A goal early in the second half from French striker Jerome Vareille gave Killie three valuable points - and their fans something to cheer about.

This was only their fourth win in 27 League starts and gives them a much-needed boost as they bid to get clear of the bottom spot.

The home side had Ally McCoist back in the starting line-up for the first time since October when he broke his leg against Rangers, but the comeback didn't last long.

After just 15 minutes he limped from the field with a calf injury.

Both sides showed total commitment early on but chances were few and far between.

Kilmarnock had the best of the opening spell and defender Jim Lauchlan wasn't far off the mark with a header from Ian Durrant's free-kick.

Within minutes of his arrival substitute Abou had a great chance to break his duck, but he shot weakly at Nick Colgan.

It took Hibs until the 32nd minute to give the home defence a moment of panic.

Kenny Miller made good progress down the right but Mixu Paatelainen missed the ball completely eight yards from goal.

The first half ended with Kilmarnock on the offensive and a Durrant volley was well held on the line by Colgan.

Paatelainen scorned a good opportunity just after the restart when he completely missed the goal after a good pass into the box by Russell Latapy.

Then came the goal that the game so badly needed, with Vareille keeping his cool in the 52nd minute to net his third league goal of the season.

The Frenchman took Tosh McKinlay's pass into the box and curled the ball past Colgan into the corner of the net.

Hibs pushed more players into attack as they went in search of the equaliser and it took a good save from Gordon Marshall in 72 minutes to stop a Frank Sauzee piledriver.

Abou should have increased Killie's lead shortly afterwards but he blasted the ball wide from 15 yards.

Minutes later Varielle was unlucky not to score again when his header from a McKinlay cross came back off the post with Colgan rooted to the spot.

Miller had the ball in the net for Hibs in 86 minutes but the linesman's flag had signalled offside well before he struck the ball.

But had that counted, it would have been hard luck on Killie who just deserved to win on the day.

Teams:

Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Lauchlan, Dindeleux, McKinlay, Vareille (Mitchell 87), Holt, Durrant, Reilly, Cocard, McCoist (Abou 15).

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Hessey, Canero.

Goals: Vareille 52.

Hibernian: Colgan, Collins, McIntosh, Dennis, Smith, Sauzee, Lovell, Latapy (Lehmann 66), Hartley (McGinlay 79), Paatelainen, Miller.

Subs Not Used: Gottskalksson, Brebner, Murray.

Booked: McIntosh.

Att: 8,068

Ref: Stuart Dougal (Scotland).