Kilmarnock finally got their first Scottish Premiership victory of the season, consigning Hibernian to a sixth home league defeat in a row with a hard-fought win at Easter Road.

Manager Neil McCann had been under pressure, with his side sitting on one point after four games and losing to 10-man Aberdeen in a League Cup penalty shootout on Saturday.

But Kilmarnock earned a brilliant win in Leith - their first in more than 12 years - thanks to George Stanger's stab from close range just before the half-time whistle.

Truthfully, it could and should have been more. Joe Hugill had several chances, putting one into the side-netting and having another brilliantly saved at close range.

He also tapped one in after Greg Kiltie's cross, but after the celebrations, the goal was ruled out for an offside earlier in the play.

There were also two contentious penalty decisions that went the way of the hosts. Both Tyreece John-Jules and Hugill had their shirts pulled in the box in separate incidents - Hugill when he was clear through - but neither were deemed to be a foul.

If Hibs were to get anything from the game, it would have been down to the endeavour of goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger and midfield talisman Josh Mulligan, who was at the heart of everything for the hosts.

However, despite their best efforts, there was no way back into the match - despite Djenairo Daniels' late red card following two silly bookings.

Instead, the pressure now shifts to the shoulders of Hibs head coach David Gray as his side drop to ninth and continue their dreadful home run.

McCann will be happy, of course, but he'll know this could have been far, far easier.

Kilmarnock had the ball in the back of the net twice - one ruled out - but it should have been more. Eight shots, six of them on target, an xG of 1.61, and yet it was centre-back Stanger who was the hero.

They even had to play the final few minutes with 10 men, after Daniels' second yellow card following two daft bookings.

And when goalkeeper Max Stryjek went down in added time, indicating he needed to come off with an injury, Kilmarnock fans must have been thinking the world was conspiring against them.

But they held on, and they deserved it. While Hibs had their moments after the break, the second half was largely dominated by the visitors.

It was the kind of performance McCann had promised pre-match, as he spoke of seeing positive signs in the previous weeks when many had started writing them off.

They headed so many crosses away, they broke at pace through the superb Erik Ring, they put Hibs under tremendous pressure... but they just lacked a bit more ruthlessness.

With a bit more confidence, that killer instinct could come, and they now have a chance to make it six points against the capital sides with a game against Hearts on Saturday.

Mulligan was a notable absentee from Scotland head coach Sebastian Pocognoli's first squad, and he had another impressive performance against Kilmarnock.

More touches in the opposition box than any of his team-mates, he fired off four shots as he burst forward. But it wasn't just that: he won possession back six times, won eight of his 13 duels, won two of his three tackles.

All of that is to tell you, it was another industrious, all-action performance from the jewel in Hibs midfield. But he was badly, badly let down by his colleagues.

Apart from Sallinger, that is. The Austrian made six saves as he continually repelled Kilmarnock, and mainly Joe Hugill.

In the first half, Hibs played tidy stuff but in either box the standard was woeful. At the back, hesitant - and at times statuesque - defending was let off by questionable refereeing decisions and an offside.

They badly need Owen Elding back to get the goals flowing again. He was only fit enough to come off the bench, but could be in from the start against Aberdeen on Saturday.

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "It's clear to see, not good enough in terms of the result. Kilmarnock defended their box a lot better than we did. We gave up too many chances and some of our defending wasn't good enough.

"The only way it turns is by putting yourself out there, sticking together and believing in yourself and trusting your ability.

"One thing I will continue to do is work as hard as I can to turn this around. I've been through adversity before at this football club and I will continue until someone tells me otherwise. I believe in my group and believe in what we're doing."

Kilmarnock head coach Neil McCann: "Sometimes from the outside it's easy to not find positives, because of our points and the goals against us. But hopefully we've found a positive tonight.

"We know as staff how hard those boys are working. It's difficult when you're conceding goals and not winning games but, my God, they kept going tonight. They showed there's a bit of steel in there as well.

"We were asked so many difficult questions tonight. At 2-0 up, it's taken away from us. A stonewall penalty on Joe Hugill, which would have been a red card, we don't get it.

"Our character has been tested. The fans were asking questions and voicing their displeasure at times. But we stood up to it. Nobody can say we didn't deserve it."