This is how it feels (Kilmarnock 30 11 19)

As Greavsie used to say, ‘It’s a funny old game’ and there was a perfect example of his reasoning in today’s 2 -2 draw at Easter Road. Following a first 45 minutes that was as good as I’ve seen Hibs play in a long, long time we still managed to throw away victory due to a last minute strike from Kilmarnock. That late goal meant that Hibs have now dropped a possible 14 points this season due to not being able to see out a game from a winning position. It’s all ifs and buts I know but had we won those 14 points we’d be sitting comfortably in third place.

It was bitterly cold and there seemed to be a few little patches of surface ice on the pitch and I wondered if Hibs had watered the surface and that had created those patches. As it turned out, those patches caused no difficulty to the players and might have melted with Hibs turning in a red hot 45 minutes playing towards the Dunbar end. Not since the days of Mowbray and then Collins have I witnessed a Hibs that put so much effort into winning the ball back. Killie players were given no time to think with Hallberg and Slivka in particular winning back the ball in midfield.

The visiting defenders were worked very hard in the opening half as Hibs swarmed around the penalty area creating half chances and making Branescu earn his corn between the posts. There was some quite glorious combination play and the Killie keeper had to be on his toes on numerous occasions as Kamberi, Newell and Doidge tested his ability.

Given the fine play on display it was quite ironic that the Hibs opener was not a thing of great beauty. Out on the left, Scott Allan sent in a high floating cross which the Killie defenders decided to let Branescu deal with but Christian Doidge had different ideas and as the ball dropped out of the sky the Killie man failed to see the Hibs striker ghost in to reach the ball first and send it high into the air before it dropped down over the line, much to the delight of the home support.

It was all Hibs and Hallberg earned the gasps of the crowd as his strike flew just wide and then Newell delivered a fine ball down the right channel which Doidge reached first. He skipped round the challenge of Bruce but his fierce drive was right at the keeper. Kamberi had gotten himself into the box but was not picked out but who can blame an in form striker for having a go? At the other end, Maxwell was a virtual spectator but had to react smartly when Sow finally managed a shot on goal.

It was obvious from the off in the second half that Killie were going to play a good ten or fifteen yards further up the pitch than they had done in the first half. That stopped Hibs from unchallenged building from the back and the home side had an early scare when McKenzie hit an effort straight at Maxwell. Not too long after that the home side doubled its lead and the goal came from some fantastic interplay that started wide on the left. Stevenson and Newall battled for possession and the ball then reached Scott Allan who played a one two with Doidge before running diagonally towards the Killie goal. He then slid the ball into the path of the advancing Slivka who timed his pass to perfection to find Naismith on the wide right of the box. Only Jason knows whether he meant to do what he did but his rocket shot flew into the top of the net before Branescu could move.

This further setback seemed to galvanise Killie into trying to create some chances of their own and a long range O’Donnell effort flew just over the bar before McKenzie got in a close range but was thwarted by a fine block by Maxwell. At this point, Killie decided to make some changes by replacing the ineffective McKenzie and even more ineffective Sow with Jackson and the speedy Liam Miller. Soon they began to dominate possession and Hibs’ reaction to the changes was to replace a tiring Scott Allan with Stevie Mallan. Unfortunately for the Hibs substitute he’d only been on the park for about a minute when Killie pulled a goal back. A bog standard corner saw a Killie man leap to head the ball towards goal. Doidge was covering that post and had to stoop to block the effort but the ball pinged off his chest to Alex Bruce who rifled a shot home from close range.

Hibs were not getting forward quickly or often enough and so Jack Ross replaced first Kamberi and then Newell with Boyle and Horgan. It worked for a while as both Mallan and Boyle brought out the best in Branescu but for the most part it was the visitors that looked more likely to score.

With the stadium clock showing 86 minutes the fourth official held up the board indicating there would be three minutes of additional time. It was bizarre and caused much confusion in the stands but meanwhile on the park Hibs pressed forward and only poor final passes stopped them getting through on goal. In one such instance, Horgan galloped free on the left, nipped past his marker and reached the bye line but with team mates around the edge of the box he inexplicably hoisted a shocking left foot cross which landed about thirty yards from goal and gifted Killie possession.

