Killie win leaves Inverness on brink of relegation
CALEY THISTLE’S hopes of remaining in the top flight are hanging by a thread as they remain four points adrift with just two matches remaining.
And ironically, they are now relying on Highland rivals Ross County doing them a favour against Hamilton on Tuesday night because an Accies win would send them down. In truth, they have looked like a team heading for the drop for weeks and it will end seven years in the top flight if and when their fate is sealed.
They can point to a spirted last 20 minutes when they made Killie sweat for their victory when Alex Fisher scored but it was all too little too late.
They have only won three Premiership matches since October 29 last year which tells its own story.
While much of the focus is now on the desperate plight of Richie Foran and his team, the victory has ensured Kilmarnock cannot be dragged into the play-off situation.
And their win – secured by goals from Sean Longstaff and Jordan Jones – is surely further proof that Lee McCulloch should be given the manager’s job on a permanent basis.
The only complaint McCulloch will have is that his side made life more difficult for themselves than they need have done as they were is such control.
The forward players behind Conor Sammon – Jones in particular – were excellent as they ran and stretched ICT for most of the day.
They were ahead in 17 minutes when a Ryan Esson blunder allowed Longstaff to score.
The Inverness defence failed to properly clear Greg Kiltie’s corner and
when Luke Hendrie played it back in, Esson tried to punch it then let the ball squirm from his finger as he made a second attempt.
Longstaff was on to the loose ball quickly and drove a low shot which Brad McKay could not prevent from finding the back of the net
Although dominant, Killie could not find a killer pass to give them the second goal they craved and it took a superb solo effort from Jones in 57 minutes to give them the cushion they needed.
He took a pass from Longstaff on hallway and burst towards the ICT box then sold Gary Warren a dummy before slotting a left foot shot past Esson.
The Killie fans lapped it up and it seemed as though more goals from come.
But the Rugby Park men where stopped in their tracks when Caley Thistle scored in 71 minutes.
It was substitute Iain Vigurs who set it up with a great pass through to Alex Fisher – who had missed a decent chance in two minutes – and he shot home from 16 yards.
However, it was too little too late.