If Alexei Eremenko is worth £1million as his Ukrainian club claim - and he looked every penny of it last night - Killie's Mehdi Taouil and Conor Sammon would land seven-figure sums.

Craig Bryson, Liam Kelly and Jamie Hamill inflicted the damage with Richie Foran's reply at 2-0 failing to muster a revival for tired Caley.

Defeat for the Highlanders hot on the heels of a Boxing Day beating by St Mirren ends 2010 on a bitter note.

Killie came north pumped up with confidence after a draw at Celtic Park and only one defeat - 3-2 against Rangers - in their last eight matches.

The home side started brightly enough, with Foran dropping a header over the bar from Russell Duncan's corner after just three minutes.

As the first half unfolded, though, Killie began to click into gear.

The hosts were clearly struggling to stem the slick, fluid attacking play of Taouil, Eremenko and the powerful Sammon who linked superbly.

Sammon was hard to pin down after 15 minutes as he burst through to release Taouil but he crashed a shot off the junction of bar and post.

Eremenko was soon showing his value and had a fine free-kick from 25 yards pushed away from inside the right-hand post by Ryan Esson.

Killie's energy and clever inter-play told for the opener after 25 minutes.

Taouil's weighted ball over the top sent Sammon thundering into the box.

Ross Tokely's tackle was superbly timed but laid the loose ball on a plate for Craig Bryson to power low into the net from just eight yards out, for his first goal of the season.

The pressure was cranked up even further but Caley Thistle threatened after 32 minutes.

Graeme Shinnie's corner found Foran at the back of the box. The Irishman's header across goal fell for Rooney, but not kindly and his fluffed effort was blocked and hooked clear.

Another penetrating Eremenko run after 35 minutes found Tokely squeezing the ball away for a corner.

From the Finland star's delivery, Frazer Wright had a free header but thundered it wide.

Towards the break, there were more shaky moments for Caley with Taouil's shot clutched well by Esson.

The second half opened in much more subdued fashion, but Foran began to gain some joy on the left.

After 53 minutes one of his several crosses found Rooney rising to head but Wright intervening for a corner.

Some of Killie's play was a delight but the home side finally got going.

Young Nick Ross threatened and threaded Eric Odhiambo in to the right side of the box after 61 minutes.

Wright was more than a touch lucky to escape a penalty as he seemed to catch the Caley striker clumsily.

Ref Willie Collum took a long, hard look before waving away the claims.

Paatelainen's side tore back at them three minutes later with Taouil's wonderful run before seeing his strike deflect off Tokely's leg for a corner.

Killie got their just reward after 68 minutes with the second goal.

Ben Gordon strode away on the left flank and his hammered cross found Liam Kelly nodding home.(Right).

But it was game on again just two minutes later. Russell Duncan fed Foran to the left of the box and his angled drive nicked off a defender's leg and the keeper's glove on its way in.

Suddenly it was all Inverness before Killie grabbed the crucial third.

Bryson danced through on Esson and was brought crashing down for a penalty by the home keeper.

Esson blocked Hamill's penalty but the Killie man stroked in the rebound.

KILMARNOCK: Bell , Hamill , Pascali , Wright , Gordon , Eremenko , Kelly , Fowler , Bryson , Taouil  (Silva 87 mins), Sammon  (Miguel 90 mins)

Sandy's Match Pic's are HERE