Boyle outstanding, says Lennon

Hibernian head coach Neil Lennon thought former Dundee attacker Martin Boyle was “outstanding” in his side’s 2-0 triumph over Partick Thistle.

Boyle, thriving in an unfamiliar wing-back berth, finally breached the Jags’ stubborn resistance on Saturday when his explosive surge forward and pinpoint delivery teed up Jamie Maclaren to break the deadlock with 19 minutes left.

A Paul Hanlon header subsequently put the contest to bed as Thistle, who saw Daniel Devine sent off after receiving a second yellow card for hauling down Florian Kamberi after 86 minutes, slumped to an eighth match without victory in all competitions.

Hibs, meanwhile, could move to within one point of second-placed Rangers with a win over Hamilton tomorrow night.

Lennon said: “The difference against Partick Thistle was Martin Boyle. He was outstanding, pace, quality and only he could have caught the ball and delivered that cross for the first goal. Up until then, the game could have gone either way.

“Now we look to Hamilton. It would be huge to get within one point of Rangers and Aberdeen if we won on Tuesday.

“All we can do is apply pressure on the teams above us.”

Thistle boss Alan Archibald praised his side’s response after recovering from their meek 3-0 defeat against Hearts with a hugely improved showing at Easter Road.

And he has demanded a similar level of performance when the Jags face bottom side Ross County– three points below them – in a pivotal clash tomorrow night.

Two first-half strikes from Lee Erwin and Stephen O’Donnell were enough for Kilmarnock as they kept up their remarkable home record with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Hamilton.

The win, Killie’s eighth in the last nine league games at Rugby Park, keeps them in pole position to finish fifth.