Hibs missed the chance to win a fourth straight game as Kilmarnock grabbed a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser at Easter Road. New manager Jack Ross has seemingly rejuvenated a squad that looked devoid of creativity or drive under previous boss Paul Heckingbottom, but his inspiration wasn’t enough for Hibs to claim victory in a game which they largely dominated. Kilmarnock remain three points and one place above the hosts in fifth, with both teams looking to make it into the European places come the end of the season.
There were no changes for Hibs, who have now kept the same starting XI in their last four games. The visitors, fresh from a comfortable 3-0 win over Hearts, only made one switch, with Eamonn Brophy missing out due to food poisoning. If it ain’t broke et cetera. The sides have already met twice this season, with Kilmarnock winning the first back in September and the Edinburgh outfit triumphing via penalty shootout in the cup eleven days later. This was the rubber match, and went ahead in spite of the frost which had caused a couple of second division fixtures to be postponed. Undersoil heating came to the rescue as fans awaited the continuation of the Ross renaissance. Even in the winter cold, things have not been this sunny in Leith for a long while.
Unified super lightweight boxing champion and diehard Hibee Josh Taylor was in the house as his beloved side looked to deliver the knockout blow and maintain their ascent up the table. Hibs started brightly, with Flo Kamberi forcing a save from Laurentiu Branescu on five minutes and Scott Allan blasting over a couple of minutes later. The home team’s diamond formation allowed for high pressing which resulted in a couple of nervy moments for the Killie defence in the opening exchanges.
The pressure proved too much in the 18th minute, when Christian Doidge headed in for Hibs, his sixth in four games. The Welshman will certainly score more picturesque goals in future. This one arrived following a speculative Scott Allan cross from the left which seemed to be sailing into Branescu’s hands. The 6’5 Romanian goalie leapt to collect, yet somehow the less statuesque Doidge beat him to the ball, which looped into the air for what seemed like an age, before falling back down to earth and trickling over the line. 1-0 Hibs: arise Sir Jack Ross, name the stadium after Scott Allan, make 30th November International Christian Doidge Day. Good times are back at Easter Road.
The home side continued to look impressive, with Melker Hallberg forcing a fine stop on 27 minutes. Doidge could have got his second five minutes later, but couldn’t direct his close-range shot into the corner. All the while, Kilmarnock were offering little in response, their best chance of the period coming when a cross drifted harmlessly over Chris Maxwell’s bar. Hibs’s Joe Newell had a decent chance on the 40-minute mark, but dragged his strike just wide of the post. These frustrations did nothing to silence the cries of ‘Green Army’ from the stands, and the home team entered the half-time break a goal ahead and comfortably in control.
Their second came so early in the second half that, regrettably, the author was still inside, polishing off a well earned scotch pie. By all accounts, however, it was an excellent hit, right back Jason Naismith grabbing his first goal for the club with a powerful effort into the top corner from Vykintas Slivka’s deftly weighted through ball. The away team almost replied with a similar right back thunderbolt, but Stephen O’Donnell couldn’t keep his long-range shot down. They had another opportunity on 57 minutes, only for Maxwell to save terrifically from Rory McKenzie, an effective riposte to the fans who have been calling for the return of Ofir ‘Rocky’ Marciano to the starting line-up.
At 65 minutes, Kilmarnock pulled one back through Alex Bruce, who poked in after a corner provoked confusion in the 18-yard box. Hibs came back with a couple of significant chances of their own, determined to restore that precious two-goal advantage. With ten minutes to go, Stevie Mallan curled a free-kick around the Killie defensive wall, but his would-be wonder strike was parried wide by a busy Branescu. The sun had gone down and the chill was setting in, but there was still fire in Hibs’s quest to seal the game.
Not long afterwards, a Kilmarnock cross flashed across the Hibs goalmouth, but Chris Burke could not get the touch, any touch, that would surely have diverted the ball into the net. With two minutes to go, substitute Daryl Horgan burst down the left side, and was in a prime position to force the ball into the corner and let the clock run down. Instead he sent in a cross which more closely resembled a Sunday League clearance, which allowed Kilmarnock to break forward and nearly score themselves.
Killie had been looking increasingly dangerous in the final third and got their reward with what proved to be the final kick of the game. Dario del Fabro, on loan from Juventus, slotted in a cross from the right and sent the 900-odd travelling fans into ecstasy. The celebrations were immediately followed by the final whistle, which prompted a renewed wave of cheering from the away end and further groans from the 16,000 home fans.
After two wins from his first two games, Ross had to settle for a draw. Just when we thought the squandered lead was a Heckingbottom special, the new coach felt the pain of what has been a recurring problem for Hibs this term. Ross praised in-form Doidge, but acknowledged that his side need to occasionally make ‘ugly decisions’ to see out games. His opposite number Angelo Alessio was in better spirits, citing his ‘good relationship with the fans’. Alessio was happy to admit that it was a ‘bad first half…I didn’t recognise my team’.
Hibs fans will, unfortunately, recognise their team, particularly the mistakes which have resurfaced after a positive last few matches. The result is by no means a disastrous one, particularly against a Kilmarnock side which finished third last year and are continuing to show promise this season, but improvements will surely be needed for the upcoming Ross County game. Hibs can take inspiration from native son Josh Taylor, get off the ropes and back to winning ways. This is a setback, but nothing to trouble the home faithful.
Image: Conrad Maddox