At least referee Alan Muir resisted the temptation to sprint down the tunnel at full-time.

In a week dominated by analysis of the South African referee Craig Joubert's part in Scotland's exit from the Rugby World Cup, and his subsequent dash away from the scene of the crime, one SPFL official was not to be outdone.

Just like the supposedly weak-bladdered Mr Joubert, Muir awarded a game-changing penalty at a pivotal moment in the contest, pointing to the spot as John McGinn plunged to the artificial turf on the cusp of half-time.

The former St Mirren youngster hared into the box and knocked the ball around Blair Alston before barreling straight into the Falkirk midfielder and falling to the ground.

It would have been impossible for the visibly stunned Alston to have evaded McGinn, who was barracked with chants of 'cheat' for the rest of the fractious fixture.

Unflustered and composed as always, Jason Cummings caressed home his ninth goal of the season.

Despite the debatable nature of their winner, all that will matter to Hibernian head coach Alan Stubbs is that his side claimed an eighth win in their last nine outings and successfully ascended to second spot in the Championship.

Yet, it was Falkirk who almost claimed the lead with a quarter of an hour played. Former Scotland internationalist Lee Miller rolled back the years to meet a superb Luke Leahy cross but his towering header crashed off the bar.

Falkirk custodian Danny Rogers produced a sensational save to deny Dominique Malonga as the Congo international striker almost manufactured a carbon copy of his dipping, swerving goal from the edge of the box against Dumbarton on Saturday.

However, Cummings' spot-kick ensured Hibernian held a 1-0 lead at the break – and meant that referee Muir was forced to navigate an irate Peter Houston on his way down the tunnel for his half-time cup of tea.

Houston is already facing an SFA hearing for insinuating "bias and incompetence" towards John McKendrick following Falkirk's recent 3-1 defeat against Rangers. His relationship with officialdom is unlikely to have improved after last night.

Hibs should have doubled their advantage after the break, however Malonga's attempt to dink the ball over Rogers when sent clear on goal was dreadful.

Falkirk's final opportunity to rescue a point was denied by a wonderful clearance by Darren McGregor when Bob McHugh appeared destined to nod home from point-blank range.

Falkirk: Rogers; Muirhead, Watson, P Grant, Leahy; Kerr, Vaulks; Alston (McHugh 79), Sibbald, Smith (Baird 57); Miller. Substitutes: Tokarczyk, McCracken, T Grant, Blair, Sinnamon.

Hibernian: Oxley; Gray, McGregor, Hanlon, Stevenson; Bartley, McGinn, McGeouch, Keatings (Fontaine 86); Malonga, Cummings (Henderson 69). Substitutes: Reguero, Fyvie, El Alagui, Boyle, Feruz.