Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies fielded the same starting 11 which
began the match at Motherwell a fortnight ago for the Bank of Scotland
Premier League meeting with Inverness at Rugby Park.
There was however a new name on the bench for Killie, with Ukrainian
midfielder Dmytro Pronevych among the substitutes after signing a
short-term amateur contract.
The opening few minutes were characterised by some possession
football from both sides but without any end product.
The only moment of early danger arrived as a result of a slack Ross
Tokely back-pass which required Caley keeper Mark Brown to dash off his
line and clear smartly.
The first real chance came in the 13th
minute
when Russell Duncan's cross was cleverly flicked towards the bottom
corner by Dargo, who was denied when Alan Combe brilliantly turned the
ball round his post.
The visitors took the lead with 30 minutes on the clock when Dargo
squared for an unmarked Bayne to calmly side-foot his side ahead from 11
yards out.
The goal spurred the home side on but apart from a couple of
optimistic penalty appeals apart, they were struggling to pose any
threat to Brown's goal.
The only sniff of an equaliser came when Naismith was played in on
goal by Allan Johnston, but Brown again scampered smartly from his line
to clear the danger.
Jefferies made his first substitution during the break when he
replaced midfielder Rhian Dodds - who was the victim of a heavy tackle
just prior to half-time - with striker Colin Nish.
It was a bold move by the former Hearts boss given the fact he had
Gary McDonald, arguably Killie's most talented midfielder, on the bench.
The switch in fact led to a wholesale reshuffle of the home side with
right-back James Fowler moving the central midfield, striker Naismith to
the right wing and Danny Invincibile out to the left in a 4-4-2
formation.
It almost paid immediate dividends when Boyd got on the end of a
Garry Hay cross, only to see his effort shave the outside of the post.
Moments later Caley winger Barry Wilson drove forward from midfield
and, after exchanging passes with David Proctor, should have done better
from 14 yards out than scoop high over the bar.
Jefferies' alterations paid off in the 54th minute when Johnston
crossed from the left and Kris Boyd headed home the
equaliser from no more than two yards out - his 12th goal of the season.
Two minutes later the home side went ahead when Stephen
Naismith burst onto Johnston's marvellous chip and composed
himself before side-footing past Brown. After further review on
Naismith's shot, Colin Nish did get a deft touch to claim
the goal for himself!
Brewster was forced into his first switch on 77 minutes when Ian
Black had to come off due to injury and was replaced by Liam Fox.
Brewster's men grabbed an equaliser seconds later when David
Proctor's cross from the right was headed home by a diving
Craig Dargo
with the Killie defence rooted to the spot.
The Caley boss brought himself on two minutes later in place of Bayne
as the Highlanders went in search of a winner.
Killie also made two changes, Stevie Murray and Gary Wales coming on
for Naismith and Invincibile.
Wales was almost an instant hero with a low drive which Brown did
exceptionally well to turn away and Johnston went close with a
thunderous volley.
The visitors, with Juanjo on for Dargo, kept pressing for a winner
while Brown's brave punch stopped Killie defender Simon Ford from
heading a last-gasp goal.
Note: Boyd's strike moved him level with Paul Wright as Killie's
highest scorer in the top flight and consolidated his position as the
SPL's leading marksmen in all competition
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