IT used to be all about the pies at Rugby Park.

Voted best in football time and again, their meaty goodness enclosed with a crust the way God intended was about the only thing Kilmarnock’s football club could boast about for far too many years.

After finishes of eighth, eleventh (a play-off was needed to avoid relegation), tenth, ninth and ninth, this was club lacking a plan, personality and a dwindling support. There was even whispers about the Killie pie not being what it was.

That brought them to the start of last season. Bottom of the league at October without a win, Lee McCulloch was sacked, in came Steve Clarke and 18 months later, Kilmarnock tonight sit third in the Scottish Premiership, one game away from European football, which would be their time at that level for 18 years.

Kilmarnock are ahead of Aberdeen on goal-difference (six), are at home to Rangers next Sunday with their rivals at Easter Road. If Clarke’s men do get third, an already remarkable story

Even that poet from down Alloway-way would struggle to put together the correct words down on a page.

"We’ve come a long way," said Clarke the master if understatement. "Credit to the players. It’s nice to be in the position we are but it’s a tough game next week.

"If we match Aberdeen’s result it would give us third which would be tremendous.

"We have already achieved this seasons so we go into next week with no pressure and try to finish the job the supporters want us to finish.

"What would taking the team into Europe mean to me? Not a lot. I’d be happy for the fans, the players and the club but to me it’s just part of my job."

Kilmarnock have given Rangers just one stand next Sunday in the hope their supporters will turn out in numbers.

"I just hope Kilmarnock fans realise the big decision this club has made to close off one of those stands and hopefully they turn up and prove everyone correct," said Clarke.

This game deserved better than a disputed penalty to be its only goal. Both teams played entertaining stuff with Kilmarnock, it must be said, by far the better side.

The only goal came on 31 minutes, 60 seconds after a quite remarkable save by Hibernian goalkeeper Ofir Marciano who seemed to twist his body inwards as he got his hand to a bulleted header from Gary Dicker.

That was from a corner. Chris Burke was again on set-piece duty and this time when the ball came into the box, Kilmarnock’s Alex Bruce and Hibernian captain David Gray were both pulling and pushing.

Referee Andrew Dallas deemed it to be a penalty, Gray strongly disagreed, but Eamonn Brophy didn’t take and scored from 12 yards.

“You can see it’s soft, Alex felt contact, went down and the ref has seen it," was the take of Hibernian manager Paul Heckingbottom who didn't cover himself in glory by saying something to Bruce who was waiting to the talk to the press.

Bruce felt the need to defend himself against accusations of "diving"in the Kilmarnock media room. It was clear what the two thought of one another.

It’s true to say Kilmarnock are organised but don’t mistake a strict set-up for boring when it comes to the actual football. They are an attacking side, full of endeavour, invention, bravery on and off the ball.

The passing, short and long, is pacey, as is the movement off the ball. They should have scored more.

Brophy missed a terrific opportunity on 54 minutes when a superb ball over the top by Youssouf Mulumbu put the striker clean through. He had time and space but sent his shot wide to his complete disbelief.

For once, Kilmarnock’s final ball was suspect. They were in control but Hibs almost stole in with three minutes to go when Thomas Agyepong’s dipping shot from outside the box could easily have bamboozled Daniel Bachman who was happy to push the ball over.

Scorers

Kilmarnock: Brophy 31 (pen)

Hibernian: None