Hibernian were held to their fourth consecutive William Hill Premiership draw after squandering a 2-0 lead away to Falkirk.
Hibs looked on course for only their second league win of the campaign after first-half goals from Martin Boyle and Jamie McGrath.
But the Bairns hit back through Ross MacIver and Liam Henderson to earn a 2-2 draw, a result that lifted John McGlynn’s newly-promoted side from 10th to eighth in the table.
The Hibees, who were leapfrogged into third place by Dundee United, have now won only four of their 13 matches in all competitions this season and were booed off by their supporters at full-time.
Falkirk boss John McGlynn made one change to the side that started the 2-1 defeat by St Mirren as on-loan Manchester United attacker Ethan Williams came in for his first start.
Hibs manager David Gray made the surprise call to hand Austrian goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger – who had started two Premier Sports Cup matches – his first league appearance, while on-loan Middlesbrough midfielder Daniel Barlaser was pitched in for his first start.
Sallinger was busy in the opening exchanges as he had to claw out a Williams effort in the second minute before blocking a MacIver shot with his legs six minutes later.
Hibs forward Kieron Bowie then sent a couple of tame headers straight at Falkirk keeper Scott Bain.
After weathering the Bairns’ bright start, the visitors started to seize the upper hand and Boyle was denied by Bain from just inside the box after being released by McGrath before Rocky Bushiri headed wide from a corner.
Bowie should have made the breakthrough in the 22nd minute when the ball broke kindly to him seven yards out after Miguel Chaiwa intercepted a pass as the hosts tried to play out, but Bain got down to make a brilliant save from the Scotland striker.
Hibs had been knocking on the door and they made the breakthrough in the 30th minute with the aid of a contentiously-awarded penalty.
Nicky Cadden’s lofted cross from the left struck the hand of Williams as he rushed out to block at close proximity and, following a VAR check, referee Calum Scott was called to the monitor and awarded a spot-kick. Boyle stepped up and slotted beyond Bain’s left hand.
The Hibees doubled their lead in the 42nd minute when McGrath – who had started the attack – spun away from Henry Cartwright before drilling low into the net from eight yards out after Bowie teed him up following Boyle’s cross from the right.
Just as the visitors looked to be in control, they continued what has become a trend this season of conceding in the lead-up to half-time, allowing MacIver to ghost in and prod home Williams’ cross from the right from a couple of yards out in first-half stoppage time.
Falkirk came on strong in the second half and secured a point when Henderson powered in a downward header from Calvin Miller’s corner in the 64th minute.
