Kilmarnock celebrate Colin Nish's first half header

Nish headed the home side in front on 36 minutes, glancing in an excellent delivery from Jamie Hamill.

With 15 minutes remaining, Taouil knocked in his first Kilmarnock goal, shooting home from a clever chipped cross from Nish.

Hibs were hugely disappointing and did not threaten until Dean Shiels converted a late penalty kick.

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The final few minutes saw the Edinburgh side stage a rally in a bid to find and equaliser but Kilmarnock were more than worthy winners.

The home team made a positive start and just 40 seconds had passed when a powerful shot from Taouil was parried by Hibs keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay.

Garry Hay then blazed a 20-yard free-kick narrowly over the top of the crossbar.

Hibs striker Clayton Donaldson was claiming a penalty after a challenge from Simon Ford but all he got for his protests was a yellow card from referee Mike McCurry.

Donaldson scored from two of three penalties awarded when Hibs beat Killie back in September but he was adjudged to have dived this time.

Hibs forward Merouane Zemmama twice showed nice touches to create shooting opportunities on the edge of the penalty area but dithered too long the first time and fired well wide with his second opportunity.

With game growing increasingly scrappy, Kilmarnock took the lead with a goal out of the blue.

Hamill raced away from the sluggish Patrick Noubissie and delivered a cross for the unmarked Nish to glance the ball across goal at the near post and in off the far upright.

Hibs introduced Shiels at half time in a bid to pep up what had been a dismal first 45 minutes for the visitors.

However, Killie were first to threaten after the interval, with Nish seeing his strike from 20 yards well saved by by Ma-Kalambay.

Taouil tried his luck with an acrobatic effort that was easily gathered by the tall Hibs keeper.

A shot from Craig Bryson whizzed inches wide of the target before the impressive Taouil doubled the Ayrshire side's advantage lashing in a volley from Nish's lofted pass.

Ross Chisholm immediately squandered a great chance to reduce the deficit, dragging a shot wide from 10 yards after good work from substitute Alan O'Brien.

Hibs won a penalty in the 89th minute when Hamill bundled into Shiels and the sub tucked it away for a late consolation.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Ford, O'Leary, Hay, Taouil (Johnston 88), Bryson (Locke 83), Hamill, Wales, Nish, Fernandez (Koudou 86). Subs Not Used: Harpur, Gibson, Clancy, Flannigan.

Goals: Nish 36, Taouil 75.

Hibernian: Ma-Kalambay, McCann (Gathuessi 90), Jones, Hogg, Noubissie (Shiels 46), Zemmama (O'Brien 72), Kerr, Beuzelin, Stevenson, Donaldson, Chisholm. Subs Not Used: McNeil, Morais, McCormack, Antoine-Curier.

Booked: Donaldson, Jones, Hogg.

Goal: Shiels 90 pen.

Att: 6,372

Ref: M McCurry