VAR will, once again, take centre stage after Kyle Vassell was sent off during a routine victory for fourth-placed Hibernian against relegation threatened Kilmarnock.
Kilmarnock made an enforced change from their win at Tannadice in the Scottish Cup, with Jordan Jones replacing the illegible Christian Doidge.
Hibs made a very strong start, without creating too much. Joe Wright made a crucial block to deny the hosts the opening goal after ten minutes. The home fans appealed for a penalty, as they felt Wright handled the ball. Referee John Beaton waved the appeals away, and VAR backed up his decision.
Just seven minutes later, Hibs took a deserved lead. Aiden McGeady whipped in a corner, and Will Fish headed past Sam Walker to open the scoring.
Kilmarnock failed to respond to the set-back, as they had done so many times away from home this season. Walker was called into action multiple times, as Hibs found, and exploited, gaps in the visitors’ defence.
Chris Stokes made a crucial sliding challenge to prevent Youan from drifting into the penalty area, before making a goal line clearance, to stop Hibs from making it 2-0. Disaster struck for Hibs as McGeady pulled up with an apparent hamstring strain and was substituted.
Killie got their best chance of the half as Chris Stokes headed goalwards from a cross, only to see it saved by David Marshall.
At half-time, Killie rung the changes. Three of them. Robinson, Taylor, and Polworth replaced Jones, Stokes, and Alston. This didn’t work.
Two minutes into the second half, Taylor attempted to clear the ball, it bounced off of Mayo’s face and into the path of Hoppe. The on-loan striker left Walker with no chance as he scored his first Hibs goal.
Kilmarnock played better in the second half, without creating much. Until Vassell saw red. The striker contested Cabraja for the ball. The latter wound up with a boot in his face. Initially, Beaton showed Vassell a yellow card, but, after a VAR review, changed to red. Kilmarnock will appeal the decision, becoming the fourth Scottish Premiership side to do this in two months.
Yet again, the ten men of Kilmarnock played better than with eleven. Robinson almost pulled one back as the clock passed the 90th minute, but Egan-Riley cleared it off the line, and Kilmarnock’s chances of a late fight-back were gone.
This win for Hibs, paired with a Livingston defeat, takes them up to fourth. The Cabbages are on a good run of form, now six games unbeaten. They have next weekend off, before travelling to Livingston.
Kilmarnock, meanwhile, remain tenth, courtesy of both Dundee United and Ross County losing. One win in the Premiership in 2023 means form needs to improve in the league. Away form especially, as they boast two draws and twelve losses in fourteen away games. Their last away league win came back in March 2022, against rivals Ayr United. Kilmarnock return to Rugby Park next Saturday to host fellow strugglers Motherwell in a must win match.
Comments