Ulrik Laursen's first goal for Hibernian gave his side a half time lead over an unimaginative Dunfermline at Easter Road.

It could have been more as Mixu Paatelainen and John O'Neil wasted good chances against a side that was already down to 10 men following Rob Mattaei's sending off following a kick at Stuart Lovell.

Hibernian made just one change from the side that beat Motherwell 3-1 at Fir Park last week, with first-choice goalkeeper Nick Colgan returning from injury to replace Canadian Mike Franks.

With leaders Celtic not in action until Sunday evening, Hibs knew a home win would cut the gap for the second-placed side to four points.

Dunfermline arrived in the middle of a injury crisis with no less than nine first-teamers unavailable including Moroccan international Youssef Rossi, who was suspended.

Michel Doesburg and Junior Mendes were able to return however, with the former player going straight into the team and the latter being named on the bench.

The Pars kicked off aiming to end an unenviable record of not having won at Easter Road in four decades.

It took 30 seconds for Hibernian to fire in the first chance of the game when a free-kick from Russell Latapy found its way to David Zitelli at the back post but his shot was both acrobatic and inaccurate.

Steven Hampshire replied for the Pars with a blocked effort for the visitors at the deflection needed Franck Sauzee to dribble the ball to safety, initially past his own goalkeeper.

In the fifth minute Hibs opened the scoring through Laursen. It started with Gary Smith's long ball to Zitelli, who once again had drifted to a far post position. He controlled it and played a simple ball to the onrushing Dane, who showed good control himself to slip past both Lee Bullen and Justin Skinner before slotting past Marco Ruitenbeek.

Sauzee had a crack from distance not long after but was wide.

Doesburg pushed Latapy over on the edge of the area but Sauzee fired the free-kick against the wall.

Hibs kept the pressure on however, until Stuart Lovell fired tamely wide.

Barry Nicholson made up his mind early to have a go from distance but was well off target as the away side struggled to get a hold on the game.

Hibs defender Gary Smith took the ball out of defence deep into the Dunfermline half but his shot also failed to trouble the goalkeeper.

Lovell flighted over a cross intended for the head of Mixu Paatelainen, who had stolen in behind his man, but it was just too high.

Latapy had been waiting for a quality pass to feet and eventually got one. He went on a run, with defenders backtracking before supplying Paatelainen with the opportunity to get in a shot which the Finn fired at Ruitenbeek.

O'Neil started and finished a sweet passing move involving Latapy and Paatelainen but his shot could not match the build-up play and ended up in the stands.

Laursen's high ball to the back post was meant for Paatelainen but Justin Skinner won an important header.

In the 32nd minute Dunfermline were down to 10 men and in real trouble when Rob Matthaei was shown a straight red card.

Moments earlier he had clashed with Lovell and, when both were running in the centre circle, was seen to aim a kick at the Australian, which, although it seemed to miss, was enough for referee Kenny Clark to reach for the card.

Straight away, Hibs missed two great close range chances, both from Zitelli crosses.

Paatelainen put the first one wide of one post and O'Neil the other when goals seemed inevitable.

Zitelli scooped over as Dunfermline looked to reach half time without conceding another.

There was a rare moment of panic in the home defence when a misplaced pass almost put Nicholson in but eventually the ball was scrambled away.