BBC SPORT | Football | Scot Prem | Hard work pays for Hibs

Hibernian 2-0 Kilmarnock

Hibs moved off the bottom of the Premier League table after after recording just their second win of the season against Kilmarnock at Easter Road.

Goals from Scotland under-21 stars Ian Murray and Tom McManus were enough to give Bobby Williamson three points against the team he left behind last season.

The home side made a blistering start to the game and both goals came in the first ten minutes as striker Francisco Luna tied Killie defenders in knots with his intelligent promptings.

The Ayrshire side battled their way back into the game in the second half but were denied by some stout defending and three wonderful saves from Nick Colgan.

After a rather stale opening, the home side took the lead with the game's first attack of note in the seventh minute.

Gary Smith's long free-kick found Luna on the corner of the six-yard box and he knocked the ball down for Murray to hook the ball over his shoulder and into the corner of the net.

Three minutes later Hibs doubled their advantage and Luna was again the provider with a delightful lobbed pass into the path of McManus who raced in on goal and poked the ball under Gordon Marshall's body.

Stevie Fulton and Tom McManus challenge
Hibs battled for every ball
Luna was in sparkling form and the Killie defence had no answer to his repertoire of clever touches. The Spaniard even had time to help out his own defenders and won several important headers in his own penalty box.

Luna tried his luck from 30 yards after a neat lay-off from McManus but his effort screwed wide of the post.

McManus had a glimpse of goal in the 34th minute but a sliding tackle from Alan Mahood denied the young striker the chance for a second goal.

Kilmarnock managed to assert themselves in the game for the final ten minutes of the first period but the visitors could not muster much in the way of serious attacks.

Jarkko Wiss, making just his second start for Hibs this season, warmed Marshall's fingers with a free kick early in the second half and McManus went close with a neat shot on the turn.

Colgan proved his worth with two stunning saves, firstly blocking a Freddie Dindeleux shot before denying Barry McLaughlin's rebounded effort as Killie pushed forward.

Hibs were defending fiercely and often frantically as the visitors increased the pressure but seldom got through the tough tackling Easter Road rearguard.

Boyd did squirm through in the 82nd minute but Colgan once again produced a great save to push away a fierce shot from close range.

It was not to be Boyd's day and the youngster saw his volley flash inches wide of the post in the final minute.


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