Colin Murdock scored his first Hibs goal

Hibs put their recent poor home form and the speculation surrounding the future of boss Bobby Williamson behind them to pick up maximum points against Kilmarnock.

First half goals from Colin Murdock and Derek Riordan put the Easter Road side in the driving seat.

But Kilmarnock hit back strongly and home keeper Daniel Andersson made a string of impressive saves before he was eventually beaten by Colin Nish.

With Killie throwing everyone forward in the closing stages, Hibs wrapped up the points with a Garry O'Connor breakaway goal in the last minute.

Tam McManus was given a rare start for the home side and the under 21 international was looking hungry and enthusiastic from a position wide on the right.

Williamson keen on Hibs stay

McManus was prompting most of the early attacks and it was his 13th minute corner that led to the opening goal.

The in-swinging delivery from the left was met by Garry O'Connor and after the striker's shot was blocked Murdock was on hand to slam the ball into the net from close range.

It was a sweet moment for the summer signing from Preston, who has been a recent target for abuse from frustrated fans.

The home side doubled their lead in the 16th minute when Riordan picked up a threaded pass from Stephen Glass inside the Kilmarnock box, spun round the challenge of Freddie Dindeleux and poked the ball through the legs of Francois Dubourdeau from six yards.

Hibs were knocking the ball around well but almost gifted Kilmarnock a lifeline in the 25th minute when James Fowler found room in the area but he blasted the ball over the bar from a good position.

Six minutes later, Hibs keeper Daniel Andersson was called into action to push away a thumping 25 yard free kick from Kris Boyd.

And a powerful Greer header from a Stevie Fulton corner on the right was well saved at the expense of another corner by the alert Andersson.

But the home side were still dangerous and, in the 40th minute, a tremendous Riordan volley from a Glass cross on the right was brilliantly blocked by Killie keeper Dubourdeau.

On the stroke of haf time Boyd missed a sitter for Kilmarnock when he turned the ball round the post from only a yard out after good work on the right by Danny Invincibile.

Garry O'Connor (right) scored late in the game

Kilmarnock started the second half brightly and should have scored in the 49th minute when, after a fine pass by Invincibile, substitute Gary McDonald was through on goal with only Andersson to beat.

But his shot from 10 yards was saved by the impressive Swedish keeper.

Hibs could not rediscover the crisp passing that marked their early play and Kilmarnock were looking increasingly dangerous as the game wore on.

Kilmarnock threw on substitutes Nish and Stephen Murray and the pair combined to haul Kilmarnock back into the game in the 80th minute.

Murray, who had seen Andersson save his earlier stinging shot, headed a deep cross back across the face of the goal for Nish to bundle the ball over the line from close range.

The visitors were piling forward in search of an equaliser when Hibs broke away in the final minute and O'Connor slipped the ball under the advancing Dubourdeau.

Hibernian: Andersson, Orman, Doumbe, Murdock, Edge, Brebner, Murray, Glass, McManus, O'Connor, Riordan. Subs: Hyldgaard, Whittaker, Reid, Dobbie, Thomson.

Kilmarnock: Dubourdeau, Shields, Greer, Dindeleux, Fowler, Dillon, Fulton, Dodds, McSwegan, Boyd, Invincibile. Subs: Meldrum, Hessey, McDonald, Murray, Nish.

Referee: J Underhill