Hibernian manager Mixu Paatelainen branded his midfield as "lazy" after the Easter Road side lost their SPL opener to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.An 80th-minute strike from Killie substitute Jamie Hamill, while Hibs full-back David van Zanten was off receiving treatment for a head knock, gave the Ayrshire side all three points.

Paatelainen's side have gone 14 games without a win - including friendlies - stretching back to the end of last season.

In addition to castigating his midfielders Dean Shiels, Filipe Morais and Fabian Yantorno, the latter coming on as substitutes, the former Hibs striker also criticised striker Colin Nish who missed a first-half sitter.

And Paatelainen, who admitted to being "deeply concerned" about the defeat, vowed to get rid of those players who he feels let him down against Killie.

He said: "I felt we had the game under control, we looked excellent defensively.

"I was hoping that it was just a matter of time before we scored a goal.

"But once again we didn't punish them. You don't get a more glorious chance than the one we had in the first half.

"Clearly your striker must score in that situation, it's as simple as that.

"I feel sorry for the back four because I felt they defended fantastically well.

"With 10 men we were outnumbered for most of the time but our midfielders didn't want to defend and we got punished.

"Being a man down shouldn't have affected us but it did. It was purely laziness and certain individuals know that. If you have lazy players like that out on the pitch then you are always open and liable to lose goals.

"Players who have a lazy streak won't play for my team.

"I pointed it out to the players and they must accept what I say. It's a fact and that's what happened."

Shiels refused to comment on his boss' accusations of laziness and also denied he had an on-field bust-up with team-mate Steven Fletcher.

However, the Irishman admitted Hibs should have coped better with the loss of Van Zanten.

He said: "I fancied us to go on and win the game but when David went off, we lost our shape a bit.

"I think we chased the game instead of saying, 'we are better taking a point'.

"We could have dealt with the situation better and been more organised and harder to beat."

Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies had a go at those pundits who tipped the Ayrshire side to struggle against relegation this season.

He said: "Wins and performances like that might shut a few people up about us and relegation.

"It was a great goal by Jamie, he is a versatile player and a handy man to have in the squad.

"I was pleased for him because it was a goal fit to win any game."

Jefferies was all the more pleased to have won the opening-day game after losing the services of first-choice centre-back pairing Ryan O'Leary and Simon Ford during a hard-fought 90 minutes.

He said: "Ryan's shoulder has popped out and we will see on Monday how long he will be out for and Simon has stitches.

"But Frazer Wright came on played well and this season we have more competition for places."

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