Ross County’s hopes of making it two wins on the spin ended in disappointment as they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat against Hibernian at Easter Road.
Marc McNulty, who scored a hat-trick against BSC Glasgow on Sunday, fired the hosts in front after seven minutes before Christian Doidge nodded in the second just before the interval.
Scotland international McNulty missed a late spot-kick before Adam Jackson headed home the third on a comfortable night for the hosts.
The Staggies will look to bounce back when they host St Johnstone this weekend.
The Staggies ended an eight-game winless streak with a 2-0 success against Livingston the previous week but had not won on the road since a 2-1 victory against Motherwell in September.
County have struggled for momentum this season but had performed well against Hibs, drawing 2-2 in Edinburgh in October before registering a 2-1 win in Dingwall in December.
The visitors made one change with former Hibernian defender Keith Watson replacing Callum Morris, while the Hibees, who went into the game on the back of a 4-1 Scottish Cup win against Lowland League side BSC Glasgow, made four alterations.
Lewis Stevenson, Steven Whittaker, Daryl Horgan and Stephane Omeonga made way for Adam Jackson, Vykintas Slivka, Joe Newell and Scott Allan as they searched for a first league win in four attempts.
County had only failed to net on one of their previous seven visits to Easter Road and the visitors were handed an early sniff of goal when Billy Mckay nearly profited from Greg Docherty’s slack back-pass.
Hibs passed up a glorious chance to break the deadlock inside five minutes when Docherty sent a delicious pass across goal but Boyle fired over from close range.
But the home faithful didn’t have to wait long for the breakthrough with McNulty afforded too much space to race onto a clever through ball from Allan and the on-loan Reading striker poked the ball beyond the advancing Nathan Baxter.
The Scotland international had another strike ruled out for offside in an ominous start for the Staggies before the visitors carved up their first opening with Iain Vigurs linking up well with Lee Erwin but Ofir Marciano was equal to his close-range effort.
Some frantic defending at the other prevented Doidge from doubling the advantage as Jack Ross’ men pressed for the second.
But, after several near misses, Hibs finally got a second four minutes from the interval with Doidge nodding home from a Newell corner.
The Staggies struggled to deal with Hibernian’s superior movement and speed during long spells of the first half and the trend continued early in the second period with Boyle flashing a powerful drive over the crossbar from distance.
Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson’s charges looked far more accomplished with the ball and caused problems for the Hibernian rearguard on the rare occasions they reached the final third.
Hibernian, however, appeared the more likely to grab the next goal with Boyle jinking past Sean Kelly before crossing for Allan who fired wide in another well-constructed move.
Don Cowie was introduced to proceedings at the expense of Ross Draper as County looked to gain a foothold and curtail the increasing influence of playmaker Allan.
Former Hibernian forward Oli Shaw and Josh Mullin entered the fray soon after in place of Erwin and Harry Paton.
The change almost had the desired effect with Mullin finding Mckay at the back post but his knockdown for Shaw was headed clear by Paul Hanlon.
Hibernian substitute Fraser Murray whipped a finely-struck free kick inches over before Shaw was denied a goal on his Easter Road return by an alert Marciano.
The home side had a chance to make it three from the sport with nine minutes to go when McNulty missed from the spot after Marcus Fraser was penalised for handball.
But Jackson added the third when he headed home from another Newell corner to put the result beyond doubt.
