Two goals from Elie Youan and a Jamie McGrath penalty ensured Hibernian made it three Scottish Premiership wins in a row with victory over a Kilmarnock side whose winless run in the league was stretched to 14 games.
Hibs struck early when Youan was left unguarded at the back post to head home Daniel Barlaser’s cross.
The visitors were well on top in the first half but Killie came out with more purpose after the break and Tyreece John-Jules stabbed home the equaliser after a penalty box scramble.
The home side had goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi to thank for a stunning save which prevented a piledriver of a Barlaser free-kick from finding the top corner.
Oluwayemi did well to also deny McGrath when the Hibs midfielder broke into the box, but Youan was on hand to slide home the rebound.
Killie’s task was made tougher when David Watson was shown a straight red card for an ugly challenge on Barlaser.
Substitute Kieron Bowie was brought down in the box by Jack Thomson and McGrath coolly rolled home the penalty to lock up the three points for Hibs.
The contrast in confidence displayed by both sides in possession could hardly have been more stark in the first half.
Hibs played some lovely stuff, with the interchanges between Youan and Junior Hoilett in particular a cut above anything Killie were able to offer.
The visitors dominated the ball and fashioned some good openings. If David Gray had one complaint at the break, it may have been his team’s failure to make the most of that dominance by creating more clear-cut chances.
That could have proved costly because a Killie side who looked well off it in that opening period suddenly found the intensity and energy that had been lacking in their performance.
They started to hustle and harry Hibs out of their rhythm and that was perhaps best demonstrated by the melee in the penalty area that ended with John-Jules stabbing home the equaliser.
Hibs weathered the mini-storm and finished strongly and there can be few arguments that they were deserving winners.
There was no shortage of desire on show from Killie, but a lack of quality could be there undoing this season.
Unless they can bring in some reinforcements in this transfer window, whoever the new man is in the Rugby Park dugout will face an uphill battle to keep them in the Premiership.
Kilmarnock interim manager Kris Doolan: “We showed character, first of all, to get back into the game. When you get back to 1-1, we were well on top.
“It’s so tight, there’s small margins between the teams and Hibs are a top side. Top side with a top manager. Losing David Watson doesn’t help us.
Hibernian head coach David Gray: “First half especially, I thought we were really good. If we had taken our chances, maybe we would’ve made it a little bit more comfortable earlier.
“Second half, I think was a classic example of us finding a way to win the game because I don’t think we were at our best second half. We lost that control that we had in the first half but we still had big moments in the game and I think over the piece deserved to win the game.”
It’s a basement battle next time out for Kilmarnock who go to fellow strugglers Livingston next Saturday (15:00 GMT).
Hibernian host Motherwell at Easter Road at what is set to be a barnstorming sellout (15:00).
