Kilmarnock 1 – 3 Hibernian

Elie Youan scored twice as Hibernian secured a 3-1 victory over struggling Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership at Rugby Park.

The Hibees took the lead after five minutes when Youan headed home, but then squandered a number of chances and paid the price just before the hour mark as Tyreece John-Jules marked his new Kilmarnock deal with the equalizer.

However, Youan restored Hibs’ lead when he headed the ball into the net after home goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi denied Jamie McGrath.

Further misery followed for the hosts when David Watson was shown a red card eight minutes from time, before McGrath scored a penalty in added time.

Kilmarnock remain second, four points above basement-level Livingston, while fifth-placed Hibs are now just four points behind Celtic in second place.

The deadlock was broken with the first attack of the match. Daniel Barlaser’s delivery to the far post was perfect for the unmarked Youan to volley the ball across goal and into the bottom corner.

Barlaser was a constant threat from set pieces and in the 11th minute it took a smart save from Oluwayemi to divert the Englishman’s wicked free-kick for a corner.

It was all one way towards the home goal and Junior Hoilett sent a powerful effort just wide before Kanayo Megwa’s strike was comfortably saved by the keeper.

The visitors should have doubled their advantage seven minutes from the end of the first half. A wonderful, intricate passing move opened up the Killie defense, but Youan shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

John-Jules had a rare goal sighting for the hosts two minutes before the break, although his shot was blocked by Hibs defender Warren O’Hara.

The Rugby Park men were desperate for a response, and the early signs were promising when David Watson’s shot was deflected wide in the first minute of the second half.

The equalizer then arrived in the 57th minute. Dominic Thompson’s cross was not dealt with by the Hibs defense, and John-Jules got the better of Grant Hanley before pushing the ball past Raphael Sallinger.

Killie had Oluwayemi to thank 20 minutes from time when he made a remarkable save to deny Barlaser’s scathing free-kick.

However, Hibs regained the lead a minute later. Oluwayemi could only deflect McGrath’s effort into the path of Youan, who was perfectly poised to volley the ball home.

The home side were reduced to 10 men after 82 minutes when Watson caught Barlaser with a wicked tackle. Referee David Dickinson showed little sign of hesitation as he flashed a red card towards the midfielder.

In the first minute of added time, McGrath was brought down by Thomson before dusting himself off to coolly send the keeper the wrong way after the resulting spot-kick and seal the points for Hibs.

What leaders say

Hibernian Boss David Gray: “It’s been a really good week. I think we deserved it, it’s a massive three points and a massive nine points on the week – it’s everything you would have hoped for,” Gray said.

“It’s a really tough place for us, I think it was 2020 when we last came here and won.

“I think we started really well, on the right foot, moving the ball well, some really good passages of play on a difficult surface – real control in the game and we definitely deserved to be in front.

“Our quality dropped off in the second half. Part of that was Kilmarnock, they had a bit of a reaction and were more aggressive, but huge credit goes to the players for finding a way to make sure they found a way to get the three points.”

Kilmarnock caretaker boss Kris Doolan: “I think we started the second half the way we want to start games. In the first half I didn’t feel like we laid down a gauntlet on Hibs.

“It was just a shame we couldn’t capitalize on getting back into the game, but we showed a lot of character to get back into the game.”

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