A late goal by Ulrik Laursen earned Hibernian the point which keeps them on
course for European action next season.
Until Laursen's 87th-minute header, substitute Garry Hay looked to have given
Kilmarnock their first league home win since October and severely dent
Hibernian's Champions' League pretentions in the process.
But the Edinburgh club are in a rush, it seems, to complete what still looks
likely to turn out to be their best season since lifting the League Cup in
1992.
With both Old Firm clubs in action on Wednesday night, the chance was there to cut
Celtic's lead to six points and for Hibs to extend their advantage over
third-placed Rangers by the same margin.
But it was a chance that was not to be taken in full.
Both sides had made changes beforehand, with the home side bringing back Gus
MacPherson after a ban and the away team having to make do without hugely
influential midfield duo Mathias Jack and John O'Neil for the same reason.
Grant Brebner and Lyndon Andrews came in for the suspended pair and the
fixture became an interesting test of depth for the Hibs squad, with Alex
McLeish previously having been able to name his strongest XI on a regular
basis.
The post-match verdict was that the test had not been passed.
Christophe Cocard was the man to make way in the Kilmarnock line-up, with
Bobby Williamson opting to pair Andy McLaren with Craig Dargo up front and it
was the latter who went on to set up his side's goal.
The opening minutes saw only a few signs of attacking football from both sides
and only the exchange of long-range shots passing as scoring attempts.
Franck Sauzee and Russell Latapy warmed the gloves of home keeper Gordon
Marshall and Dargo did the same at the other end for Nick Colgan.
Dargo almost woke the match from its torpor, arriving at the near post ahead
of his marker to send MacPherson's low cross inches wide.
Killie came alive at last and when Peter Canero was fouled deep in the Hibs
half McLaren swung the free-kick on to the head of Martin Baker, forcing Colgan
into a nimble low stop.
Hibs felt they had to reply and Mixu Paatelainen was surprisingly sprightly in
turning his man to plant a low trickling shot which was easily saved.
McLeish's men then produced some sublime football to put the ball in the net,
although the strike was ruled out for offside.
Sauzee sent Latapy free down the right and his far-post cross was headed
across goal by Paatelainen for Stuart Lovell to nod in at close range.
It was the most memorable move of the first half by a country mile and it
seemed as though Lovell was the man who had been caught out after the cross came
in, remaining offside when he had the opportunity to step back.
But Hibernian were not on top of their form by a long way and it showed when
Dargo was gifted a great chance to break the deadlock by Sauzee of all people.
The Frenchman is the player of the year elect in many's eyes but he sloppily
allowed the striker to nick the ball away and scamper unchecked towards goal.
But the required finish was not forthcoming as Dargo went on to lift the ball
over both goalkeeper and crossbar - admittedly from a tight angle.
Before the break, Killie were forced to make a change when Alan Mahood, who
had taken a knock earlier on, was replaced by Hay.
Hay had a chance when he appeared in the box chasing a McLaren cross but his
touch let him down and the chance was soon gone.
The second half had started as poorly as the first and it was difficult to
believe these were top four teams.
Hibs swapped Dirk Lehmann for David Zitelli on the hour in a bid to add to a
chance tally that was virtually blank thus far.
But when Latapy was brought down on the edge of the box, Zitelli was the man
for the occasion, forcing Marshall into a flying save with his left-foot effort
and that near miss brought about a flurry of Hibs corners.
The free-kick call had been a mighty close one for the home side, with Latapy
having gone to ground right on the white paint.
The momentum had swung towards the Edinburgh club but a sweeping move from the
home side changed that in an instant.
Canero, the Scotland under-21 international, fed Dargo along the right wing
and his cross into the box was met on the hoof by Hay, whose finish was
perfectly placed to give Colgan no chance.
Innes almost made it two from a McLaren corner but his unchallenged header was
always too high.
Dargo smacked a shot against the crossbar and Latapy almost made him pay for
the missed chance when he skipped into a scoring position at the other end.
But his stabbed finish was woefully wide and it needed Laursen's headed
intervention from Zitelli's corner to save his blushes and earn a point for his
side.
Teams:
Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Innes, Dindeleux, Baker,
Canero, Holt, Mahood (Hay 36), Mitchell,McLaren (Di Giacomo 85), Dargo.
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Cocard, Wright.
Booked: Baker.
Goals: Hay 68.
Hibernian: Colgan, Gary Smith, Fenwick, Sauzee, Laursen,
Lovell, Brebner, Latapy, Andrews (Bannerman 78), Paatelainen,
Lehmann (Zitelli 61).
Subs Not Used: Westwater, Dennis, Dempsie.
Booked: Lehmann.
Goals: Laursen 87.
Att: 6,385
Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).
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