Bruce Anderson’s stoppage-time penalty gave bottom side Kilmarnock their first point of the Scottish Premiership season following a 1-1 draw with Hibernian.
There was little between the sides at Rugby Park until the 49th minute when Hibs captain Joe Newell spectacularly curled a strike from distance beyond Kieran O’Hara.
Derek McInnes’ side – who disappointingly exited the European Conference League qualifiers against Copenhagen on Thursday night – could not find a way back, although Kyle Vassell hit the post in the second half after missing a great chance early in the game.
However, in the 89th minute of normal time, Anderson was fouled inside the box by defender Jordan Obita, before rising to his feet to take the resulting spot-kick.
After a lengthy VAR check, Anderson sent Josef Bursik the wrong way for a deserved point, with six added minutes unable to provide a winner.
The result leaves the Ayrshire side behind second-bottom Hearts on goal difference, while David Gray’s men – on two points – are also still looking for their first league win of the season.
Kilmarnock’s Bruce Anderson celebrates making it 1-1
McInnes: A solid point
Derek McInnes insisted Kilmarnock’s late leveller was “the very least” his side deserved as he looked for a reset in the international break.
He said: “It was no more than deserved. Obviously when you’re running out of time, you take anything that’s going. It looks like a good point in the end.
“I thought we had the two best chances in the game. Kyle [Vassell] had a chance at the back post in the first half, hitting the post in the second half.
“We’ve always had somebody come up with something in my time here and we were just looking for that wee bit of inspiration.
“Maybe we could have gone and got a winner but it was no more than we deserved. More shots than them, more possession, better chances but at the end of the day, every game still needs quality.”
Gray: International break will give squad time to gel
Hibs manager David Gray: “All in all, from an away performance, it’s a real tough venue, they make it very difficult here.
“I thought we stood up to that until that one moment.
“But also, in the four league games we have played, there has been progression there in all the games.
“I think you can clearly see a little bit of a lack of confidence in some players at the moment.
“I think the break comes at a really good time. The new bodies coming in, time to gel, time to get new ideas into them, the squad starting to know each other a bit more.
“That’s 11 signings, I think. It comes at a good time.”
