It was a night of contrasts at Rugby Park as Hibernian extended their purple patch with a third consecutive Scottish Premiership victory, defeating a beleaguered Kilmarnock side 3-1 on January 2, 2026. The result not only stretched Kilmarnock’s winless league run to a staggering 14 games, but also solidified Hibs’ grip on fifth place, now just four points behind second-placed Celtic. For both teams, the match painted a vivid picture of their current fortunes—one surging, the other sinking.
Hibernian wasted no time stamping their authority on the contest. With barely five minutes on the clock, Elie Youan found himself unmarked at the back post and coolly headed home Daniel Barlaser’s precise cross. The early goal set the tone for a dominant first half from the visitors, whose confidence on the ball and slick passing moves—particularly the interplay between Youan and Junior Hoilett—left Kilmarnock chasing shadows.
Barlaser, a constant threat from set-pieces, nearly doubled Hibs’ lead with a wicked free-kick in the 11th minute, but Kilmarnock’s Tobi Oluwayemi produced a smart stop to keep his side in the contest. Hibs continued to press, with Hoilett and Kanayo Megwa both testing the home keeper. Perhaps the best chance of the half came with seven minutes remaining before the break, when a flowing Hibs passing sequence sliced open the Killie defense, only for Youan to fire wide from close range.
Yet, for all of Hibs’ dominance, they couldn’t capitalize further before halftime. That wastefulness nearly came back to haunt them. Kilmarnock, who had managed only a rare foray forward in the first half, emerged from the interval with renewed purpose. Early signs of life were evident as David Watson’s deflected effort forced a corner within seconds of the restart.
The home side’s persistence paid off in the 57th minute. Dominic Thompson’s cross wasn’t cleared by the Hibs defense, and Tyreece John-Jules—celebrating his new contract with Killie—scrambled the ball past Raphael Sallinger to level the score at 1-1. Suddenly, the momentum had shifted, and the Rugby Park faithful dared to hope their team might finally snap their dismal run.
"We showed character, first of all, to get back into the game. When you get back to 1-1, we were well on top. It’s so tight, there’s small margins between the teams and Hibs are a top side. Top side with a top manager. Losing David Watson doesn’t help us," said Kilmarnock interim manager Kris Doolan, reflecting on the turning points of the match.
For a brief spell, Kilmarnock pressed forward, hustling Hibs out of their rhythm and threatening to tip the balance. But the visitors weathered the storm, and with 20 minutes left, Oluwayemi was again called into action, pulling off a spectacular save to deny Barlaser’s thunderous free-kick. The reprieve was short-lived. Just a minute later, Jamie McGrath broke into the box and, though his shot was blocked by Oluwayemi, Youan was quickest to react, sliding in the rebound to restore Hibernian’s lead.
From there, the game took a decisive turn. With just eight minutes remaining, David Watson—whose earlier shot had sparked hope for the home side—was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Barlaser. The dismissal left Killie with a mountain to climb and their confidence visibly drained.
As stoppage time approached, substitute Kieron Bowie was brought down in the penalty area by Jack Thomson, and McGrath stepped up with ice-cold composure to roll home the penalty, sealing the three points for Hibs. The final whistle confirmed another miserable night for Kilmarnock, who remain second-bottom, just four points clear of basement-dwellers Livingston.
Hibernian head coach David Gray was quick to praise his team’s resilience: "First half especially, I thought we were really good. If we had taken our chances, maybe we would’ve made it a little bit more comfortable earlier. Second half, I think was a classic example of us finding a way to win the game because I don’t think we were at our best second half. We lost that control that we had in the first half but we still had big moments in the game and I think over the piece deserved to win the game."
The statistics tell their own story. Hibs have now won three league games on the bounce, while Kilmarnock’s last 14 Premiership outings have yielded just three draws and eleven defeats. The Rugby Park side’s struggles are compounded by a lack of cutting edge up front and a defense that too often buckles under pressure. Unless reinforcements arrive in the January transfer window, whoever takes permanent charge will have a tough task keeping Killie in the top flight.
Historically, Kilmarnock have found Hibernian a tough nut to crack, winning just one of their last 15 league meetings (D6 L8), and they haven’t tasted victory in this fixture since November 2022. Even at home, Killie’s fortunes have been mixed, with Hibs scoring first in three of their last four visits yet drawing each time—until now.
For Hibernian, the win keeps their European ambitions alive and adds further momentum to what’s shaping up to be a thrilling chase for the top spots. With 20 matches played, they sit on 34 points, while Kilmarnock’s woes leave them languishing near the foot of the table with just 18 points from 19 games.
The road ahead offers little respite for either side. Next up, Kilmarnock travel to fellow strugglers Livingston on Saturday, January 10, in what already looks like a six-pointer at the bottom. Hibs, meanwhile, return to Easter Road for a sellout clash against Motherwell—another chance to keep the pressure on the teams above them and perhaps close the gap on Celtic.
Elsewhere in the Scottish Premiership, the new year opened with fireworks. Rangers stunned Celtic with a comeback win at Parkhead, intensifying the spotlight on Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy. Hearts edged out Livingston to strengthen their position atop the table, while Motherwell, Dundee, and Falkirk also secured important victories in a dramatic round of fixtures.
As the Scottish Premiership heads into a crucial stretch, Hibernian’s upward trajectory and Kilmarnock’s downward spiral couldn’t be more stark. With the transfer window open and every point at a premium, both clubs know that what happens next could define their seasons—for better or worse.