Hibs instant analysis as Kilmarnock snatch late point

The visitors opened the scoring through Joe Newell's swerving effort in the second half after a turgid opening 45 minutes, and looked well set to put three points on the board ahead of the international break. But Hibs failed to deal with a simple ball forward as the clock struck 90, and as it broke, Jordan Obita brought down Bruce Anderson to concede a penalty which the striker duly converted.

It was another sickener for Gray after Dundee's last-gasp leveller at Easter Road last week, and ensures his team remain without a win in the league after four matches.

Patrick McPartlin and Liam Bryce were in Ayrshire to provide the instant analysis.

Costly errors strike again - but positive signs

Another week, another defensive error robbing Hibs of three points. This time it was Jordan Obita fouling Bruce Anderson in the area after the Killie forward got the wrong side of him from a long ball forward.  The warning signs had been there already - Kyle Vassell hitting the post, and a couple of narrow squeaks between defenders and goalkeeper - while Hibs had hit the woodwork through Nectar Triantis. 

But despite that, it was a better display from Hibs than last weekend, just with the same outcome. The frustrating thing for David Gray will be seeing progress and an improved performance, but ultimately the same end result.  There was a smattering of jeers from the travelling support at full time but it wasn’t warranted based on the collective effort.  There will almost certainly be more positives than negatives when the squad reviews the game and on another afternoon, the effort from Triantis might well have gone in. 

Hibs will feel hard done by but their effort couldn’t be faulted. The international break could allow Hibs a chance to work more on the training ground albeit without the players away with their national teams. Three points would have been welcome but at the very least there were more positive signs in this performance. 

Deja-vu with late points dropped

Just how do you stop these late lapses? This will be a sore one for players and management, having again come so close to picking up a hard-fought victory. It was almost the archetypal 'three points, up the road' performance; not particularly pretty but built on grit and resilience against an opponent that thrives on making life difficult for you. But that effort counts for nothing if you can't see the game out, and here Hibs showed that, one way or another, it continues to be a problem for them. Margins are so fine in top-flight football, with Hibs too often ending up on the wrong side of them. It's a problem that's been discussed for so long already, and there's doubtless a previous match analysis in our archives I could've simply copied and pasted to save a bit of time, such is the sinking feeling of familiarity about results like this for Hibs. Kilmarnock had the odd threatening moment but it didn't feel like Gray's side were in imminent peril, and that they conspired to surrender two points anyway will be of immense frustration for the head coach. It was harsh punishment for a backline that had otherwise stood up well to the physical challenge posed by Kilmarnock, with Warren O'Hora and Marvin Ekpiteta having largely good afternoons, defensively.

Liam Bryce

Midfield switch works

The return of Triantis didn't overly excite a Hibs support pining for Luke McCowan, but it's already clear the difference he can make in midfield. Strong and athletic, he's also comfortable and reliable in possession, and his presence in front of the back four allowed Kwon and Newell to take on more forward-thinking roles. Hibs pressed well in the game, better than they have in recent weeks, and it was due, quite significantly, to the midfield setup. It was one suited to the occasion, as it's rarely not an attritional affair when coming to Rugby Park. It's perhaps not the most creative trio, and that could be a potential issue moving forward, but they showed good quality in what was a frantic area of the pitch. Kwon went close with a well-struck first-half volley, while being generally tidy on the ball and full of industry. Triantis almost scoring an incredible goal - driving past three Kilmarnock players and crashing a thunderous effort off the bar - would've been a deserved reward for an excellent performance on his Hibs return. Newell's goal, whether he meant it or not, was so nearly the defining moment of the game in an all-round good performance from the captain. Having not played together before today, it was a midfield combination that showed promised, and underlined why bringing Triantis back was sound business.

Liam Bryce

More players, greater options, different outcomes?

Even with 11 new signings throughout the summer, Gray is still in the position of having to ask players to play out of position, or in a role that might not fully fit their strengths. Prime examples are Rudi Molotnikov playing wide left, or Chris Cadden playing on the right wing. 

When Junior Hoilett and Élie Youan are back fit, that will give Gray greater options in the final third, and once Jack Iredale is up to speed, he may well be an option at left-back, with Jordan Obita struggling a bit for form in the early part of the season. 

Over the past few seasons Hibs have consistently struggled to have a full squad, with players out injured or carrying niggly injuries. But if Gray can get all his players fit and firing, that competition for places and strength in depth could end up making the difference between one point and three points. 

Patrick McPartlin