Hibernian returned to winning ways this afternoon with a hard fought victory against Kilmarnock at Easter Road Stadium. Killie substitute goalkeeper Robinson had thwarted Hibernian time and again, including a penalty save from Abdessalam Benjelloun, before Derek Riordan broke the deadlock in stunning fashion from a 30-yard free kick with less than 15 minutes of the match remaining.

John Hughes made just a single change from the side that drew with St Johnstone last weekend - out was the suspended Colin Nish and his place Alan Gow who was making his first start at Easter Road. The old stadium had an unfamiliar look with the East Stand for the most part reduced to rubble and its regulars now housed in the South Stand beside the away supporters. Hibernian got the action underway and looked to impress in the early stages as they penned Kilmarnock in their own half. The first real test of the visitor's goal came on 7 minutes when a free kick from Gow was bravely punched clear by goalkeeper Bell before he collided with Hibernian's Bamba. The two players required lengthy treatment with the Kilmarnock player coming off worst and having to be replaced by Robinson after failing to recover.

When the play did resume the game unfortunately developed into a scrappy affair with Kilmarnock sitting in tight and making it difficult for Hibernian to find any space to exploit. On 22 minutes the visitors should have opened the scoring when a cross from Clancy saw McGuire superbly turn away from Bamba which left the striker with only Stack to beat. The goalkeeper raced out to make life difficult but was beaten by the power of Maguire's drive - which thankfully could only find the side netting.

Two minutes later a curling effort from Riordan was kept out by a sensational save from substitute Robinson, the goalkeeper throwing himself to his left to push the ball around the post. An early injury to Gow saw him replaced by Benjelloun who was immediately involved - heading wide from Riordan's corner kick.

A second change soon followed for Hibernian when Bamba, injured in the earlier clash with Bell, was replaced by Hanlon. Hibernian went close to breaking the deadlock just after the half hour mark when Benjelloun slipped the ball through to Stokes who was left with only the goalkeeper to beat, the striker took his time before aiming for the far corner of the net but Robinson just got his fingertips to the shot to push it around the post - a point not noted by the officials who awarded a goal kick.

A curling drive from Riordan was then headed clear from under his own crossbar by Pascali with goalkeeper Robinson appearing to be struggling as Hibernian put the away side under sustained pressure for the first time in the match. On 44 minutes a wicked cross from Stokes almost caught out Robinson who had came away from his goal before having to retreat and gather the ball almost on the goal-line. Then a right foot cross from Murray was missed by Pascali in the middle and that was enough to catch out Stokes who hadn't expected the ball to reach him and it ended wide of goal.

Despite a 5 minute delay due to the earlier injuries to Bell and Bamba, along with three substitutions in the first half, there was just 4 minutes of time added on signalled by the fourth official. The first half then ending goal-less with Hibernian having created the better of the chances but goal scoring opportunities for either side had been few and far between.

Half Time: Hibernian 0 Kilmarnock 0

Kilmarnock got the second half underway shooting towards their small band of supporters who had travelled through from Ayrshire with neither side having made any changes at the interval. On 49 minutes a shot from Riordan was blocked by Severin with Stokes pouncing on the loose ball only for his shot on the turn to finish just wide of Robinson's near post.

Chris Maguire then headed over the top from Flannigan's free kick as the on-loan Aberdeen striker looked to keep up his recent run of scoring. But it was the home side who should have gone in front on 58 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Benjelloun was taken down inside the area by Pascali. The Moroccan took the spot kick himself, shooting low to the keeper's left - but Robinson guessed correctly as he make a fantastic block before Hamill completed the clearance.

Kilmarnock's second change saw Russell replace Fernandez before Hibernian's frustration grew and Hogg attempted a shot from 40-odd yards which was well off target. The Easter Road side did have the ball in the Kilmarnock net when Stokes volleyed in from Murray's cross, but the Hibernian full back had stepped offside before racing on to Riordan's pass.

After 71 minutes both sides made a change with Kilmarnock replacing Taouil with Fowler and Galbraith coming on for Stevenson for Hibernian. Kilmarnock had goalkeeper Robinson to thank once again for keeping them level when he produced a fantastic save to thwart Benjelloun after the Hibernian forward side-stepped Wright before aiming for the bottom corner of the net.

The direct running of Galbraith was causing the Ayrshire side problems and they had no option but to being him down as he raced through on goal in the 75th minute. Fowler picked up a booking for tripping the youngster but the punishment was to be even great as Derek Riordan produced a stunning finish from the free kick to finally beat Robinson. It was always going to take a moment of magic to break the deadlock and Riordan delivered with his 12th goal of the season when he curled his 30-yard free kick into the top right hand corner of the net.

The breakthrough was no more than Hibernian deserved after putting so much effort into attacking, but they were by no means home and dry with Kilmarnock posing a real threat up front. Jimmy Calderwood's side carved out a chance with 7 minutes of normal time remaining when Maguire headed straight at Stack from Flannigan's corner. As the clock ticked down towards full time, clever play from Galbraith on the right saw the youngster get in between two Kilmarnock defenders for a strike at goal but his shot lacked the necessary power to cause Robinson any real concern.

The fourth official signalled 3 minutes of time to be added on and in the first of those Hibernian had a great chance to seal the points when Galbraith did well to win possession in midfield before Miller slipped the ball through to Stokes. The striker took his time before aiming for the near post but his effort was pushed aside by Robinson who once more had produced a fine stop.

In the end it was a return to winning ways for Hibernian who deserved the victory after dominating against their stuffy opponents. It appeared for a long time that the heroics of Robinson had earned Kilmarnock a point but once again free kick specialist Riordan delivered from a dead ball to ensure Hibernian's efforts were rewarded.

Hibernian: Stack, Hogg, Bamba, Murray, Wotherspoon, McBride, Miller, Stevenson, Gow, Riordan, Stokes. Subs: Smith, Cregg, Rankin, Benjelloun, Hanlon, Thicot, Galbraith.

Kilmarnock: Bell, Clancy, Hay, Wright, Pascali, Flannigan, Hamill, Severin, Taouil, Fernandez, Maguire. Subs: Robinson, Kiernan, Invincible, Kelly, Fowler, Burchill, Russell.

Report: Richard Payne