Killie's Turn To Burn The Toastie!

(Photos from SNS & used with permission)

Kilmarnock 1 - 0 Partick Thistle
(SPL Match No.28 Feb 23rd 2003 - Rugby Park)

Killie wearing their "lucky" 3rd red strip picked up a valuable 3points at home despite giving up a slew of corners in the second half. Thistle won 11 second half corners (to none for Killie), however they found Killie's back 3 (inc Gary Locke who came on for an injured Freddie Dindeleux after 60 min's)  a very resolute proposition.

A goal in the dying seconds of the first half by Peter Canero gave Kilmarnock a 1-0 victory over Partick Thistle.

The Scotland Under-21 international popped up to drive a low 20-yard shot through a ruck of players and into the corner of the net.

It would have made a positive impression on Berti Vogts, who traveled to Ayrshire on the eve of his latest Future Team experiment in Turkey to cast his eye over Canero as well as Arthur.

The second half began badly for the home side when Freddie Dindeleux was wheeled away on a stretcher following a sickening clash of heads with David Rowson. Rowson was able to continue after treatment but the French defender's plight appeared rather more serious, with Fulton immediately signaling to the bench for a replacement.

Jefferies threw on Gary Locke, who slotted into the back three alongside McLaughlin and Chris Innes.

Kilmarnock survived another in the "sickening head clash" category, Barry McLaughlin emerging with a deep cut from a challenge with Kevin McGowne They're made of sturdy stuff in Paisley and the defender soldiered on to deny Burns.

The visitors then huffed and puffed to get back on level terms but could not break down the resolute Kilmarnock defence.

It was the home side who nearly took the lead in the third minute when, following a lucky deflection, Jamie Fowler found himself with only Kenny Arthur to beat in the Thistle goal.

The Killie midfielder slid his angled shot under Arthur's body but the ball bounced off the inside of the post before being cleared to safety.

Thistle striker Alex Burns was proving a thorn in the side of the Kilmarnock defence and in the 19th minute his deep cross from the left found David Lilley at the back post.

But with a goal looking certain, the Jags wing-back suffered stage fright and blasted the ball wide and high past Killie keeper Colin Meldrum's left-hand post.

As the game entered its closing stages the Maryhill men were increasing their pressure on the Killie goal but the home side held firm, although at times their defending was desperate rather than comfortable.

Martin Hardie's goal bound looping header from 12 yards was touched past the post at the expense of a corner by goalkeeper Colin Meldrum.

Central defender Chris Innes cleared off the Kilmarnock line following a goalmouth scramble and Thistle had penalty claims denied when Jamie Mitchell appeared to be impeded by Meldrum in a crowded six-yard box.

Kilmarnock: Meldrum, McLaughlin, Innes, Dindeleux, (Locke 51) Fowler, McDonald, n Fulton, Mahood, Canero, McSwegan, (Boyd 68) McLaren (Di Giacomo 88).
Subs (not used): Stewart, Hay,

Partick Thistle: Arthur, Archibald, Craigan, Lilley, McGowne, Paterson, Buchan (Fleming 82), n Hardie, Rowson, Burns, Elliot (n Mitchell 62).
Subs (not used): Budinauckas, Howie, Waddell.

Referee: I. Brines
Attendance: 5,651