At the other end, Burke missed a sitter at the back post and then Miller sliced wide from a good position. We then had another announcement, correcting the earlier one that there would be three additional minutes and during those minutes Hibs showed some incredible naivety in charging forward and trying world beater passes when in truth the man in possession should have been heading for the corner flag to wind down the clock. Instead they conceded a free kick about thirty yards from the home goal and out on the Killie left. The ball was delivered in and a half clearance fell to Bruce on the left side of Hibs’ area. The defender took a touch before firing a low cross into the six yard box with Del Fabro first to react to stab the ball home. It was a sickening but all too familiar way for a Hibs game to end and end it did the moment the kick off was taken.

I accept that we threw away two points and I accept that we miserably failed to close out a game we were winning but there were many positives to take from the performance, especially in the first half. I feel sure now that Jack Ross has witnessed this scenario for himself that he’ll be working on that with the players before a tricky visit to Dingwall on Wednesday night.

The players

Maxwell – Chris made a couple of good saves but stood little chance with either goal. I fancy he might earn a few more bookings in the weeks ahead because he is anything but subtle about his time wasting.

Naismith – I’ve heard it said he has no pace but I didn’t once find him lacking in pursuing the speedy Rory McKenzie. Given that the Killie man was subbed I think that evidenced that he was being prevented from making positive contributions. Oh and that goal! Don’t know and don’t care if he meant it.

Porteous – For the most part he did his job very well but he’s still prone to the odd daft mistake which may well cost us if capitalised on.

Hanlon – A huge and important part of Paul’s game is his reading of situations and today he displayed that to good effect on numerous occasions.

Stevenson – Kept an in form Chris Burke quiet for the most part and was effective going forward and linking with Newell and Kamberi.

Slivka – I think I can pretty much sum up his offering as probably the best I’ve seen from him in a Hibs shirt. He was quite brilliant, especially in the first half and I echo the sponsors’ choice in awarding him my man of the match award.

Allan – I love Scotty and there’s no doubt he’s a top player but he needs to accept that every pass doesn’t need to be a ‘worldy’ as many of his efforts failed to meet their target today. Ironically, a bog standard pass to Slivka played a key part in the second goal for Hibs.

Hallberg – Getting better every game in my view. One gripe I have is that his foul that created the free kick from which Killie equalised was unnecessary as Porteous was there to halt the Killie player legally.

Newell – I think we’re seeing a player begin to flourish and long may it continue.

Kamberi – Worked hard enough but nothing really came off for him today. When Doidge rose to knock down a cross inside their box I was delighted that Flo had read the situation but his bullet shot was straight at the keeper.

Doidge – Another game, another goal and yet another tireless performance from the big fella. I said to my mate today that Doidge might not score screamers into the top corner but as long as he’s scoring he’ll do for me.

Mallan – Offered Branescu a stiff test with a fine free kick that the keeper had to dive full stretch to reach but I’m afraid to say that Stevie was one of those players who might have used his game playing experience more wisely as the clock ran down.

Boyle – Looked to be right up for it and on a few occasions had Killie defenders chasing shadows but I felt he played a huge part in us losing that late goal. As the Killie man was readying to take it, Hamalainen was free on the left but Boyler simply pointed at him, rather than going to mark him. Hamalainen was promptly given the ball and had all the time in the world to provide the cross that led to the equaliser.

Horgan – Offered little or nothing and that late run and cross to the byeline was woeful.

Jack Ross – I feel he knows where we’re going wrong in dropping silly points and will be working to address that. I hope he’s also working to bring a quality holding midfielder to the club as that would, I’m sure, solve a large part of the problem.

The fans – Two singing areas today and when they were singing the atmosphere was good but there were too many quiet spells for me when the place just went flat.

Kevin Clancy – Inept.