Kilmarnock came from a goal behind to leave Partick
Thistle marooned at the foot of the Scottish Premier League.
The game came to life in a six-minute spell after the break.
Stephane Bonnes slotted the ball home to give Thistle the lead, only
for former Firhill defender David Lilley to fire home almost
immediately.
Kris Boyd, who had come on at half-time, nodded Killie's winner as
the Ayrshire side pulled 12 points clear of the Glasgow outfit.
Thistle had made just one change after their 5-2 win over Livingston
in midweek, Andy Ross coming in for Jean-Yves Anis, who had suffered a
back injury.
The home side made four changes to the side defeated by Rangers in
midweek.
James Fowler, Gary McDonald, Colin Nish and Danny Invincibile were out and Gary Locke, Gary McSwegan, Martin Hardie and Stephen Murray came
in.
John Paul McBride had an early chance for Thistle but headed weakly
into the arms of goalkeeper Francois Dubourdeau at the back post.
But it was Killie who were exerting the pressure and there were cries
for a penalty when Rhian Dodds' effort appeared to come off Ross's arm.
Adrian Madaschi saved Thistle with a last-ditch clearance to deny
Barry McLaughlin.
Killie squandered a chance, when Eric Skora fired a ball into the
crowded box only for McLaughlin to stab his shot well wide of the
target.
Stephen Murray supplied a pass for Dodds two minutes before the break and the midfielder bulleted a shot at goal only to be denied by a superb
block from goalkeeper Kenny Arthur.
Half-time brought gorgeous 21-year-old
Playboy playmate Luci Victoria who disrobed in the
centre circle and plucked raffle tickets from a bucket. (Well she
removed her fur coat at any rate)
There was hardly a rush indoors for the pies. The substitutes on the
pitch were less interested in their practice balls than this blonde in
the leather trousers while the groundsmen leaned casually on their
pitchforks and refrained from their repair work.
It was only thereafter that the action hotted up
A Grady shot seemed to be dipping under the crossbar until Killie
goalkeeper Dubourdeau managed to claw the effort clear shortly after the
break.
Stephane Bonnes initiated a frantic seven
minute spell after the re-start. The former Celtic player put Partick
Thistle in front - and might have extended their lead had he not blasted
over the crossbar having sprinted clear of a messy Kilmarnock defence.
"Our first break in weeks," said a relieved
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies, who saw his team record their first
league win since early December. "We went from nearly 2-0 down to 2-1
up. Our fans get criticised but they deserve credit today and the
players responded by getting the victory we merited."
After Bonnes failed to shove Thistle further in front, Kilmarnock
equalised. Eric Skora’s centre was headed back across a congested
goalmouth and Derek Lilley somehow contrived to connect
spectacularly, sending the ball fizzing beyond Arthur.
With their next attack Kilmarnock were ahead, Kris Boyd
this time turning finisher with an excellent close-range header from an
equally precise Skora cross. Boyd, who had only surfaced during the
second-half, could have had a hat-trick, according to Jefferies, but the
20-year old was fairly happy with his showing, declaring that "I’ll not
be too greedy".
The young striker reflected on a season so far that started well for him
but tailed off towards Christmas. "My form dipped a bit but hopefully I
can turn it around now."
Kilmarnock cannot be said to have turned their recent bad run of results
around with this one victory, but the fallout from Rugby Park now leaves
them 12 points ahead of Thistle. If Kilmarnock were not equating
themselves with a basement battle before the match, they are even less
likely to subscribe to that viewpoint now.
The real bright spot of the game was the display of 20-year-old
Stephen Murray, a real live-wire for the home side on the
left wing. He continued to threaten in the second half and fully
deserved the standing ovation he received when he was substituted in the
final minute.
,
Greer
