Close call! Lee phones in as Hibs edge Killie
Jamie McAllister reckons recovering Hibs boss Lee Johnson popped a few stitches after watching his team make hard work of a 1-0 victory against 10-man Kilmarnock.
The home side were given the perfect start when Killie defender Ash Taylor was sent off for hauling down Martin Boyle after 10 minutes, with Joe Newell scoring on the rebound from the resulting free-kick.
But Hibs failed to add to their lead due to some poor finishing either side of the break.
That gave the Rugby Park outfit hope of snatching a point but Hibs held on.
Assistant McAllister, who stood in for Johnson after the Hibs boss underwent emergency gall bladder removal surgery in midweek, said: “I think he’s popped a few stitches.
“He was on the phone to (coach) David Gray constantly through the game so we were in constant contact.
“I think we had 25 shots on
goal and dominated but it was that quality in the final third that let us down.
“We should have been out of sight and should have managed the game better.
“It was a great three points, a good win and we’re still undefeated at home this season so you have to take the positives.
“We were always giving them a chance when we were 1-0 and they were throwing caution to the wind with 10 men, catching us on the counter.”
The home team started brightly and were quick to test Sam Walker. The Killie keeper did well to push Elie Youan’s shot behind for a corner before getting down to a Ewan Henderson drive.
But the game swung in Hibs’ favour when Kilmarnock defender Taylor was sent off. The centre-half scythed down Boyle on the edge of the area and referee John Beaton reached for the red card.
Newell’s initial effort from the dead-ball situation was repelled by Walker but the Hibs midfielder lashed a half-volley into the net on the rebound.
Nohan Kenneh then fired wide before Henderson was guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance in the 36th minute.
Chris Cadden fizzed a low pass across the six yard box but the midfielder poked the ball over the bar from six yards.
Boyle was also denied by
Walker before Killie defender Ryan Alebiosu made a superb last-ditch challenge to block a Henderson drive.
It was more of the same after the break although Killie began to look more threatening on the counter-attack.
Killie goalkeeper Walker was again called upon to palm a Ryan Porteous header over the bar from a Boyle cross.
Hibs handed a debut to Harry McKirdy in the 51st minute and the striker was keen to make an immediate impact but the £300,000 former Swindon man’s diving header flew over the bar.
Killie brought on Kyle Lafferty for Innes Cameron but the striker made an impact for the wrong reasons.
Ref Beaton needed to have words when the Northern Irishman tangled with Chris Cadden before then booking both Lafferty and Porteous for a coming together.
Momodou Bojang should have made the game safe in the first minute of injury-time after going clean through on goal but the sub’s tame left-footed shot was saved.
McAllister, meanwhile, insists new recruit McKirdy will only get better after getting a run out in the second period.
He added: “I thought he showed some flashes but I thought he found the tempo and intensity faster than what he thought.”