Ghana defender Francis Dickoh headed a late winner to secure Hibernian a 1-0 win at St Mirren and move them 11 points clear of Clydesdale Bank Premier League bottom club Hamilton.
The defender struck from close range following an 87th-minute corner to leave St Mirren firmly in the relegation equation.
Hibs midfielder Martin Scott had twice headed against the woodwork but there was little between the teams in a scrappy encounter.
The game appeared to be drifting to a goalless draw but the late drama gives Hibs a huge cushion over Accies, who have not won since October, while St Mirren remain five points above the Lanarkshire side.
Hibernian, who were without the suspended Ian Murray, created their first chance in the 13th minute when Scott headed off the post following a David Wotherspoon cross, and Akpo Sodje shot over on the turn seconds later.
Derek Riordan volleyed a difficult chance just over from 20 yards but St Mirren came back into it and Graham Stack did well to hold Paul McGowan’s left-footed strike from the edge of the box.
Scott hit the woodwork again in injury-time after Sodje’s flick-on but Paul Gallacher had his looping header covered as it hit off the top of the bar.
But the second period was proving even more scrappy, although Riordan produced a much-needed moment of quality when he took a return pass from Scott and blasted a powerful strike from 20 yards which Gallacher fumbled wide.
Craig Dargo almost broke the stalemate with a clever through ball for Michael Higdon but the striker was flagged offside in what was a marginal decision, although Stack was quickly off his line.
Gallacher was finally three minutes from time when left-back Callum Booth’s deep delivery was headed back in by Paul Hanlon and his centre-back partner Dickoh headed it in from underneath the bar.