Steven Fletcher sent Hibernian soaring to third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League as his strike sealed victory over Kilmarnock at Easter Road.

The highly-rated young striker's stinging shot beat Alan Combe in the 73rd minute to end Kilmarnock's hopes of fighting their way back into the match.

The hosts had earlier broken the deadlock in the 29th minute with a clinical finish from Filipe Morais.

Kilmarnock contributed plenty to the game though and conjured the first real chance after just one minute.

David Fernandez cut out Chris Hogg's slack pass on the left flank and crossed for Danny Invincible at the front post, but the Australian failed to find the target from close range.

The visitors would not give Hibernian any time on the ball in a congested midfield and enjoyed the lion's share of possession during the early exchanges.

Hibernian's first sight of goal came in the eighth minute when Morais was picked out by Merouane Zemmama on the counter-attack, but his header across goal fell behind Steven Fletcher.

Referee Charlie Richmond was forced to have words with several of the Kilmarnock players as Fletcher was subjected to some heavy challenges but he kept his cards in his pocket.

Hibernian opened the scoring through Morais with their first attempt at goal.

A long punt forward by defender Rob Jones was knocked down by Craig Dargo to the feet of the Portuguese winger, and he slotted the ball past Alan Combe and into the net from 18 yards.

The hosts had a chance to double their lead when they were awarded an indirect free-kick 12 yards from goal after Combe picked up Jamie Hamill's back-pass.

Fletcher rolled the ball to Zemmama who tried to round Garry Hay but the Kilmarnock captain slid in to clear the danger.

Fernandez then missed the target with a header after Hay swung in a dangerous cross in the 42nd minute.

Kilmarnock began the second half in a threatening manner as they went about trying to level the score.

Hibernian goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay made a good block at his front post after Craig Bryson diverted Mehdi Taouil's cross towards goal.

Bryson turned provider seconds later when his teasing cross was met by the unmarked Invincible at the back post but the striker powered his header just wide.

Kilmarnock continued to press in search of an equaliser and left gaps at the back which the home side tried to exploit on the counter-attack.

Combe kept his side in the match with a good diving save to deny Zemmama after the Moroccan pounced on Fletcher's nod-down on the edge of the box.

The Kilmarnock goalkeeper pulled off a better block from Fletcher's fierce shot after the Scotland Under-21 marksman was put clear by Zemmama in the 69th minute.

Hibernian manager Paatelainen threw Dean Shiels into the action in place of goalscorer Morais, and the hosts added a second goal in the 73rd minute.

Zemmama picked out Fletcher with an inch-perfect defence-splitting pass and the youngster's shot found the net via the inside of the post despite Combe getting a hand to the ball.

Substitute Shiels went close six minutes from time when he used his pace inside the box to create room for a shot that drifted just wide of the far post, as Hibs looked for a third goal.

Teams:

Hibernian Ma-Kalambay, Canning, Hogg, Jones, Hanlon, Morais (Shiels 71), Rankin, Chisholm, Zemmama (Stevenson 75), Fletcher, Nish.

Subs Not Used: McNeil, Zarabi, Benjelloun, O'Brien, McCann.

Booked: Nish.

Goals: Morais 29, Fletcher 73.

Kilmarnock Combe, Murray (Gibson 79), Lilley, Frazer Wright, Hay, Fowler, Hamill, Bryson, Taouil, Invincibile (Di Giacomo 80), Fernandez (Wales 72).

Subs Not Used: Rascle, Morgan, O'Leary, Clancy.

Booked: Frazer Wright.

Att: 12,486

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).