Killie had to make do with a point as Inverness
Caledonian Thistle twice came from behind to level in an exciting Rugby
Park encounter.
Kilmarnock's injury crisis was so bad that they could
only muster five substitutes and three of them were carrying
injuries.
It meant a first start for 19-year-old Iain Flannigan,
who lined up in midfield with Scotland Under-21 cap Jamie
Hamill.
The Caley Thistle line-up had a familiar look about it,
but player-manager Craig Brewster was not even on the bench.
But Killie's depleted side took only 35 seconds to open
the scoring.
Willie Gibson's cross was met by Craig Bryson, goalkeeper
Michael Fraser could only push the ball against the post and
Aimie Koudou tapped in from a few yards out.
Caley had to wait until the 10th minute for their first
real effort on goal but Barry Wilson's shot from 20 yards
was off target.
A Flannigan free-kick then caused problems in the
visitors' defence as Frazer Wright's shot was blocked.
But Caley Thistle drew level in 21 minutes when a punt
into the Killie box was headed into his own net by the
luckless Simon Ford with
Alan Combe stranded. (right)
During Caley's next corner, one of the Killie Faithfull
could be heard yelling at the Killie defence...
"Someone mark Simon (Ford)"
Then David Lilley missed a great opportunity to put Kilmarnock
back in front when he shot over from six yards after a
Flannigan corner fell at his feet.
Don Cowie had an effort beat away by Killie goalkeeper
Alan Combe and, at the other end, Fraser pulled off a good
stop from Craig Bryson.
Lilley came to his side's rescue a couple of minutes
before the break when he headed clear a Cowie cross with
several Inverness players waiting to pounce.
The impressive
Craig Bryson was first to threaten after the
break, but his 30-yard drive was held by Fraser.
Combe punched clear after Marius Niculae met a cross from
Ross Tokely, who then sent a header into the goalkeeper's
arms from 12 yards.
But it was Killie who were back in the lead after 55
minutes, Colin Nish latching onto a long ball
and looping a header home from 18 yards, over the advancing
Fraser (right).
A goal very reminiscent of the goal (Combe punt Nish header)
Killie scored at Easter Rd back in
May of 2007.
Willie Gibson drilled wide from a similar distance as
Killie attempted to add to their lead.
Instead, It took Inverness only four minutes to draw
level again from Cowie's free-kick from 25 yards after
Lilley had fouled Roy McBain.
Combe denied Graham Bayne after the striker met a Russell
Duncan cross from 12 yards.
Tokely and Richard Hastings both had attempts to put
Inverness in the lead for the first time.
And Killie substitute Ryan Jarvis squandered a late
chance by hesitating in front of the Caley Thistle goal.
Manager Jefferies showed some true class in subbing young
Iain Flannigan (above) in the 87th min, so he could get a very well
earned round of applause!
Sandy's Match Pic's are
HERE
55
mins
