Killie visit Easter Road on Saturday knowing a draw will be enough to secure their Premiership status and thus leave Hibs staring into the abyss of a play off against Hamilton, Falkirk or Queen of the South.
The Hibees are in freefall with one win in 18 so what are the odds they can surprise even their most ardent fans and notch up only their third league victory this year?
Last meeting at Easter Road
Kilmarnock travelled to the capital looking to complete an Edinburgh double after defeating Hearts a few days previous but succumbed to a 3-0 defeat as the Hibees ran riot on an afternoon where the home side paid tribute to tragic under 20’s starlet David Paul.
Goals from centre half Paul Hanlon, Paul Cairney and Lewis Stevenson wrapped up the points in perhaps Hibs best performance to date under Terry Butcher.
Vocal Support
Whenever the side have been backed vocally in recent matches against Killie they’ve prevailed.
A fine Scottish Cup tie at Rugby Park saw Hibs run out 4-2 victors back in March last year and the backing from more than 3000 fans provided an added edge to the players especially after the home side had twice came back from a goal behind to level proceedings.
Also, who can forget the 2007 CIS Cup Final against Saturdays opponents when nearly 40,000 supporters backed the side to a 5-1 victory.
Undefeated Against Kilmarnock
Remarkably Hibs are undefeated in their past eight encounters against the Rugby Park outfit with the last defeat against them back in April 2012.
Since then Hibs have won five and drawn 3 of the matches.
Full list :
22/02/2014 Away D 1-1
29/12/2013 Home W 3-0
24/08/2013 Away W 2-1
15/05/2013 Away W 3-1
03/03/2013 Away W 4-2
27/02/2013 Home D 2-2
23/12/2012 Away D 1-1
15/09/2012 Home W 2-1
Allan Johnstone
The Kilmarnock boss just doesn’t seem very good and was the subject of both verbal and visual taunts from his own supporters at Tynecastle last week.
Made six changes to the side in midweek though to secure a 1-0 win over already safe St Mirren.
If Hibs can score early doors the pressure could show on the novice manager.
This run has to end sometime
Even if it’s with a fluke or an offside goal, the disastrous run of form which has failed to yield a league victory since February surely has to end sometime and Saturday is a good place for it to be banished from memory.
The players are certainly giving the effort but need a little more luck on the park and boy do they need it more than ever.
A lucky 1-0 will do fine, a marvellous 4-0 even better.
Vital Hibernian is now available on both facebook and twitter, so if you are that way inclined please give us a follow or a like!
Vital Hibernian on:
Vital Hibernian on:
Join Vital Hibernian
It’s easy to REGISTER HERE, simply click the link and enjoy getting involved!
