Jim Jefferies gave
starts to Barry McLaughlin, Stevie Fulton,Gary McSwegan and trialist
George Santos.
The former Sheffield
United midfielder was one of the four Blades players sent off during last
season's infamous "battle of Brammall Lane" but he made headlines for all
the right reasons after two minutes by nodding the visitors ahead.
Greg Shields took on
fullback Jon Crawford and his cross was inch perfect for Santos to head
past Scrimgour.
Killie pressed forward
and Craig Dargo's cheeky back heel found Santos but his chip went narrowly
over.
McSwegan then came close
with an overhead kick in 19 minutes before Santos notched his second three
minutes later.
Andy McLaren held off
Paddy Atkinson and from his low cross Santos scored from close range.
Killie were coasting but
they switched off and it proved costly when the home side pulled one back
in 24 minutes.
Peter Weatherson was
fouled on the edge of the box and new boy Paton fired the free kick past
Gordon Marshall.
Weatherson could have
levelled it in 38 minutes but Marshall pulled off a stunning save.
Killie almost made it
three when McLaren found Kris Boyd but he headed over in 53 minutes.
Hessie was then lucky to
escape with a warning after clattering Stevie Bowey.
John Connolly changed
things with John O'Neill and Joe McAlpine coming on for Sean O'Connor and
McLaughlin.
Queens had claims for a
penalty turned down in 72 minutes when Weatherson crashed to the deck but
referee James Downie ruled that the striker brought down defender Hessey.
The visitors were still
looking to kill the game off and a minute later Canero won possession and
cut inside but then shot wide.
Killie almost handed the
Dumfries men an equaliser when a sloppy Hessey back pass was pounced on by
O'Connor but his shot was blocked.
Jefferies switched his side round at the interval
bringing on five subs and Santos nearly snatched his hat-trick 10
minutes into the second half. Queen's goalkeeper Scrimgour managed to
fingertip a cross from Shields away from the danger-man's head when a
touch would have sent it into the net. Santos was given a standing ovation
by the Kilmarnock support when he was eventually substituted on 76
minutes.
The game lost its flow as Queens introduced four
substitutes towards the end however O'Connor and McColligan both had good
efforts late on but the visitors rear guard held firm as the match
proved a good work out for Kilmarnock.
