairns goal from long range and a Fletcher drive clipped the top of the crossbar.

Falkirk finished the game applying the pressure and a Stewart drive struck the post as a now nervous Hibs survived for a deserved victory.

Hibernian: McNeil, van Zanten, Hogg, Jones, Hanlon, Keenan (Murray 73), Shiels (Chisholm 90), Rankin, O'Brien (Campbell 86), Fletcher, Nish.
Subs Not Used: Grof, Yantorno, Morais, Canning.

Booked: Keenan, van Zanten.

Goals: Nish 1, 25, Hanlon 47.

Falkirk: Olejnik, McNamara, Barr, Bullen, Aafjes, Latapy (Robertson 71), Cregg, McBride, Arfield, Higdon, John Stewart (Mark Stewart 72).
Subs Not Used: Flinders, Mitchell, McCaffrey, Gibb, Staunton.

Booked: Bullen.

Goals: Higdon 30, 53.

Att: 12,445

Ref: W Collum

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Colin Nish (Hibernian) 7.88 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.