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Kilmarnock 0-2 Hibernian Kilmarnock 0-2 Hibernian
(10 minutes later)
Ivan Sproule and Steven Fletcher grabbed the goals as a youthful Hibs side edged out ten-man Kilmarnock. Ivan Sproule and Steven Fletcher grabbed the goals as a youthful Hibs side edged out 10-man Kilmarnock.
In a scrappy game which saw few chances created by either side, Kilmarnock came closest with Gary Wales' early shot rebounding off the Hibs'post. In a scrappy game which saw few chances created by either side, Kilmarnock came closest with Gary Wales' early shot rebounding off the Hibernian post.
Deans Shiels wasted two glorious first half opportunities for Hibs. Dean Shiels wasted two glorious first half opportunities for Hibs, blazing one over from just six yards.
But it was left to substitute Sproule and Fletcher to claim all three points with clinical second-half strikes.But it was left to substitute Sproule and Fletcher to claim all three points with clinical second-half strikes.
In a tepid start to the match, Hibs forced a couple of early corners but the Ayrshire men defended stoutly, with defender Frazer Wright coping well with the aerial presence of Hibs' giant stopper Rob Jones.In a tepid start to the match, Hibs forced a couple of early corners but the Ayrshire men defended stoutly, with defender Frazer Wright coping well with the aerial presence of Hibs' giant stopper Rob Jones.
Killie debutant Momo Sylla was finding space down the left in the opening minutes but his crosses were easily mopped up by the visiting defence.Killie debutant Momo Sylla was finding space down the left in the opening minutes but his crosses were easily mopped up by the visiting defence.
Despite Hibs having the lion's share of the early possession it was Kilmarnock who nearly broke the deadlock after twenty minutes.Despite Hibs having the lion's share of the early possession it was Kilmarnock who nearly broke the deadlock after twenty minutes.
Striker Gary Wales hammered a shot from 25 yards against the post with Hibs keeper Andrew McNeil grateful to see the ball rebound straight back into his arms. Striker Wales hammered a shot from 25 yards against the post with Hibs keeper Andrew McNeil grateful to see the ball rebound straight back into his arms.
This spurred Killie on to press for the opener as a much-changed Easter Road side struggled to get their passing game together.This spurred Killie on to press for the opener as a much-changed Easter Road side struggled to get their passing game together.
The game remained scrappy but Hibs' midfielder Dean Shiels should have grabbed his ninth goal of the season five minutes before the break. The game remained scrappy but Hibs' midfielder Shiels should have grabbed his ninth goal of the season five minutes before the break.
Jones was allowed to latch onto a David Murphy free-kick and head the ball into a packed penalty area.Jones was allowed to latch onto a David Murphy free-kick and head the ball into a packed penalty area.
Shiels pounced as the Killie defence hesitated but lashed his right-footed shot high over the bar from six yards.Shiels pounced as the Killie defence hesitated but lashed his right-footed shot high over the bar from six yards.
Gary Hay's misdirected back header to keeper Alan Combe nearly cost Killie dearly on the stroke of half-time but Shiels again scooped the ball over the onrushing Combe.Gary Hay's misdirected back header to keeper Alan Combe nearly cost Killie dearly on the stroke of half-time but Shiels again scooped the ball over the onrushing Combe.
John Collins made two changes to his inexperienced side at half-time. Teenage striker Ross Campbell made way for Guillaume Beuzelin with Ivan Sproule replacing Kevin Thomson. John Collins made two changes to his inexperienced side at half-time. Teenage striker Ross Campbell made way for Guillaume Beuzelin with Sproule replacing Kevin Thomson.
Campbell was drafted into the Hibs side in place of injured top scorer Chris Killen but made little headway with the home defence.Campbell was drafted into the Hibs side in place of injured top scorer Chris Killen but made little headway with the home defence.
Collins' substitutions paid off almost instantly with Sproule firing Hibs into the lead on 51 minutes.Collins' substitutions paid off almost instantly with Sproule firing Hibs into the lead on 51 minutes.
The little Irish winger picked the ball up on the right-hand-side of Killie's box and, as the home defence backed off, he rifled a shot high beyond the flailing Combe.The little Irish winger picked the ball up on the right-hand-side of Killie's box and, as the home defence backed off, he rifled a shot high beyond the flailing Combe.
Kilmarnock became increasingly ragged as Hibs confidence grew and Steven Fletcher almost doubled the lead minutes later, heading just wide from a Lewis Stevenson cross with Combe stranded in no-man's land. Kilmarnock became increasingly ragged as Hibs confidence grew and Fletcher almost doubled the lead minutes later, heading just wide from a Lewis Stevenson cross with Combe stranded in no-man's land.
However, Sproule's direct running down the right flank continued to create havoc in the Killie defence and he forced Combe into a good save on the hour mark.However, Sproule's direct running down the right flank continued to create havoc in the Killie defence and he forced Combe into a good save on the hour mark.
Fletcher pounced on the loose ball but his shot flew over the bar.Fletcher pounced on the loose ball but his shot flew over the bar.
Stephen Whittaker came on for Shiels as Hibs attempted to consolidate control of the midfield.Stephen Whittaker came on for Shiels as Hibs attempted to consolidate control of the midfield.
Killie were dramatically reduced to ten men with 15 mins to go when Gary Wales picked up a second yellow card when he caught Whittaker with a mistimed lunge.Killie were dramatically reduced to ten men with 15 mins to go when Gary Wales picked up a second yellow card when he caught Whittaker with a mistimed lunge.
Stephen Fletcher sealed the win for Hibs with a cool finish three minutes from time after Stevenson's mazy run down the left.Stephen Fletcher sealed the win for Hibs with a cool finish three minutes from time after Stevenson's mazy run down the left.


Kilmarnock: Combe, Grant Murray, Hay, Frazer Wright, Ford,Fowler, Naismith, Johnston, Syila, Invincibile, Wales. Kilmarnock: Combe, Grant Murray, Hay, Frazer Wright, Ford, Fowler, Naismith, Johnston (Leven 79), Syila (Stephen Murray 65), Invincibile (Nish 52), Wales.Subs Not Used: Smith, Dodds, Adams, Campbell.
Subs: Smith, Nish, Dodds, Stephen Murray, Leven, Adams, Campbell. Sent Off: Wales (75).
Hibernian: McNeil, McCann, Murphy, Jones, Fletcher, Campbell,Scott Brown, Thomson, Hogg, Shiels, Stevenson. Booked: Naismith, Wales, Nish.
Subs: Simon Brown, Whittaker, Martis, Sproule, Beuzelin, Glass, Benjelloun. Hibernian: McNeil, McCann, Murphy, Jones, Fletcher, Campbell (Beuzelin 46), Scott Brown, Thomson (Sproule 46), Hogg, Shiels (Whittaker 66), Stevenson.Subs Not Used: Simon Brown, Martis, Glass, Benjelloun.
Referee: C Richmond (Scotland) Booked: Jones, Murphy, Stevenson, Scott Brown, McCann.
Goals: Sproule 51, Fletcher 87.
Att: 4,963.
Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).