A resurgent Hibernian made it four wins in a row for the first time since October 2022 as Nektar Triantis’ first-half header was enough to secure a 1-0 win over 10-man Kilmarnock.
The on-loan Sunderland midfielder scored his first goal for the Hibees in the 25th minute, before Killie’s hopes of keeping their own mini-renaissance alive were dashed just after the hour when Danny Armstrong picked up a second yellow card to make it their eighth player: send this term.
Hibs, who topped the William Hill Premiership earlier this month, are now 10 points clear of bottom-placed St Johnstone and are three points off the top six after winning five of their last six.
Manager David Gray made two changes to the side that started the Boxing Day win over city rivals Hearts as Warren O’Hora and Eli Ewan, both nurses, were replaced by Lewis Miller and Junior Hoilett.
Killie, who had not won at Easter Road since May 2014 when both teams were fighting to avoid the play-offs, named the same XI that started in Thursday’s 4-0 demolition of Aberdeen.
Hibs should have taken the lead in the 11th minute but Hoilett missed from six yards when Martin Boyle delivered a dangerous low pass from the right.
At the other end, Killie forwards Bobby Wells and Kyle Vassell both saw shots saved by goalkeeper Jordan Smith, getting in behind the home defence.
The home side went close in the 24th minute when Nicky Cadden saw a powerful shot from eight yards deflected just wide of the post.From a corner taken by Cadden, Triantis rose to head home at the near post to give Hibs the lead.
Killie suffered another setback just after the half-hour when influential defender Joe Wright went off injured and was replaced by Robbie Dees.
Hibs lost a key player when captain Joe Newell, recently sidelined through injury, was substituted early in the second half.
Killie piled on the pressure early in the second period but it was Hibs who came close to doubling their lead on the hour when Miller’s powerful shot was saved by Robbie McCrory and then Rocky Bushire failed to turn the ball home from close range as Hoilett drilled it back into the net.
The visitors’ hopes of an equalizer were dashed in the 63rd minute, however, when Armstrong was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Jack Iredale as he tried to get onto the rebound after Smith blocked Fraser Murray’s shot on the edge of the six-yard box, and Hibs properly held tight.
