Neil McCann delighted with Kilmarnock ‘unity’ after win at Hibernian

Neil McCann hailed Kilmarnock’s character after watching his players bounce back from cup agony to pick up a first win at Hibernian in 12 years.

George Stanger’s effort five minutes before the break was enough to hand the Rugby Park outfit a first league win in a difficult start to the campaign.

The visitors – who finished the game with 10 men after Djenairo Daniels collected a second yellow in injury time – wasted good chances to add to their lead after the break before then having to repel intense Hibs pressure.

But after seeing his team miss out on a Premier Sports Cup semi-final spot in a crushing shoot-out loss to Aberdeen at the weekend, gaffer McCann was beaming with pride over their display in Leith.

McCann said: “I don’t think I can ask anything more of that team down there – proper unity, proper togetherness and a proper will to see that out.

“We were asked some serious big questions about character.

“We had a goal chopped off, a stonewall penalty on Joe (Hugill) and big Rafa Sallinger had some brilliant saves. DD then gets sent off.

“As a group of players that have just lost a penalty shootout for a chance to go to Hampden and missing out on that, psychologically that’s a big test.

“But my God they come through it with flying colours.”

As well as having a Hugill effort chopped off for offside in an entertaining second half, McCann – whose team remain at the basement – also watched his team waste some gilt-edged chances.

And he is grateful it did not come back to haunt them.

He added: “The keeper made some brilliant saves. I think you’ve just got to compliment the keeper on making big saves at that time.

“At the end we’re soaking up pressure and Hibs are going to load it on you because of their shape and they’re going to ask questions.

“We stood up to that and still had that threat ourselves going forward, we turned into a really good counter-attacking team.

“We had some big chances to put ourselves clear but it’s a really good three points.”

Hibs boss David Gray said: “That’s the nature of playing for a big football club and the pressures and the demands.

“I’ve been here during difficult times and I’ve been here during good times and you can’t just say it’s brilliant when things are going well and then not expect a bit of criticism when things aren’t.

“In terms of asking for patience, the fans are frustrated because we’re not achieving what we need to be at this stage and winning enough games consistently, especially at home.

“And I accept that. All I can say is until someone tells me otherwise I will be doing everything in my power, everything I possibly can as I have done at this football club to turn it around and I believe we can.

“It’s a difficult time for everybody, the players, football club because we’ve lost again off the back of a good result at the weekend and then failed to back it up again.”