Source: FOOTYMAD
Kilmarnock 3 Hibs 1
Kilmarnock overcame the early setback and sent Hibs packing out of the Co-Operative Insurance Cup. Mixu Paatelainen heaped more misery on his former club as Kilmarnock moved into the next round of the Co-operative Insurance Cup, with the help of Jamie Hamill's double in a 3-1 win, at the expense of his former employers, Hibs. Two goals in three second-half minutes from Hamill and David Silva sent Paatelainen's Ayrshire side into the quarter-finals and killed any controversy over Willie Collum's decision to reverse a first-half penalty award for the hosts. Jonathan Grounds gave the visitors their regular early lead but Kilmarnock soon hit back to equalise through Hamill who scored on the rebound and the right-back later converted a penalty to continue a miserable run for the Easter Road side, who have now won just four times in 26 attempts. John Hughes had appealed to the Hibs fans to back the team after they were booed off following Saturday's home draw against Hamilton, and they were right behind their favourites in the eighth minute when Grounds netted. Kilmarnock charged down three attempted shots outside their box, but that left a gap brilliantly exploited by the composed Liam Miller, who laid the ball into the path of Grounds to fire into the far corner. After the breakthrough, Hibs remained on top and Derek Riordan released John Rankin with an excellent first-time pass, but the midfielder's first touch allowed Cammy Bell to come off his line and block. Kilmarnock finally came to life midway through the first half when Harry Forrester struck a powerful 25-yard strike, which Mark Brown pushed over. Grounds almost carved out a second goal when his diagonal ball found Colin Nish and, although the striker's touch got away from him, the ball fell to Edwin De Graaf who saw his low shot blocked by Bell from 12 yards. The on-loan Middlesbrough defender returned the ball and Nish looked set to score but he headed back across goal after Miller got in his way. Hibs breathed a collective sigh of relief in the 24th minute. Referee Collum instantly pointed to the spot when Sol Bamba went to ground and brought down Sammon as they chased a through ball. But, after a discussion with fourth official Bobby Madden and assistant Martin Cryans on the halfway line, the referee gave a corner. However, the reprieve lasted just five minutes. Sammon turned his man in the box after collecting Ben Gordon's low cross and Hamill slid the ball into the corner after Brown had saved well from the Irishman. Killie continued to improve but Alexei Eremenko twice fired well over from the edge of the box. Hibs started the second half well and appealed for a penalty when the grounded Hamill appeared to stop Riordan's effort with his hands. De Graaf then sliced wide of an open net from 10 yards after Bell had got down well to parry Riordan's deflected volley. Hibs continued to press and Bell saved from Nish after the striker had helped on Kevin McBride's header. The striker then had a header cleared off the line but Killie quickly broke following the corner to leave them with three on one. Sammon took out Michael Hart by slipping the ball inside for Craig Bryson, who only had Brown to beat, but his first touch was too heavy and the Hibs goalkeeper smothered. Kilmarnock soon hit Hibs on the break to better effect when Sammon released Forrester inside the box and he drew a foul from Francis Dickoh, who slid in needlessly. Hamill tucked the penalty into the corner and the hosts soon finished the tie in the 74th minute when Silva cut inside from the left wing and fired a low shot that Brown let in at his near post despite getting a hand to it.Kilmarnock: Bell, Wright, Sissoko, (Kelly 77) Gordon, Bryson, Hamill, Silva (Invincibile 79), Pascali, yellow card Sammon, Forrester, Eremenko (Clancy 86)Subs not used: Letheren, Rui MiguelGoals Hamill (2), SilvaBooked: Sissoko, Gordon, Pascalli, EremenkoHibs: Brown, Hart, Grounds, Dickoh, Bamba (Hanlon 78), De Graaf (Galbraith 80), Rankin (Wotherspoon 80), McBride, Miller, Nish, RiordanSubs not used: Smith, Trakys Goal: GroundsBooked: Grounds, Bamba Attendance: 4,074Referee: Collum Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is ScottishFitba Net
