HOPPE DAYS FOR LEE AT HIBS
Matt off the mark as revival gathers pace
Hibs boss Lee Johnson saluted his side’s professionalism as they swept 10- man Kilmarnock aside to go fourth in the table.
A thumping header from Will Fish seized the initiative for the Easter Road men early on as they eased to a sixth league game without defeat.
A strike just a minute into the second half from sub Mat t hew Hoppe gave Johnson’s men a cushion.
And a straight red card for striker Kyle Vassell in the 66th minute after the intervention of VAR following a high boot on Marijan Cabraja crushed Kilmarnock’s hopes.
Johnson claims Hibs are a team in transition but he reckons the clean sheet – their third in four games – is proof they are on the up.
He said: “I was delighted with a very professional performance throughout.
“First h a l f we were fluid, with lovely combination play.
I was disappointed not to be more than a goal up and that became the half-time conversation, the second-half threat.
“We limited them to not many opportunities and had a fair few ourselves. We still defended well. I know there were a couple sort of cleared off the line – the clean sheets are so important.
“Six, seven weeks ago we were conceding three a game. A lot of work and a few signings has enabled us to keep more clean sheets. It’s a team still in transition. They’ve got t o put on performances like that at home. “I really enj o y e d it from a tactical point of v iew – c red i t to t he boy s for that.” VAR was involved for the first time in the 10th minute when Hibs appealed for a handball as Cabraja’s shot was blocked.
At the other end, David Marshall denied defender Chris Stokes’ headed effort.
Hibs snatched the lead after just 15 minutes with a simple goal. Aiden McGeady, who looks set for another spell out af ter going off w ith a hamstring injury, swept in a corner and Fish leapt highest to thump in a header.
Johnson added of Fish: “He’s got everything, if you could build a centre half you’d build a Will Fish.”
Vassell wasted a chance to haul Killie level in the 26th minute when he could not get enough on a Jordan Jones free-kick. And the rest of the first half belonged to Hibs.
Killie keeper Sam Walker beat away an Elie Youan drive and Youan was frustrated again when Chris Cadden overhit a low cross on the break with the Frenchman preparing for an easy tap-in.
Ewan Henderson was next to threaten after seizing the ball inside the Killie half but Walker was equal to it.
The Rugby Park No.1 was finally beaten by Henderson’s close- range shot but Joe Wright cleared off the line.
Ki l lie manager Derek McInnes made a hat-trick of hal f- time substitutes to inspire a comeback. But Hibs doubled their advantage in the 47th minute.
Cadden and Henderson combined to find Jimmy Jeggo bursting into the box and Hibs then benefited from a huge slice of luck when an attempted clearance rebounded back into the six-yard box.
Hoppe was on hand to gleefully hammer in his first goal for the club from pointblank range. Killie continued to look for a way back into the match but Vassell’s red card left them with an uphill task.
Hoppe twice came close to adding a third and when CJ Egan- Riley cleared a Scott Robinson shot off the line in the 90th minute, Killie were denied a grandstand finish.