Hibernian 0-1 Kilmarnock

Colin Nish and Steven Naismith celebrate Kilmarnock's goal

Kilmarnock gained some revenge for their CIS Cup final hammering by stealing the points at Hibernian.

Early in the second half Colin Nish was allowed to run on to a long clearance and loop a header over Andrew McNeil.

There was a lucky break for the visitors in the first half when Frazer Wright hit his own post.

And Killie keeper Alan Combe made a number of saves to deny Hibs who could not take advantage of all their good possession and a series of corners.

Interview: Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies

Interview: Hibernian manager John Collins

Hibernian defenders Rob Jones and David Murphy returned from injury but the home side retained a youthful look.

Kilmarnock also gave youth a chance, with Willie Gibson, Ryan O'Leary and Jamie Hamill all getting the chance to start at Easter Road.

Hibs did all of the early pressing but their neat passing moves broke down when they reached the opposition penalty box.

Abdessalam Benjelloun did fashion a shot from 14 yards on 18 minutes and Combe got down smartly to keep the ball out.

The visitors replied with a strong run from Steven Naismith and his fierce long range strike was tipped over the crossbar by McNeil.

Hibs skipper Jones found some room in a crowded penalty area but his powerful header from Murphy's corner flew straight at Combe.

Hibs midfielder Dean Shiels then burst through but saw his effort blocked by Combe and Kille enjoyed a huge slice of fortune when Wright's wild clearance came back off a post.

The ball fell to Shiels again but Combe recovered to deny the Northern Irishman for a second time.

Kilmarnock almost snatched the lead in the final minute of the first half when Gibson played a great one-two with Nish but the sprawling McNeil made a fine block.

The visitors did go in front soon after the restart when Jones misjudged a long punt and Nish ran on to head the bouncing ball over the stranded McNeil.

With Kilmarnock packing men behind the ball, Hibs were struggling to create any openings

However, the lively Shiels managed to squeeze in two decent shot that were well saved by Combe.

The keeper then denied Chris Hogg with a fantastic stop after the Hibs defender had won a header from Merouane Zemmama's corner.

The Hibs substitute was then busy on his own goal-line, making a great clearance after a deflected shot had deceived McNeil.

Hibs continued to press but a combination of desperate defending and the home team's tendency to over-elaborate saw the Ayrshire team hang on and move up to fifth in the table.

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Hibernian: McNeil, Whittaker, Hogg, Jones, Murphy (Zemmama 69), McCann (Sproule 54), Chisholm, Shiels, Stevenson, Benjelloun (Gray 87), Fletcher. Subs Not Used: Simon Brown, Martis, Ayre, Campbell.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Grant Murray, Frazer Wright, Greer, Hamill, Wales (Locke 90), Fowler, O'Leary, Gibson (Sylla 55), Naismith, Nish. Subs Not Used: Harpur, Cox, Leven, Quinn, Koudou.

Booked: Nish, Wales.

Goal: Nish 49.

Att: 10,674

Ref: D Somers