Hibs consolidate top six place with win at Rugby Park

Scottish Premiership – Hibernian v Ross County. Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. 12/02/2020. Pic shows: Hibs defender, Adam Jackson, is mobbed by teammates after scoring the home side’s 3rd goal during the 2nd half as Hibs play host to Ross County in the Scottish Premiership at Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh. Credit: Ian Jacobs

Hibs consolidated sixth place in the Scottish Premiership
after a hard-fought win over Kilmarnock at a windy Rugby Park this afternoon.

Head Coach Jack Ross kept faith with the same starting XI that beat Ross County in midweek, playing a 3-5-2- formation.

Hibs started brightly in the difficult conditions and both Joe Newell and Vykintas Slivka had efforts blocked.

The visitors eventually took a deserved lead in the 27^th
minute when Martin Boyle curled in a cross which Marc McNulty hit towards goal.
The ball spun on the touchline and the wind held it up allowing Newell to find
Greg Docherty who cut inside and curled a tremendous shot which flew into the
top corner of the net.

Kilmarnock responded immediately when Chris Burke stooped to
head home a mishit shot from Niko Hamalainen after the Hibs’ defenders were
unable to clear the ball.

Just before the break Hibs regained the lead after Boyle was
chopped down near the right touchline.

Newell’s free-kick was headed goalwards by McNulty and the
ball deflected off a Kilmarnock defender into the path of Adam Jackson whose
half-volley bounced over Jan Koprivec into the net.

The hosts dominated the second half and Newell had to leave
the field with an injury just after the restart. He was replaced by Lewis Stevenson.

Stephane Omeonga then replaced Vykintas Slivka in the Hibs’
midfield.

Eamon Brophy had an effort blocked before Ofir Marciano
produced an acrobatic save to deny Stephen O’Donnell.

Scott Allan was replaced by Daryl Horgan but it was the
visitors who continued to press forward with Hibs content to hit on the break.

The Hibs’ defence had to deal with a series of corner kicks
and did so effectively

The Kilmarnock players had an appeal for a late penalty when
Jackson appeared to hold Dario Del Fabro but referee Alan Muir waved play on
and Hibs moved four points clear of their opponents and only one behind fifth
placed Livingston.

Kilmarnock: Koprivec, O’Donnell, Findlay, De Fabro,
Hamalainen, Burke, Power, Dicker, McKenzie, Kabamba, Brophy. Subs: Johnson,
Kiltie, Broadfoot, Millen, Lyle, Connell

Hibs: Marciano, McGinn, Jackson, Hanlon, Boyle, Slivka,
Docherty, Newell, Allan, Doidge, McNulty. Subs: Bogdan, Horgan, Stevenson,
McGregor, Murray, Omeonga, Gullan

Referee Alan Muir

Attendance 5370