Two goals in a minute by Scott Brown and Garry O'Connor stunned careless Kilmarnock and set Hibs on their way to a welcome three points at Rugby Park.

The first 45 minutes saw missed chances at both ends as neither defence looked particularly water-tight and, during a frenetic encounter, the fans were also mildly amused to see referee Hugh Dallas come off with a calf injury to be replaced by fourth official Brian Winter.

But after the break, as the home side went to sleep, Brown's 48th-minute opener from close range, followed by O'Connor's strike a minute later shattered the home side who never had the guile to find their way back.

The early signs were ominous for Kilmarnock.

The visitors started better, forcing a corner in the first minute but when defender Colin Murdock headed in Derek Riordan's cross, Hibs' celebrations were cut short when referee Dallas ruled it out, apparently for a foul in the box.

However, Kilmarnock should have taken the lead in the 10th minute when Jamie Fowler set up striker Colin Nish six yards out but the former Pars player comically mis-kicked, allowing Hibs keeper Daniel Andersson to save for a corner.

At the other end, after a breakaway, Riordan rounded Killie keeper Francois Dubourdeau but defender Freddy Dindeleux was on hand to knock the youngster's shot past for a corner.

Then, as Killie attacked again, Nish slid in to toe-poke a shot past Andersson but the ball hit the post and came out before the Hibs defence managed to clear to safety.

The home side continued to press and, in the 22nd-minute, striker Gary McSwegan showed Murdock a clean pair of heels down the right.

But his cross into the box was cleared by Hibs' speedy defender Mathias Doumbe for a corner which came to nothing.

At the other end, a Riordan cross from the right flashed across the Kilmarnock six-yard box but found no takers.

On the half-hour mark the Ayrshire men forced three corners in quick succession but Hibs defence, despite looking rather nervy, managed to keep the ball out.

There was an entertaining interlude in the 39th minute when Dallas had to go off with a calf injury, swapping places with fourth official Winter.

Shortly after the break, Hibs shattered the Ayrshire men with two goals inside sixty seconds.

In the 48th minute, a Gary Smith free-kick from the right landed at the feet of Brown at the back post and the youngster slammed the ball into the net from close range.

Killie were knocked off their feet a minute later, when the visitors doubled their lead with a well-taken goal.

With the Kilmarnock defence all at sea, Riordan broke free on the right and, when his cross came over into the box, O'Connor shot first time under Dubourdeau from close range.

The former Hearts boss went for broke in the 55th minute, introducing his three substitutes, Kris Boyd, debutant Eric Skora and Danny Invincibile for Nish, Barry McLaughlin and Stevie Fulton.

And Skora almost became an instant hero with the disgruntled home supporters when his low drive from 25 yards troubled Andersson but the Hibs keeper handled confidently at his right hand post.

Five minutes later, a Boyd free-kick from outside the box stung the hand of Andersson who beat the ball away to safety.

The Ayrshire men continued to press, McSwegan's 73rd-minute header from just inside the box left Andersson no option but to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.

But Riordan was running riot up front for Hibs and in the 79th minute his shot from 25 yards fizzed narrowly past Dubourdeau's right hand post.

In the 84th minute, Hibs' 16-year-old substitute Jamie McCluskey came on for the injured Reid to become the youngest top-flight player in Scotland since 15-year-old goalkeeper Ronnie Simpson appeared for Queens Park in 1946.

An honour for McCluskey, certainly, but also a sign of how comfortable the Edinburgh side were as they eased to victory.

Teams

Kilmarnock: Dubourdeau, McLaughlin (Skora 56), Greer, Dindeleux, Fowler, Dodds, Locke, McDonald, Fulton (Invincibile 57), Nish (Boyd 56), McSwegan.

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Hardie.

Hibernian: Andersson, Smith, Murdock, Doumbe, Reid (McCluskey 84), Scott Brown (McManus 77), Wiss, Nicol, Whittaker, O'Connor, Riordan (Dobbie 89).

Subs Not Used: Hyldgaard, Baillie.

Booked: Scott Brown.

Goals: Scott Brown 48, O'Connor 50.

Att: 5,571

Ref: H Dallas (Scotland).