George Stanger handed struggling Kilmarnock a first victory of the season as Hibernian lost six home league games in a row for the first time since 1920.
The defender bundled in a loose ball five minutes before the break to give the visitors their first three points of the season.
Killie should have added to their lead in a lively second half before then having to fend off intense late pressure. The Hibs fans booed their team off as the pressure on head coach David Gray intensified.
Gray made just one change to the team that overcame Ross County 3-0 in the Premier Sports Cup on Saturday – Jacob Devaney coming in for club captain Joe Newell.
Kilmarnock’s own cup journey came to an end in a bitterly disappointing shoot-out defeat to 10-man Aberdeen, and boss Neil McCann freshened up his side. Bailey Rice – on loan from Rangers – was handed a first start in the middle of the park while MJ Kamson-Kamara – on a temporary deal from Hearts – was given his debut in defence.
Hibs started brightly and created a good opening after just four minutes. Felix Passlack found Thibault Klidje and the striker laid it off to Josh Mulligan. The midfielder moved the ball onto his left, but his attempt to find the top corner was well off target.
The home team was then forced into a change after just eight minutes when Kanayo Megwa hobbled off and was replaced by Grant Hanley.
The first half became a scrappy affair with neither side able to get a foothold. Killie fashioned a couple of half chances that fell to Tyreece John-Jules, but the towering striker was unable to capitalise.
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But the away side took the lead five minutes before the break through Stanger. Erik Ring’s cross into the area was heading for goal, and goalkeeper Rafa Sallinger had to be alert to make the block.
But the danger wasn’t cleared, and Stanger bundled the loose ball in from eight yards. Killie had their tails up at the start of the second half, and Hibs struggled to regain their composure as the groans from the home fans grew louder.
Rice had a powerful free-kick pushed away by Sallinger before the Hibs keeper then kept out Greg Kiltie from a tight angle.
Joe Hugill thought he had doubled his team’s lead in the 56th minute after getting on the end of Ring’s low cross into the six-yard box. But their celebrations were cut short after the VAR ruled that there had been an offside in the build-up.
That gave Hibs a boost after substitute Miguel Chaiwa had a stinging drive from 18 yards pushed over by Max Stryjek as they chased a leveller.
Hibs continued to live dangerously, and Hugill wasted further chances. The forward fired into the side netting from a counter-attack led by Ring and then had a shot blocked by Sallinger when he only had the keeper to beat from eight yards.
Hibs piled on the pressure late on but struggled to create any meaningful openings. Defender Jason Kerr twice got headers away, but goalkeeper Stryjek made a comfortable save before seeing the other drift wide.
Killie also had to contend with Djenairo Daniels picking up a second yellow card in the dying moments.
