Peter Canero provided a clinical finish to
give Kilmarnock the points at Rugby Park. This was Killie's first home
win since April the 13th (when we beat Blobby's Hibs!)
Partick Thistle were disappointing and
offered little for their travelling supporters to shout about.
The home side almost broke the deadlock after
just two minutes when Gary Locke picked up the ball and drilled it
into the area, but Chris Boyd failed to get a touch.
Moments later Andy McLaren cut inside and
blazed his right-foot shot well wide of the target, then Fulton hit a
shot just past the post.
The visiting defence were again let off the
hook two minutes later when Gary McSwegan got on the end of Boyd's
knockdown in the box, but he snatched at the chance and blazed over.
McLaren looked the most likely player to
conjure up something and he whipped a ball across the face of goal on
the half hour, but Boyd fired into the side netting.
The home fans were claiming a penalty six
minutes before the break when Paterson appeared to tug Boyd's shirt,
but the player never appealed and the referee did not look interested.
Kilmarnock went ahead three minutes before
the break when Canero took a long pass from Barry McLaughlin inside
the area and fired into the corner of the net.
Kilmarnock suffered a blow four minutes into
the second half when he was forced to leave the field with an arm
injury and on came James Fowler.
Partick threw men forward looking for an
equaliser, and it brought their first real chance in the 73rd minute.
Ricky Waddell crossed to the far post, but
Hardie was unable to find the power or direction in his header to beat
Marshall.
Both managers made changes with Lambie
replacing Waddell with Kenny Milne and Jefferies bringing on Jose
Quitongo for Locke.
Kilmarnock's substitution almost paid off in
the 78th minute when the former Hearts man linked up with Alan Mahood
to give McSwegan a sight of goal, but his shot flashed just past the
post.
Scott McLean had the ball in the net late on,
but he had it chalked off for off-side before Paul di Giacomo returned
for the first time since damaging knee ligaments in January.
Attendance: 6848
Kilmarnock: Gordon
Marshall, Greg Shields, Barry McLaughlin, Frederic Dindeleux, Peter
Canero, Gary Locke (Jose Quitongo, 76), Steve Fulton, Alan Mahood,
Andy McLaren (James Fowler, 50), Kris Boyd, Gary McSwegan (Paul Di
Giacomo, 82)
Subs: Colin Meldrum, James Fowler, Jesus Sanjuan,
Paul Di Giacomo, Jose Quitongo
