Hibernian 4-1 Kilmarnock

Hibs swept aside injury-hit Kilmarnock, with striker Clayton Donaldson hitting a hat-trick, despite missing a penalty.

Donaldson smashed an acrobatic shot home early on and followed it with a conversion from the penalty spot.

Alan Combe saved a second spot-kick and made a number of great stops before Mickael Antoine-Curier tapped in.

Colin Nish replied for Killie but Donaldson made no mistake from yet another penalty, given away by Ryan O'Leary who was sent off.

Easter Road manager John Collins handed defender Darren McCormack a start on his birthday and the 19-year-old enjoyed a comfortable SPL debut.

Hibs have made a habit of scoring early this season and the home side again started brightly and went in front after 12 minutes.

The visitors failed to clear a Filipe Morais corner and when Brian Kerr headed the ball back into the danger zone Donaldson spun quickly and blazed a shot high into the net.

Kilmarnock replied with a swift break and Aime Koudou's shot was blocked by the long legs of goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay.

Hibs striker Steven Fletcher picked up a perfect long delivery from David Murphy and cleverly juggled the ball on his head to get past Frazer Wright but Combe blocked his shot from a tight angle.

Fletcher failed to direct another wonderful cross from Murphy on target and Combe made an incredible full-length diving save to claw away a net-bound header from Rob Jones.

Hibs were full of verve and invention as they pressed forward but their second goal was harsh on Killie.

Wright appeared to time his tackle on Donaldson perfectly but referee Stuart Dougal enraged the supporters from Ayrshire when he pointed to the spot.

Donaldson picked himself up and tucked the penalty kick away for his fourth goal in his last three starts.

Three minutes before the interval, Combe failed to gather a cross and had defender Simon Ford to thank for clearing away a shot from Morais.

The lively Portuguese winger then warmed the hands of Combe with a strike after a lightening counter-attack from the home team.

Hibs were awarded a second penalty inside the first minute of the second half when David Lilley climbed all over Donaldson.

However, the former York City striker saw his casual effort comfortably saved by Combe.

The visiting keeper followed that with another very impressive stop to keep out a Fletcher effort as the Hibs striker slid in to meet Murphy's low cross.

Kilmarnock made a triple substitution on 54 minutes, with Colin Nish, Willie Gibson and Craig Bryson thrown on by manager Jim Jefferies.

But the visitors could not halt the Hibs attacks and the busy Combe once again denied Fletcher, with the Scotland under-21 international firing in a powerful swerving shot.

Fletcher was replaced by Antoine-Curier and the big Frenchman tapped in Hibs' third goal when he diverted Donaldson's shot from close range.

Killie subs Gibson and Nish combined to reduce the deficit, with the latter drilling in a shot from six yards.

But a third penalty was given to the home team when O'Leary hacked down the speedy Donaldson and the striker made it count this time.

O'Leary was sent packing for the ugly challenge and Ford and Gary Locke could have followed for bad fouls as Killie lost all discipline.

Antoine-Curier flashed a free-kick narrowly wide and mis-kicked horribly in front of goal as Hibs pressed for more goals on a good afternoon for their fans.