AT THE fourth time of asking Inverness recorded an SPL win on their own patch with what in the end was a convincing win over an in-form Kilmarnock. It may have been smattered with more than hint of controversy but Craig Brewster will know this could be a launching pad for his side.
Kilmarnock had only ever lost once previously at the Caledonian Stadium and they made the sort of rapid start teams in-form make on grounds they enjoy. Michael Fraser was the guilty party for the home team with a horrible flap at a hanging Jamie Hami
ll set-piece, allowing Simon Ford to cross for Connor Sammon to easily find the back of the net.
Having breezed past Aberdeen in midweek and boasting an unbeaten record against all teams outside the Old Firm, Jim Jefferies men were brimming with confidence and should have doubled their lead soon after. Mehdi Taouil showed lovely touch and an electric turn of pace before feeding goal-scorer Sammon who really ought to have at least worked Fraser instead of scooping his strike high over the bar.
It was an ominous start from Caley, yet despite being overwhelmed in the early exchanges they dug deep and somehow managed to completely turn the tide. They posted warning of their intent when Sammon was forced to head off his own line and Roy McBain drove narrowly wide.
An equaliser was clearly in the offering and it arrived midway through the first half. Kilmarnock failed to clear their lines and Phil McGuire took advantage with a slightly fortunate finish high past Alan Combe.
By now the home team were dominating with Ian Black spraying passes in midfield and the movement of Andy Barrowman and Dougie Imrie in attack causing the visitors problems. Indeed Black nearly fired his team into the lead with a well-struck 20 yard drive that Combe did superbly to get strong hands to.
With half time looming, both managers no doubt felt they had periods of supremacy to build upon and some defensive shenanigans to iron out. The nature of both managers team talk was transformed entirely however with the award of a much debated 42nd minute penalty.
Thistle's former Kilmarnock striker, Andy Barrowman, sprinted into the area and when challenged by Craig Bryson went to ground for what in the eyes of referee Craig Winter was a penalty, much to the astonishment of Kilmarnock who vociferously protested the decision en-masse with both Combe and James Fowler earning themselves bookings. When the dust settled and the finger pointing desisted Barrowan crashed home from 12 yards.
Unsurprisingly this proved to be the pivotal moment in a keenly contested clash. It wasn't just the loss of a goal that seemed to rock Killie – it was the timing off it, coming as it did on the cusp of the break.
For all Jim Jefferies men huffed and puffed in a bid to get back on a level footing they never overly troubled Fraser in the home goal and it was Thistle who always seemed to carry more of a threat. Indeed, had it not been for Alan Combe, who again showed why he should be in the Scotland squad, the margin of the defeat could have been far heavier.
He first denied Ian Vigurs with a flying stop and then kept out Russell Duncan with a low stop at his near post. Combe's goalkeeping was the only thing convincing about Killie in a second period they will want to forget.
They can argue all day and night about the award of the penalty, but some of their defending was nothing short of appalling, and once they fell behind they seemed to lack any appetite for the battle back to parity. The level of Killie's performance in the latter stages was summed up by the amateurish dismissal of James Fowler, who picked up a second booking for a needless foul in a nothing position.
Final confirmation of just how poor Kilmarnock had become came ten minutes from the end as Caley extended their lead. The very fact it was Ian Black, hardly a man mountain and arguably the smallest man involved in the action, was able to thump home an unchallenged header from a Vigurs corner tells it's own tale
Caley refused to relent and only another excellent stop from Combe denied Don Cowie a fourth when the former Ross County man who was allowed oceans of space inside the area. However, Caley would have taken a 3-1 win all day long and will be overjoyed with the result as well as the performance.
The full article contains 789 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
