Hibs v Killie
Red-hot Martin’s on the Boyle
Jack Ross confirmed that Martin Boyle is a man of his word after revealing that the irrepressible forward had promised to put Kilmarnock to the sword.
The Hibernian head coach concedes that the Australia internationalist was not at his best during pre-season, failing to shine in their bounce games behind closed doors.
However, Boyle assured the Hibs staff that he would be ready to hit the ground running when the real action started – and kept his promise in scintillating style.
The waspish attacker bagged a brace in a stunning first period showing, capitalising on a Jake Eastwood error to break the deadlock before fizzing another low drive beyond the Killie keeper.
Chris Burke halved arrears on the cusp of the interval but Boyle’s man of the match display proved enough to keep the three points in the capital.
And Ross believes the former
Montrose and Dundee man still does not receive the credit he deserves for his all-round ability.
“By his own admission, Martin hasn’t felt like he’s been at his best in pre-season,” said the Easter Road boss. “But he assured us that he’d be right for the opening day. In fact, he told us he would score!
“He played in a slightly different role at the start of the game (as a striker) and then back to his more natural position on the wing – but wherever he plays on the pitch, he carries a threat because of that pace.
“He’s a much better player than a lot of people give him credit for. His all-round play is good, how he creates opportunities is excellent and I’m delighted he has got off to that start.”
Ross handed debuts to Drey Wright, Alex Gogic and £250,000 man Kevin Nisbet.
However, the most eyecatching selection came in the form of 18-year-old Josh Doig ahead of Lewis Stevenson at left wing-back.
Killie manager Alex Dyer, meanwhile, selected Eastwood ahead of Danny Rogers between the sticks in the battle between his new keepers.
Kilmarnock went on the attack as a wonderful delivery from Ross Millen narrow evaded both Kabamba and McKenzie at the back post.
However, it was Hibs who claimed the lead when Nisbet surged forward and slipped a fine pass to Boyle, who skipped around the onrushing Eastwood and coolly slotted into the net.
The young goalkeeper’s decision to rush from his goalmouth when the blistering Boyle was always going to win a foot-race was clearly an errant one.
Boyle gave Hibs a richlymerited second goal when he latched on to a Scott Allan pass, scampered into the box and fizzed a wonderful low drive past Eastwood.
Kilmarnock were handed a scarcely-deserved lifeline just before the interval when Burke lashed a thunderbolt of a freekick beyond Ofir Marciano from all of 30 yards.
Rogers replaced Eastwood at the break – due to an injury Dyer later confirmed – but it was Marciano at the other end who caught the eye.
He produced a wonderful instinctive save to keep Hibs’ lead intact when Paul Hanlon directed a super Greg Kiltie cross towards his own goal.
But Hibs held firm, displaying a resolve Ross was buoyed to see.
“The Burke goal before halftime changes the dynamic of the second half and we didn’t have any control of the game,” said Ross. “Kilmarnock were good and forced us back. They made us defend resolutely.”