Kilmarnock 2-1 Hibernian

Kilmarnock responded well after going behind

Kilmarnock came from behind to take three points after being completely overrun by Hibernian at Rugby Park.

The visitors dominated the first-half but could only manage one goal when Dean Shiels lifted a neat shot over Graeme Smith after 30 minutes.

But Killie were level soon after the interval when Colin Nish side-footed home a great cross from Gordon Greer.

Steven Naismith then produced a moment of magic to beat three defenders and drill a low strike into the net.

Kilmarnock stuck with the same starting XI that lost out at Celtic Park last weekend.

The visitors welcomed back left-back David Murphy from suspension and Scotland Under-19 striker Steven Fletcher returned at the expense of Abdesellam Benjelloun.

Hibs looked sharp in the early stages and midfielder Scott Brown skipped past Gary Hay with ease before snatching a shot narrowly wide of the target.

And, after 11 minutes, Killie goalkeeper Smith gathered a Fletcher volley from the left side of the penalty area.

Greer had throw himself at a Shiels effort to deflect the ball over his own crossbar as Hibs poured forward with menace.

Chris Killen was next to be denied by Smith as the keeper got down smartly to block the striker's shot.

David Murphy saw his strike stopped by Smith but the busy keeper was eventually beaten by a clever goal on the half-hour.

Shiels latched onto a quick free-kick from Michael Stewart and deftly chipped the ball beyond Smith.

Dean Shiels was on target for the visitors

Fletcher found the net with his head, only for the linesman to rule offside against the teenager.

Kilmarnock contributed nothing in an attacking sense in the first 45 minutes but were on level terms just two minutes into the second period.

Greer moved out of defence to deliver a wonderful cross for Nish to volley home from seven yards out.

Hibs responded immediately and Fletcher's knock across goal was begging to be finished but Killen was slow to react.

Hibs introduced Ivan Sproule and the speedy winger tested Smith with a shot before rashly sending the rebound wide.

With 20 minutes remaining, Kilmarnock stunned Hibs with a glorious solo goal from Naismith.

The Scotland Under-21 international jinked past three defenders in the penalty area before drilling a shot through the legs of keeper Simon Brown.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Hibs and they struggled to rediscover their earlier form and fell out of the match completely.

---

Kilmarnock: Smith, Fowler, Frazer Wright, Lilley, Greer, Hay, Invincibile, Johnston (Leven 84), Naismith, Di Giacomo (Wales 68), Nish. Subs Not Used: Bell, Grant Murray, Stephen Murray, O'Leary, Adams.

Booked: Nish, Johnston. Goals: Nish 48, Naismith 72.

Hibernian: Simon Brown, Whittaker, Jones, Hogg, Murphy, Shiels (Sproule 58), Scott Brown, Thomson, Stewart (Dalglish 72), Fletcher, Killen (Benjelloun 68). Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Glass, Shields, Konde.

Booked: Stewart, Killen. Goal: Shiels 31.

Att: 6,299

Ref: M McCurry