Former Hibs star Paul Wright came back to haunt his old club with a superb
first-half winner.
The Kilmarnock striker's 43rd minute goal extended Hibs' run without a win to
14 games and left Jim Duffy's hold on the Easter Road manager's job looking
precarious.
To make matters worse for his side, Hibs slipped to the bottom of the Premier
Division after Aberdeen's win.
Next week's New Year's Day derby with Hearts could now decide the Easter Road
manager's future.
Hibs had by far the better of the first half, but were stunned by old boy
Wright's strike two minutes before the interval.
The prolific frontman found himself with acres of space at the edge of the box
before curling a great shot past Hibs keeper Chris Reid for what turned out to
be the only goal of the game.
However, before this setback Hibs had some great chances to take the lead, but
striker Andy Walker squandered the lot.
After just two minutes the former Celtic player touched an Andy Dow corner
just past a post.
Then, in the 14th minute, Pat McGinlay sent in a fine cross from the left and
the unmarked Walker headed wide when it looked certain he would score.
Just before Kilmarnock's goal a great ball by Kevin Harper found Walker alone
inside the box and this time it was a brilliant save by Dragoje Lekovic which
denied the Hibs man.
Kilmarnock started sluggishly and it took half an hour for them to produce
their first shot at goal, with Wright's effort from the edge of the box flying
just wide, so they could consider themselves fortunate to go in at half-time 1-0
ahead.
It could all have been so different if Killie defender Dylan Kerr had been
sent off after just two minutes for a wild tackle on Harper. However, referee
Eric Martindale decided a yellow card was sufficient punishment.
Hibs threw everything at Kilmarnock in the second half in a vain bid for an
equaliser. However, it was the visitors who came closest to scoring.
Wright almost added to his earlier goal when the ball was laid into his path
by Jerome Vareille and his shot was well saved by Reid.
Then young Alex Burke went close for the Ayrshire side with a fine run and
drive from the edge of the box, which flew inches wide.
Teams:
Hibernian: Reid, W. Miller, Boco, Dods, Hughes (Rougier 60),
Charnley (K. Miller 75), Dow, Harper, Crawford, Walker, McGinlay.
Subs Not Used: Jackson.
Kilmarnock: Lekovic, MacPherson, Kerr, Lauchlan, Montgomerie,
Reilly, Burke (Baker 89), Holt, Wright (Henry 88),
Vareille (Roberts 75), Mitchell.
Booked: Kerr, Montgomerie, Mitchell, Reilly.
Goals: Wright 43.
Att: 10,543
Ref: E Martindale (Glasgow).
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