Kilmarnock paid the ultimate price for conceding too many needless fouls as
Hibernian punished them three times at dead-ball situations to maintain their
slim hopes of winning a top-six place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.
A spectacular first-half free-kick double from Gary Caldwell and Kevin Thomson
set the tone for the Edinburgh side, who added the decisive third with a Derek
Riordan penalty soon after the break.
Killie, who again endured an afternoon to forget, tried gamely to drag
themselves back in the game, but were second-best in almost every department.
The home side created the first chance with a counter-attack after a fine
Killie move involving Kris Boyd and Eric Skora fell apart. Roland Edge
intercepted Skora's pass, bombed upfield and picked out Garry O'Connor with a
perfectly-measured pass.
The Hibs attacker appeared to have the better of Colin Meldrum but lacked a
decisive burst of pace to reach out and nick a shot over the Killie goalkeeper's
body.
The Ayrshire side fought back and created a golden opportunity after nine
minutes when Craig Dargo was unmarked six yards out after being played in by the
lively Skora.
He looked rather shocked that the ball had made its way to him and had to rely
on reflexes to shoot out a leg and make contact - but Daniel Andersson palmed
away his effort.
Dargo did have the Hibs goalkeeper beaten five minutes later, however, but
still he could not find the opening goal. The Killie man's low drive from the
left-hand side squirmed under the Swede's body and appeared to be inching across
the line - until Mathias Doumbe threw himself into a clearance.
Hibs then took the lead in spectacular style. Former Newcastle defender
Caldwell picked himself up after being fouled by Gordon Greer and showed deadly
finishing ability to whip a wicked 30-yard free-kick beyond Meldrum into the top
left-hand corner.
Steven Whittaker limped off injured just before the half-hour and was replaced
by Kevin Nicol.
Derek Riordan lit up Easter Road with a flash of natural talent six minutes
before the break. The highly-rated youngster, who has been watched by a host of
Barclaycard Premiership clubs this season, maintained close control of the ball
while he held off Freddie Dindeleux.
He jigged left and right to break free and once he had the Frenchman beaten
homed in on goal - but found Meldrum in a brave mood as he dived in at his feet
to clear.
Hibs doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time, with another terrific
free-kick. Skora's handball allowed Thomson the opportunity to have a go, from
almost the same spot as Caldwell's earlier strike.
The youngster opted to go for the bottom corner on this occasion, and his
swerving shot found its way beyond Meldrum's outstretched palm.
Hibs tried to make it a trio of free-kicks after O'Connor had been dumped on
the ground 18 yards out - but Caldwell could not recreate his earlier accuracy
and shot over.
The Edinburgh side added another in the 64th minute, again from a dead ball
after Greer had tripped O'Connor inside the penalty area.
The Killie defender had little option but to lunge at the Hibs man after his
team-mates failed to cope with Riordan's swirling cross - but he need not have
done it so clumsily and paid the price as the Hibs youngster coolly sent Meldrum
the wrong way before rolling the ball into the bottom corner.
Killie kept trying to find a way back into the game, but the home side,
confident that their day's work was done, played out time to a well-deserved
victory.
Teams
Hibernian: Andersson, Caldwell, Doumbe, Murdock, Edge,
Scott Brown, Whittaker (Nicol 27), Thomson, Reid,
O'Connor (Fletcher 82), Riordan.
Subs Not Used: Alistair Brown, Zambernardi, Orman.
Goals: Caldwell 22, Thomson 45, Riordan 64 pen.
Kilmarnock: Meldrum, Lilley (Nish 54), Greer, Dindeleux, Hay,
Fowler, Locke, Skora, Murray (Naysmith 76),
Dargo (McDonald 78), Boyd.
Subs Not Used: Smith, Dodds.
Booked: Lilley.
Att: 7,326
Ref: K Toner (Scotland).
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