Anthony Stokes hails '˜massive' victory for Hibs

Anthony Stokes takes on Rob Kiernan. Picture: Neil Hanna

And the on-loan Celtic hitman claimed he wasn’t at all bothered if his strike in the five-goal thriller was credited to Ibrox goalkeeper Wes Foderingham rather than himself, insisting: “Winning the game was all that mattered.”

Hibs were already ahead through Jason Cummings’ 24th goal of the season when Stokes fired a deep cross in towards Foderingham’s back post only for the keeper to fumble the ball over his own line.

Former Hearts midfielder Jason Holt pulled Rangers back into the game just before half-time but Niklas Gunnarsson stretched Hibs’ lead once again only for Barrie McKay to claim a second for the Glasgow club.

But Hibs held on to cut Falkirk’s lead to three points while knowing they still have a game in hand over the Bairns.

Stokes said: “I’m not bothered who scores. The most important thing was winning the game. We put in a resolute performance. I didn’t actually see what happened at the goal. I put it towards the back stick and he has obviously spilled it and it’s gone in off the post.

“I’ll take any sort of goal. We are trying to finish second in the league so this was a massive win against a very strong team. We’ve given ourselves a great chance now.”