Hibs moved to within three points of Motherwell with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Easter Road this afternoon.
David Gray made four changes from the draw with Motherwell, with Nicky Cadden and Rocky Bushiri missing out.
Bushiri who qualified for the World Cup with DR Congo through the week and had not returned from the celebrations in Kinshasa in time for Friday’s training.
Martin Boyle and Ante Suto dropped to the bench, making way for strikers Owen Elding and Dane Scarlett. Grant Hanley returned to the starting line up with Jordan Obita on the left.
The visitors made one change. Brad Lyons returned to skipper the side, with Marley Watkins dropping to the bench.
Ahead of the game there was a minute’s applause in memory of Alex Cropley who sadly passed away earlier this week.
Kilmarnock won the toss and elected to play toward their supporters in the away end with Hibs shooting towards the Famous Five Stand.
And within 13-seconds Hibs took the lead. Jamie McGrath found Felix Passlack and the German strode forward before slipping a superb pass to Elding who calmly slotted the ball into the net.
And the goalscorer turned provider in the 12th minute when his wonderful through ball found Obita in space and his pass was converted from close range by Passlack.
Kilmarnock thought they had pulled one back through new Scotland cap Findlay Curtis.
However, it was disallowed for offside against Brad Lyons after a lengthy VAR check and Hibs went in at the break 2-0 up.Killi
Kilmarnock had the better of the second-half but the Hibs back three of Warren O’Hora, Grant Hanley and Jack Iredale dealt with everything thrown at them.
Hibs were also denied what looked like a clear penalty of Elding.
In added time Hibs added a third when the Socceroos substitutes Martin Boyle and Ante Suto combined, with the latter scoring from close-rage after a break away.
Hibernian: Sallinger, O’Hora, Hanley, Iredale, Passlack, Chaiwa, Barlaser, Obita, McGrath, Scarlett, Elding.
Substitutes: Smith, Manneh, Boyle, Newell, C Cadden, Megwa, Andrews, Campbell, Suto.
Kilmarnock: Roos, Brandon, Stanger, Deas, Schjonning-Larsen, Tshibola, Polworth, Lyons, Kiltie, Curtis, Hugill.
Substitutes: Stryjek, Thompson, Mayo, McKenzie, Watson, Lowery, Thomson, Anderson, Watkins.
