Killie retained their unbeaten status in 2016 as they overcame an Inverness team at a white-washed Rugby Park. If possible, Gary Locke’s side looked even sharper than during last week’s cup win at St Johnstone. Their performance not being affected in a game that was twice stopped along with an extended half-time in order to clear snow from the pitch.
Contrary to many games during the first half of the season, Killie started the better side and it was the home side who drew first blood after nine minutes when the ball rebounded in the Inverness box and Greg Kiltie was on hand to fire in. For the next half an hour Killie were dominant and should have added to their one goal advantage, however some poor quality in the final third let them down. This lack of conviction proved to be fatal as just before half time, the Highlanders were level when Ross Draper fired in from all of six yards after some uncharacteristically slack Killie defending at a corner.
After a brief appearance from a tractor at half time to clear the snow, the game restarted with Killie again on the front foot. It didn’t take long for the boys in blue to take the lead again. Six minutes after the restart, the ball broke to Slater on the edge of the box and he volleyed into the top corner, with a little help from the underside of the crossbar.
Killie defended stoutly until the final whistle as even with seven minutes of injury time, Inverness couldn’t force an equaliser. The Ayrshire side are now fourteen points ahead of rock bottom Dundee United and with next week’s six pointer at Tannadice looming, Killie will be looking to make it almost impoosible that United can catch them.
TEAM LINE-UPS
KILMARNOCK INVERNESS
21 MacDonald 25 Fon Williams
24 Syme 02 Raven
18 Ashcroft 15 Wedderburn
26 Balatoni 05 Warren
05 Findlay 03 Tremarco
04 Hamill 08 Draper
19 Slater 20 Polworth
39 Frizzell 16 Tansey
23 Kiltie 19 Williams
11 Higginbotham 27 Vigurs
20 Carrick 39 Storey