Hibernian assistant manager Billy Brown admits his side were stunned find themselves two goals up just 15 minutes into their crunch match with Aberdeen.
Hibs have struggled towards to foot of the table for much of the SPL campaign but raced into the lead at Pittodrie with two goals that ultimately handed them three priceless points in the battle to avoid the drop.
Brown paid tribute to the players for digging in when the Dons reduced the deficit and to hold on for the victory in the north east.
He said: “We didn’t know what to do when we went two goals ahead actually. I think we’ve only done that once before this season, against Kilmarnock.
“It was a strange feeling, and with such a long time to go too, but we battled hard and played well and we deserved to win. We’ll take that into the next game.”
Dunfermline have five points to make up on Hibs at the foot of the league and visit Easter Road on Monday night in a game that could decide the issue before the last day of the season.
Brown said that nerves will be natural for the players but said they will draw extra confidence from recent showings.
He said: “In most games in professional football there is nerves, it doesn’t matter where you’re playing. Celtic have won the league now and they might be a bit more relaxed but most games there is a bit of nerves.
“There’s excitement too – there’s got to be to keep you on your toes – and it is just the same here.
“Obviously when you’re not winning the confidence goes down a wee bit but we’ve taken confidence from the St Mirren game where we didn’t deserve to be beaten and now we have the confidence from beating Aberdeen.
“There’s no reason now that we can’t go on and express ourselves in the last two league games and the Scottish Cup final.”
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