Kilmarnock 1 Hibs 1
Former Hibee Fraser Murray struck a stoppage-time equaliser for Kilmarnock as we were forced to settle for a share of the spoils this afternoon at BBSP Stadium Rugby Park.
The draw extends our unbeaten run in the William Hill Premiership to 14 games, however this was certainly a case of two points dropped.
Martin Boyle put us ahead midway through the first half following a superb counter-attack that ripped Kilmarnock wide open.
We then had plenty of opportunity to extend our advantage, but were made to pay in the dying moments when Murray popped up to haunt his former side.
David Gray made three changes to the side that exited the Scottish Cup last weekend at the hands of Celtic.
Junior Hoilett, Jordan Obita and Dylan Levitt all returned to the starting Xi with Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Josh Campbell dropping to the bench.
Nicky Cadden missed out altogether through injury however we were able to welcome back Alasana Manneh, who was named amongst the substitutes.
We were backed by another big, noisy support from Edinburgh as the sunshine bathed the playing surface in Ayrshire.
The hosts started the brighter of the two teams and we had to weather an early bout of pressure with Bobby Wales inches away from getting on the end of Danny Armstrong’s low cross that flashed along the face of our goal.
Marley Watkins saw an angled drive deflected wide of the far post by Jack Iredale before Jordan Smith saved Joe Wright’s header from the resultant corner kick.
In the 23rd minute, we almost opened the scoring. Hoilett dropped his shoulder on the edge of the Kilmarnock box and his rising effort flew past the diving Robbie McCrorie only to clip the roof of the net as it finished just over the crossbar.
Two minutes later we had the breakthrough, and it came following a clinical counter-attack after a Kilmarnock corner kick.
Matty Kennedy attempted to find Armstong on the edge of our box only for Hoilett to intercept; that allowed Levitt to drive forward before slipping the ball to Boyle, who fired under McCrorie for his 14th goal of the season.
We continued to control the game and open Killie up with our pace and incisive passing.
On 34 minutes Boyle and Hoilett linked up on the left to get into the Kilmarnock penalty box and the latter’s cut back was perfect for a shot at goal from Kieron Bowie, however a complete miscue from the striker allowed the home side to thump the ball clear.
We finished the first half strong and penned Killie back with Bowie glancing a header wide from Obita’s floated free kick, Rocky having an effort blocked and Nectar Triantis volleying just wide of goal.
Neither side made any changes during the interval, and we were soon back on the attack with Boyle driving forward, chopping inside Wright and forcing McCrorie into a save down to his left.
Moments later we allowed a long throw from Armstrong to bounce inside our box and we were fortunate Wales didn’t get much connection on his snapshot as Smith gathered comfortably.
On 52 minutes we had a big chance to increase our lead when Robbie Deas missed Lewis Miller’s cross and the ball found it’s way to Hoilett, who hadn’t anticipated it reaching him and was unable to take advantage of the mistake.
Chances continued to come our way with Obita’s cross into the front post flicked on by Boyle and Ndaba did well to deflect it wide.
From the corner kick we kept it alive after it was partially cleared and from Boyle’s cut back Levitt’s powerful effort fizzed just wide.
Levitt was involved again moments later when he picked out Nectar Triantis, who did well to evade a challenge before forcing McCrorie into another save.
We missed another opening with 21 minutes remaining as Boyle’s free kick into the front post saw Dwight Gayle flash an effort just wide of goal.
Having somehow not fallen further behind, Kilmarnock introduced several substitutes, and they had a chance to level when the ball dropped to Wales on the edge of our area only for his tame effort to be saved by Smith.
The hosts did have the ball in the back of our net with 12 minutes remaining when Anderson latched onto Ndaba’s through ball before slotting it past Smith, however the striker had gone too soon and was clearly offside.
Unfortunately, we were unable to hang on in the dying moments of the game, and in the 92nd minute Kilmarnock levelled when Liam Polworth’s cross was nodded down by Wright and Murray volleyed in from close range.