Ex-Jambos Gary McSwegan and Steve
Fulton struck for Kilmarnock to sink Hibernian 2-1 at Rugby Park.
It is learned after today's match that Gary
McSwegan has done enough to earn himself an extension to his contract that
will keep him at Killie till the season's end!
Hibs contributed little to the afternoon's
entertainment until they conceded the opening goal but drew level through
substitute Paco Luna.
Both sides took some time to warm to the game and
it was only midway through the half that the game sparked into life.
It was Killie who looked most likely to deliver
the goods and they came close when Peter Canero unleashed the shot from
the corner of the 18-yard box.
But the effort took a deflection off Hibs
midfielder John O'Neil and was easily scooped up by goalkeeper Nick Colgan.
The home side were threatening again after 26
minutes when McSwegan burst down the right flank, with Andy McLaren
screaming for the ball in the middle as he surged into the box.
McSwegan dutifully supplied the cross but McLaren
made the mistake of trying to control the ball - instead of firing with
his first touch - and Colgan pounced off his line to block.
A few minutes later, Killie were unlucky when
Fulton played the ball into the path of Canero and his cross was met by
McSwegan only for the former Hearts star to watch in agony as his header
crashed off the crossbar.
Five minutes before the break, Alan Mahood picked
out McLaren who looked set to open the scoring with a diving header.
But the Hibs goalkeeper managed to produce a good
save to deny the home side.
Neither side opted to make any changes during the
interval but, as the second half got underway, Kilmarnock appeared to have
lost some of their momentum.
They still looked the stronger side, and enjoyed
most of the possession after the re-start but chances in front of goal
were not as forthcoming.
They did manage to put Hibs under pressure after
53 minutes when James Fowler flighted a cross into the box but McSwegan's
volley was well wide of the post.
McLaren had another decent opportunity when he
managed to outpace Yannick Zambernardi and made it all the way to the
six-yard line only to screw the ball wide of the post.
The breakthrough eventually came when Craig Dargo
supplied the cross from the right which was met by a great volley from
Gary McSwegan 15 yards out after 63 minutes.
Hibs had the chance to draw level a few minutes
later when Jarkko Wiss' corner was knocked down by Derek Townsley into the
path of Mixu Paatelainen but he fired wide.
With 15 minutes remaining, Hibs squandered a
great chance to pull themselves back into the game.
Townsley burst down the right wing before
squaring the ball into the path of O'Neil just eight yards out but he
somehow managed to pull the shot wide.
But substitute Francisco Luna was more successful
in the 83rd minute.
Ian Murray's deep cross was met by the Spaniard
at the back post and he managed to loop a header over Gordon Marshall.
But their joy was short-lived when Killie surged
back!
James Fowler wasted a great chance to put Killie
back in front when he was one-on-one with Colgan and shot straight at the
Irish keeper.
Ally Mitchell played the ball through and Shaun
Dillon touched onto Stevie Fulton who controlled the ball on his
chest near the penalty spot and then drove a volley past the diving Colgan
in the 87th minute.
Both sides are now level on points in the league
table with 29 points from 21 games.
Attendance: 5,814
Kilmarnock: Marshall, Fowler, Innes,
Shields, Dillon, Canero, Mahood, Fulton, McLaren (Boyd 83), Dargo
(Mitchell 81), McSwegan (Hay 90).
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Murray.
Booked: Innes, Fulton.
