Frustration as Hibs, Killie draw a blank

● Easter Road side miss the chance to go above Hearts ahead of derby

Kilmarnock did enough to hold onto third place but Hibernian passed up the opportunity to move ahead of derby foes Hearts as this fixture failed to serve up its usual glut of goals.

The intention was there but, with both defences on top, it was the first 0-0 between these two since 2001.

The Hibs and Kilmarnock managers each made one change to the teams that earned them three points against Livingston and Hamilton, respectively, at the weekend, with the home side moving Mark Milligan back into the backline in place of Darren Mcgregor and bringing Vykintas Slivka in to fill the midfield void.

With three games in eight days culminating in a trip across the city for the capital derby on Saturday it was probably felt too packed a schedule for Mcgregor and his body to negotiate optimally, with the regular centreback better utilised against Hearts.

Kilmarnock also decided to rest their veteran, leaving strikerkrisboydonthebench for the first half, rejigging the formation and bringing Rangers-bound Jordan Jones back into the starting line-up. But with things still at stalemate, they reassessed that decision at the interval and sent the experienced former Scotland international on to try to break the deadlock.

But this was a game that did not want to shake a goal free and, looking to liven up his formation, Hibernian manager Paul Heckingbottom also relented and sent on Mcgregor, pictured, so he could free up Milligan to move into the middle of the park and swap to two up front.

The two sides were packed with creativity and attacking options and the exploratory forays forward were frequent as they took it in turn to charge at the opposition defence, looking for openings.

But there was so much at stake, and while they poked and prodded, there was an element of caution in the attacks as they both battled to protect their defence. With games running out, third placed-killie still have their sights set on trying to peg back Rangers and finish a remarkable season in second place. For Hibernian, the task was two-fold. They wanted to secure a top six finish and also sought the win to leapfrog rivals Hearts, and swagger into Saturday’s head-to-head above them. They achieved the first part, but not the second.

But if there was plenty of end-to-end action, real opportunities proved elusive as both sides struggled to find the required cutting edge.

Recent meetings between this pair had been goal gluts but there was little goalmouth action of note in the opening 45 minutes, as Aaron Tshibola shot over in the 24th minute for the visitors and the goalkeepers served as spectators.

Eventually, a dynamic intervention from Stephane Omeonga saw Hibs burst free from deep inside their own half when the Belgian Under-21 midfielder got the better of Youssouf Mulumbu and sparked a sweeping passing move up the pitch. But when Daryl Horgan was played in, Killie goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann was equal to his shot.

Marciano was to play his part in keeping the guests at bay in the 43rd minute when a Rory Mckenzie free-kick was met by Kirk Broadfoot but the defender’s downward, header was parried by Hibs’ Israeli keeper.

In the 51st minute Stevie Mallan had a dig from distance but Bachmann held it comfortably and, with Killie beginning to gain the upperhand, it was down to Marciano to keep them at bay, sparing team-mate Paul Hanlon’s blushes in the process. In the 56th minute the Hibs captain was slack with a pass, allowing Jones to pounce but as he closed in, Marciano was quick off his line and produced a great one-handed save.

Killie manager Steve Clarke, lookingforthewinthatwould maintain the gap between themselves and third-placed 2 Hibernian’s Stephane Omeonga tries to dispossess Kilmarnock midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu during last night’s goalless draw at Easter Road. Aberdeen, made a double switch and the most notable party was Chris Burke, who won a corner almost immediately. He picked out Broadfoot with his delivery but when his header dropped to Boyd, the striker sent his close range effort wide.

Burke caused more problems in the 84th minute when another corner was zipped into the box and bounced off Boyd but again Marciano was in the right place to get down behind it and prevent Killie leaving Leith with anything more than a point.