By Alison McConnell
Kilmarnock headed off the pitch to an old classic as “That’s Entertainement” played out and it would be difficult to quibble with the DJ after the Rugby Park side denied Nick Montgomery a debut Hibs win.
Derek McInnes’ side had looked down and out in this game after Hibs had taken a 2-0 lead just before the hour match in a game where Kilmarnock had offered very little in an attacking sense.
From nowhere, however, Kyle Vassell pulled McInnes’ side back into it just two minutes after Dylan Vente had put Hibs in firm command of the game after an eighth minute own-goal from Will Dennis.
Joe Wright then headed home at the near post from Danny Armstrong’s ball to restore parity with Matty Kennedy also coming close just moment beforehand.
Montgomery refused to be too downbeat about the draw after being in control of the game.
“It’s obviously frustrating, going 2-0 up and then not winning,” he said. “I thought the boys played some really good stuff because this isn’t an easy place to come to so, yes, I’m disappointed.“I thought we could have killed the game off. We had some really good chances in the first half, their ‘keeper pulled off some good saves and there was some desperate defending from them.“But as soon as conceded that first goal it gave them a little bit of momentum. They started to knock balls into the box and they’re very good at that – they have some really physical players.“Unfortunately, Adam Le Fondre had a good chance to finish them off but it was another good save from their goalkeeper. It’s annoying to come away without all three points but all credit to them – they showed great fight and I’m really proud of the effort from our boys.”
Despite coming from two goals down to take what had looked like an unlikely point, McInnes felt that Killie could have taken all three points as he praised the spirit and mentality of his side.
“It’s a quiet dressing room, it feels like an opportunity missed.
“At 2-0 down with so little time to go our response was everything you want as a manager and it’s what the support want to side.
“That’s team spirit. It’s not Monday – Friday or nights out. Team spirit is when you need to give a bit more and everybody did that.
“I don’t think we settled in the game early and they get a goal with a touch of fortune. But the second goal kills us. It’s ridiculous to lose a goal from a throw in with the experience we have on the pitch.
“Le Fondre is experienced, Vente is talented and Youan and Boyle’s movement can spook you. But we need to be so much better there.
“If we defend that better then it could be a winning performance.
“But credit to the players. They are everything I would want my team to be. There’s still some searching for their best form.
“But we brought two boys back in today – Kyle Vassell and Joe Wright – and they both scored and stayed calm in the situation.
“We get the least we deserve from the game. Another five minutes we maybe go and win it.”
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