LIFE’S A BEACH & THEN YOU FRY
Hibs look like they’re on holiday as Killie put them to the sword
KILMARNOCK handled the pressure to move back into pole position to claim a European place going into the last game of the season.
But they weren’t half helped by a Hibs team that should have been wearing flip flops because mentally they were already on the beach. And got sand kicked in their face.
Their performance was so poor that boss Paul Heckingbottom hooked more than a quarter of the team in one go just after an hour and although the triple substitution injected a bit more urgency, this display was still a slap in the face for the 1510 Hibees fans who turned up.
Don’t let the scoreline mislead. A win from a first-half Eamonn Brophy penalty makes this one sound close but Kilmarnock – who weren’t great – were still miles ahead of their opponents.
Steve Clarke’s men had to win the game to wrestle back third place from Aberdeen in the race for an automatic Europa League qualifying spot and having done so, they now have to match the Dons’ result next week.
That might not be so easy. They’ve got Rangers and unfortunately for Killie, Aberdeen have got Hibs and unless there’s a massive improvement in attitude from Heckingbottom’s team, that’s one the Reds should win.
But all Clarke’s team can do is worry about their own business and they took care of it professionally on Saturday in front of a top crowd of just under 7500.
Clarke has brought the good times back to this corner of Ayrshire, and although the nerves kicked in from the stands in the dying minutes as Hibs threatened to steal a point with a late rally, the vast majority of the crowd went home happy.
Defender Alex Bruce, who didn’t give Florian Kamberi and Marc McNulty a sniff and won the penalty, is in no doubt his team will be up for the task and paid tribute to the strides his club has been making even before he arrived in January.
The veteran said: “The aim is to finish the job next week. It will be a tough match against Rangers next weekend.
“We know that from our previous encounters this season.
“I’ve had loads of tussles with Jermain Defoe down south. It will be dead easy! No, I’m kidding he’s a great player and it will be tough.
“We will have to approach it right and fingers crossed we can match Aberdeen’s result and get into Europe.
“We have done well against them in the league this season, especially at Rugby Park. It’s one the supporters are looking forward to. Let’s hope we can get them the result.
“I’d like to think the Kilmarnock fans will pack the place out given it’s the last game of the season and there’s a lot at stake. Rangers won’t have the two ends behind the goal. Hopefully it’s a big day out for the supporters and we can give them something to shout about.
“Making Europe would be a massive achievement when you think back to where the team was when the manager took over and where the team is now.
“He has done a remarkable job and it’s credit to the players. I’ve only been here since January but even before that people were looking at the table and saying: ‘bloody hell, Kilmarnock are doing well’.
“When I came up in January we beat Rangers 2-1 here and our performance was great that day.”
Bruce is relishing being involved at the business end of the campaign after making a slow start to life in Scotland.
He said: “I picked up a back injury early on. Maybe I was getting used to the pitch. You get injured a lot more at my age.
“It took a bit of getting used to but I’m used to it now and touch wood I’m injuryfree and I’ve got games under my belt.”
Kilmarnock were sharper and brighter all over the pitch but the standout player was another veteran, Chris Burke, who never stopped running and asking questions of the Hibs back four.
His corner in the 32nd minute led to the penalty award with ref Andrew Dallas judging that David Gray had wrestled Bruce to the ground.
Brophy made no mistake from the spot and should’ve calmed nerves by adding a second just after the break when he was sprung in behind the defence by a superb Yousouf Mulumbu pass.
Brophy was clean through but dragged his shot wide. Ultimately, though, it didn’t matter. The Killie dream is still alive.
As for Hibs, next week’s teamsheet will be interesting. The back four did fine and their keeper was superb. The rest of the starting 11 should be worried.