7 mins
Kilmarnock may have to steel themselves for
an attempt by Arsenal to plunder Steven Naismith
when the next transfer window opens in January. If
it succeeds then the Rugby Park fans were given a
glimpse yesterday of a future without him, and they
obviously didn’t like it.
A minute's silence was held for former Killie
manager
Walter McCrae,
who died on Friday.
Caley recalled John
Rankin and Ian Black and they caught Killie napping
with a short corner, but Black was inches too high
with a 20-yard strike.
Gary Wales, playing wide left, then saw a first-time strike deflected just over after a great Nish lay-off.
Colin Nish gave Killie the lead in the seventh minute when he threw himself at David Fernandez's deep corner to head home (right) from close range as the Caley defence stood watching.
The big striker, recalled for the injured Steven Naismith, was proving a real handful with his aerial ability and clever touches, along with the return of David Lilley in place of the injured Gordon Greer.
Allan Johnston was wide with a 20-yard drive but Dargo stunned the home support with a 19th-minute leveller.
A long throw from the right was headed towards the far post by Darren Dods and Dargo flicked it into the roof of the net.
A minute later, Frazer Wright almost repeated his match-winning strike against Livingston but his 25-yard free-kick just cleared the Inverness goal.
Inverness were more comfortable in possession after their goal and took the sting out the game.
They had a reasonable penalty claim turned down when Graham Bayne burst through the middle and fell under the presence of two defenders.
Fernandez and Barry Wilson had long-range shots saved at either end as the half ended.
Black, who had been booked for a late tackle on Garry Hay, was replaced by Richard Hart and the second half started with both sides looking to attack.
Caley Thistle screamed for handball against Wright as he challenged at a corner but referee Mike McCurry was five yards away and waved play on.
Nish reached Hay's cross at the other end but Mark Brown comfortably gathered.
The striker's backheel soon set Danny Invincibile on a good run into the box that was halted by a superb tackle from Dods.
Bayne headed two feet wide from 12 yards and his strike partner Dargo soon headed just over after Ross Tokely's far-post cross.
A brilliant cross by Rankin saw Graeme Smith and Grant Murray go for the same ball but Dargo's acrobatic attempt flew wide after Murray had headed it out.
As the game entered the final 20 minutes, Dargo was guilty of an incredible miss from four yards.
Smith was unable to hold Hart's low drive and the striker pounced on the rebound - but hit the post.
Killie
soon created their best chance of the half when
Wales ran to the byline and cut it back for
Fernandez, but Richard Hastings produced a
magnificent block.
Bayne was inches away from converting Dargo's square ball and Hart had a shot deflected wide after Rankin's delightful through ball.
Inverness looked the likelier winners as
the final 10 minutes approached but both sides had
chances to win it in injury-time.
Only a wonder save by Brown denied Kilmarnock a win
they would hardly have merited. It came almost on
full-time when Allan Johnston on the right put over
a perfect cross for defender Frazer Wright, (right)
who scored the extra-time winner in the CIS Cup
victory against Livingston last week, and seems to
have developed a taste for it. He hurled himself at
the ball and it was heading into the net before
Brown launched himself into mid-air to deflect the
effort, before Inverness sub
Iain Campbell raced clear but saw a low shot
smothered by Smith.
Sandy's Match Pic's are HERE
