Kilmarnock 1-0 Hibernian: Brophy penalty for hosts keeps Europa League football in sight

The fight for third-place in the Scottish Premiership and the remaining Europa League place will go to the wire after Kilmarnock’s narrow win over Hibernian.

Eamonn Brophy’s penalty, his first goal in 10 games, took his side back above Aberdeen into third on goal difference.

The forward netted after David Gray was judged to have hauled down Alex Bruce.

Victory at home to Rangers on the final day of the season should be enough to clinch third spot.

That would require Aberdeen to beat Hibernian at Easter Road, with a six-goal swing needed in the Pittodrie club’s favour.

Hibs, meanwhile, have all but secured fifth place and are on course to finish above rivals Hearts for a second consecutive season.

Contentious penalty clinches vital win

Kilmarnock began the match the more assertive, but slowly Hibs found their rhythm and created the first real chance.

Marc McNulty and Fraser Murray combined well to fashion an opening for Stephane Omeonga. The on-loan Genoa midfielder took a touch before hitting a shot but it was comfortably smothered by Daniel Bachmann.

Kilmarnock had to wait until the 29th minute for a real glimpse of goal. Clever work down the right by Stephen O’Donnell and Chris Burke resulted in a chance for Brophy, who blazed his effort over the bar.

It sparked a flurry of chances for the hosts. First Greg Taylor’s miscued cross hit the crossbar, then, from a corner, Ofir Marciano was forced to save well from Gary Dicker’s header.

But then came the penalty. From a corner, Bruce went down under Gray’s challenge, and referee Andrew Dallas pointed to the spot despite the protestations of the Hibs captain, who was booked for his troubles. It was a contentious decision with both players grappling, Bruce simply seemed to go down first.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs, up stepped Brophy to fire home.

It should have been 2-0 in the 55th minute. Youssouf Mulumbu brilliantly played Brophy through one-on-one with Marciano, but the striker fired his shot wide – it was a big chance missed.

Then, two minutes from time, Hibs almost snatched an equaliser. A rasping effort from Thomas Agyepong was tipped over the bar by Bachmann, as Kilmarnock sealed a vital three points.

Kilmarnock in Europa League driving seat

This result leaves Kilmarnock in the driving seat for third place, ahead of Aberdeen on goal difference.

On the final weekend of the Premiership season Steve Clarke’s side will face Rangers at Rugby Park while Aberdeen are away at Hibs.

Essentially Kilmarnock need to equal or better Aberdeen’s result to seal third place, providing the Pittodrie side don’t run up a cricket score at Easter Road to significantly boost their goal difference.

‘The penalty was soft’ – reaction

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke: “We should have won more comfortably. We were the better team and deserved to win. I’ve just seen [the penalty] there, it was soft. But sometimes you deserve a refereeing decision to go in your favour.”

“We have come a long way in a short space of time. Rangers will want to finish on a high, we want to finish on a high. We hope the Kilmarnock support come out and show [owner] Billy Bowie was right to close one of the stands down.”

Hibernian head coach Paul Heckingbottom said: “It’s not a penalty. That’s not the reason we lost the game, we lost the game because we were rubbish. “There’s nothing more to say. We looked like a team that had nothing to play for.”