May 1st 2004 Killie Vs Livy

Two goals down after 23 mins Killie came storming back to take all 3 points with a superb 4 goal second half performance.

Livi looked home and dry at half time with a two-goal lead thanks to a neat Lee Makel finish and a low curling strike from Burton O'Brien.

But super-sub Colin Nish headed Killie back into things at the start of the second half before a drilled Mark Canning effort levelled things.

Nish's header put Killie ahead and Gary McSwegan added a close-range fourth.

Killie started the brighter of the teams with Eric Skora and Danny Invincibile showing some neat touches in midfield.

It was the Frenchman's clever through-ball that caused the first anxiety in the Livi defence but keeper Roddy McKenzie was quick off his line to clear.

At the other end, Livi striker David Fernandez stung Colin Meldrum's hands after cleverly making room inside the box.

It was a warning Killie failed to heed as, in the 13th minute, Fernandez produced a beautiful reverse pass to send Makel through to tuck the ball past Meldrum for the opening goal.

Kilmarnock pushed in search of an equaliser but in fact it was Livi who struck again after 22 minutes with a spectacular strike.

There seemed no danger when O'Brien had the ball on the edge of the box but his low drive gave Meldrum no chance.

It could have been even worse for the home side on 38 minutes when Livi captain Stuart Lovell missed a near open goal after Meldrum had spilled Derek Lilley's shot.

Skora provided a chink of light for Kilmarnock soon after when he drilled a half-volley into the side netting.

Colin Nish replaced a jaded looking Kris Boyd at the half. Boyd had played in the U-21 Scotland international during the mid-week.

Killie continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession after the break and in the 54th minute they finally got their reward when substitute Colin Nish nodded home after a fine run and cross from Stephen Murray.

Five minutes later, left-back Garry Hay rampaged forward and it took a strong hand from McKenzie to deny him.

After 75 minutes, Danny "boy"Invincibile squared the ball for Mark Canning and his low shot found the corner of the visitors' net. This was Canning's first ever first team start.

Colin Nish claimed his second with an excellent looping header from Gary McDonald's cross on 79 minutes. (right)

Then, three minutes from time, Gary McSwegan made it four from close range, having hit the post just seconds before. McSwegan had only been on the park for less than 10 min's into the bargain as JJ got all his 2nd half moves right!

Kilmarnock: Meldrum, Fowler, Greer, (McDonald 67mins), Dindeleux, Hay, Invincibile, Canning (McSwegan 78 mins) Skora, Dodds, Murray, Boyd (Nish 45 mins).

Subs: Smith & McGregor.

Attendance: 5,023 , Killie Cards: None

Jim Jefferies Post Match Comments... "As bad as they were in the first-half, we were excellent in the second. We're not good enough to swan about like that and allowed Livingston to dominate the game and could have been even further behind. In the first-half, we were nothing like the team which had played well against Celtic and beaten Hibs but, to be fair, the second-half was good and we just showed what we can do. I've told the lads it's easier to win a game from 0-0 but, having said that, 2-0 is a funny score - they think the game is won but, once we got the first goal and the fans got behind us, it made them edgy. I took Kris Boyd off at half-time because he looked tired even though he's our top scorer. I thought Colin made all the difference, not just with his two goals, but with his all-round play." JJ did confirm his half-time team-talk had been "unrepeatable". Sandy's Pics Here