Killie left to wonder ‘what if?’

ALAN ARCHIBALD praised the character of his side for twice coming back to earn a point at Rugby Park but cursed David Azeez for not securing a last-gasp victory.

Killie had been ahead through Kris Boyd and then Soulemayne Coulibaly but Stevie Lawless and then Liam Lindsay cancelled out these strikes.

In the third minute of stoppage time substitute Azeez was sent through on Jamie MacDonald but made a mess of an attempted lob and the Killie keeper saved.

Archibald said: “I think it was a good point when you are twice behind.

“We showed great character both times to get back into the game but at the same time we missed a one-on-one with 30 seconds to go but there is always that wee bit of what if.”

The bravery of Boyd following the tragic death of his brother Scott has been remarkable and not surprisingly he dedicated his 17th minute goal to the 27-year-old.

It was a typical Boyd goal as he came alive in the box to capitalise on a failed clearance by Liam Lindsay to toe poke a leftfoot shot past Ryan Scully.

He then raised his arms, pointed his index fingers and looked up to the heavens in memory of Scott as he was mobbed by his Killie team-mates.

Thistle should have levelled in 23 minutes when Chris Erskine hit a lovely reverse pass into the path of Kris Doolan .

But he aimed his angled shot too close to Jamie MacDonald who was able to save with his right boot.

However, they found the equaliser 11 minutes later when David Amoo whipped in a low cross from the right and Lawless nipped in front of Scott Boyd to fire home from close range.