Scottish Premier League: Kilmarnock defeat Hibernian 2 - 1

December 20, 2010

In the Scottish Premier League (SPL), {{w|Kilmarnock F.C.}} defeated {{w|Hibernian F.C.}} 2-1 on Saturday. Nine minutes into the game in {{w|Rugby Park}}, {{w|Kilmarnock}}, Scotland, {{w|Liam Kelly (footballer born 1990)|Liam Kelly}} became the first player of the game to score for Kilmarnock. He achieved a second goal for his team 43 minutes after the game commenced.

In the second half of the match on the snow-covered field, {{w|Derek Riordan}} scored one goal for his team Hibernian at 55 minutes, which was also his 100{{sup|th}} career goal for the team. {{w|Liam Miller}} of Hibernian was given a red card after clipping {{w|Conor Sammon}} 80 minutes into the game. Referee {{w|Craig Thomson (referee)|Craig Thomson}} decided this rulebreaking occurred immediately outside of the penalty area.

Kilmarnock's position in the SPL table now increases to fifth. Meanwhile, Hibernian remain at ninth. {{w|Colin Calderwood}}, the Hibernian manager, said of the match "[w]e've always got to be aware that [Kilmarnock] have got something to protect and we've got nothing to lose", in an interview available on the {{w|BBC Sport}} website. "The attitude and the sort of tempo of how we're going about it in the second half is just sort of the place in the right direction where I feel we've gotta go."

In a separate BBC Sport interview, Kilmarnock manager {{w|Mixu Paatelainen}} commented: "I thought for the first half we were excellent. You know, the surface was quite tricky today because it was a little bit snowy and the ball skids along but, you know, that possibly helped our passing game. You know, [Liam Kelly] was sharp, he was quick, he passed round players and he scored two excellent goals. The second half was a little bit stickier for us, owing to Hibs. They're a good team. They put us under pressure but, you know, thankfully our defence did their job and we only conceded one goal which was a fantastic strike from Riordan."

{{haveyoursay}}