At half time things were looking pretty bleak for Killie! Having to use two subs due to injuries sustained on the park (Invincible & Locke) and a goal down into the bargain! Not to mention Killie knew they had only scored twice in two games Vs a hard-working Thistle at home last season, both through the missing Peter Canero.

However Kris Boyd showed the form that had impressed Wolverhampton Wanderers by scoring the winner as Kilmarnock came from behind to leave 10-man Partick Thistle seeing red.

The English Premiership club are keeping tabs on the striker, who apparently showed up well on trial earlier this week.

And the 19-year-old responded with a stunning volley midway through the second half that clinched victory.

Thistle had taken the lead through James Grady in the first half despite having defender David Lilley sent off.

But Martin Hardie came back to haunt Thistle by equalising with his first goal for his new club before Boyd's winner.

Defender Chris Innes was suspended after receiving a red card in last weekend's 4-0 defeat by Rangers and was replaced by James Fowler, while Gary McSwegan replaced Paul Di Giacomo up front.

Thistle manager Gerry Collins kept faith with the same 11 that drew 1-1 with Livingston.

Grady had squandered a good chance by poking the ball over from 14 yards before

Killie's first attempt on goal came from Aussie summer signing Invincibile.

The striker, signed from Swindon, latched on to a McSwegan pass and drove at the Jags goal. His first shot was blocked by Derek Whyte but the follow- up prompted a stunning one-handed save by keeper Jakup Mikkelsen.

Invincibile was part of a three-pronged Killie attack alongside McSwegan and Kris Boyd.

The trio combined well and Boyd's lay-off allowed the big Oz front man another shot on goal. But the ball sailed over the bar.

In 13 minutes it was McSwegan's turn to get in on the act with a turn and shot inside the box that did not trouble the Faroe Islands keeper.

Sweggy almost sent the Rugby Park crowd into raptures three minutes later.

When Boyd's run was halted by Whyte the former Rangers and Hearts star's curling shot rippled the top of Mikkelsen's net.

The home side's pressure started to tell and Lilley was sent off after 18 minutes after he showed his studs in a bad tackle on Killie new boy Danny Invincible.

The Australian striker followed him into the dressing-room a few minutes later after failing to recover from his injury.

Collins made a quick tactical substitution, with Jean-Yves Anis coming as a right-back to fill in for Lilley, with midfielder Stephane Bonnes being withdrawn.

Thistle made Kilmarnock pay for missed chances after 39 minutes.

A John Paul McBride corner on the left found Grady unmarked in the Killie box and the downward header from the smallest man on the park bounced up and looped over Garry Hay on the goal-line and into the roof of the net.

Killie's woes were compounded when midfielder Gary Locke's injury nightmares continued when he was carried from the field just before the break.

His place was taken by Martin Hardie and, after Thistle's 10 men controlled the latter stages of the first half, the former Firhill man grabbed the equaliser a minute after the break.

Stevie Fulton set up Martin Hardie at the edge of the box and the Killie debutant sent a right-footed shot from just outside the box past Mikkelsen and into the corner of the net.

His strike lifted the crowd and his teammates who suddenly looked like they could go on and claim three points.

In 53 minutes Boyd wasted a gilt-edged chance from just three yards.

McSwegan's chested lay-off was perfect for the gangly striker but the youngster allowed Kenny Milne in with a last- ditch tackle.

When Taylor committed a rash challenge on Hardie no-one in the jags camp could protest against the yellow card.

Boyd had been on trial with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the start of the week and they will have been impressed by his winning goal.

On the hour mark, however, the home side took the lead for the first time in the game with a tremendous Kris Boyd goal.

Fulton swung a left-footed free-kick deep into the box and, when Thistle midfielder Taylor carelessly headed the ball towards the edge of the box, the incoming Boyd unleashed a right-foot volley which flew into the net giving Mikkelsen no chance.

Thistle's 10 men started to dominate.

Jim Jeffries threw on defender Barry McLaughlin for McSwegan but despite the defensive switch Killie were allowing Jags to pile on the pressure.

In the 75th minute, Grady almost caught out Colin Meldrum with a cross which nearly dipped under the crossbar but the Killie keeper reacted quickly to push the ball away.

Then, as Thistle pressed, a David Rowson shot from 25 yards went inches over the bar but, ultimately, the home side did enough to merit the win.

During the closing stages Killie boss Jim Jefferies, could be seen endlessly barking formation instructions to his team as they failed to find a decent shape to handle the short manned  Thistle.

At the end of the day Partick left Rugby Park for 8th consecutive time empty handed!

Attend: 6,778

Kilmarnock: Meldrum, Dindeleux, Hessey, Shields, Fowler, Fulton, Locke, (Hardie, 41 mins),Hay, Invincible, (Di Giacomo, 26 mins) McSwegan,(McLaughlin, 75 mins), Boyd.

Subs Not Used: Dubourdeau, Nish.

Bookings: None.