Hibernian 0 Kilmarnock 1

Last updated : 07 August 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Kris Boyd struck a second-half goal to give Kilmarnock a 1-0 win at Hibs and ruined Tony Mowbray's first SPL game as a manager.

The Killie striker, guilty of passing up a number of chances earlier in the game, fired in a 72nd minute free-kick to give Kilmarnock all three points.

Hibs perhaps deserved a share of the points for a fine first half but found Killie goalkeeper Alan Combe in inspired form.

A minute's silence was observed before kick-off to honour Hibs legend Gordon Smith, who died early on Saturday at the age of 80.

Hibs sought to honour his memory right from the kick-off as they swarmed forward and had Kilmarnock in trouble from the outset.

Combe punched away a Stephen Glass corner after a couple of minutes and then the goalkeeper had to get down smartly to divert a Tom McManus cross away from the eager Garry O'Connor.

Colin Murdock should have scored when a Grant Brebner free-kick found him unguarded at the back post but he headed directly at Combe, who managed to scramble it away for a corner.

But Killie were unlucky not to snatch the lead after 11 minutes. Garry Hay's corner was met by Gary MacDonald but his header was cleared off the line by David Murphy.

McManus was guilty of wasting the best chance of the first half when he pounced on a through ball from Guillaume Beuzelin. The Killie defence opened up invitingly but Combe guessed right to get down smartly to his left and produce a stunning stop.

The goalkeeper did not hold much but made a number of inspired stops. He leapt to his left to deny McManus again in a crowded penalty area before the Hibs striker swung wildly at the follow-up to send the ball soaring into the stands.

At the other end, Boyd got his head to another Hay corner shortly before half-time but the effort was straight at Simon Brown.

Danny Invincible then volleyed over from 15 yards with Brown left exposed by his defence.

Kilmarnock should have been awarded a penalty three minutes into the second half when Murdock handled the ball as Gary Wales attempted to break clear but referee Alan Freeland waved away the claims.

Moments later, Boyd looked set to open the scoring when he had only Brown to beat but Gary Caldwell appeared from nowhere to make a superb saving tackle.

But the Killie striker was not to be denied and he made the breakthrough after 72 minutes when his free-kick found the top corner of the net.

It proved to be the decisive goal as Hibs simply ran out of ideas as the game wore on and even the introduction of Derek Riordan late on failed to revive them.