Match ends, Kilmarnock 2, Partick Thistle 2.
KilmarnockKilmarnock2Partick ThistlePartick Thistle2
Partick Thistle missed the chance to leapfrog Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership table as the sides shared four goals at Rugby Park.
Ryan Stevenson gave the visitors a dream start with the opener after just 76 seconds.
Josh Magennis soon levelled for Kilmarnock before Manuel Pascali put the home side in front late on.
That lead was short-lived with Frederic Frans directing the ball past Craig Samson to earn a deserved point.
With St Johnstone dropping points on Friday night, the opportunity was there for both these teams to move closer to the top six.
Thistle came into the game in fine form, having defeated Hamilton handsomely in midweek.
And the early signs were that they were in the mood to build on that 5-0 win, with Stevenson finding the net early with a low shot from 20 yards.
Further evidence came when Kris Doolan - who scored four times against the Accies - headed Kallum Higginbotham's corner into side netting and Stephen O'Donnell drove into the box before testing Samson.
However, as the half wore on, the home side became stronger and Magennis was given time and space to place his low shot past Paul Gallacher.
The second half started at a slow pace, although Thistle's James Craigen shot over from close range under pressure from Samson.
Kilmarnock though they should have been awarded a penalty when Robbie Muirhead hit the deck inside the box, but referee Willie Collum waved away the claims, choosing to stop play only for a head-knock to Frans.
If a goal was coming it always looked more likely to come from the hosts and, after having an earlier goal disallowed, Pascali finally found the net.
A corner landed at the feet of Mark O'Hara, who managed to force the ball through the ruck of players to the waiting Italian, who knocked in from close range.
The lead did not last long, though. Youngster Declan McDaid smacked a volley into the box and Belgian defender Frans got a foot to it to direct the ball into the net.
There was still time for a winner but Higginbotham's long range free-kick was as close as either side came to stealing the points.
Line-ups
Kilmarnock
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Samson
- 22Westlake
- 29Pascali
- 18AshcroftSubstituted forO'Haraat 64'minutes
- 23Chantler
- 7McKenzie
- 8Clingan
- 19Slater
- 28Magennis
- 33MuirheadSubstituted forNgooat 88'minutes
- 16ObadeyiSubstituted forJohnstonat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Barbour
- 10Johnston
- 11Cairney
- 13Brennan
- 21Ngoo
- 26O'Hara
- 36Syme
Partick Thistle
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 12Gallacher
- 2O'Donnell
- 13Frans
- 3Seaborne
- 14ElliottSubstituted forFraserat 64'minutes
- 18Osman
- 7Craigen
- 11LawlessSubstituted forMcDaidat 76'minutes
- 10StevensonSubstituted forBanniganat 57'minutes
- 15Higginbotham
- 9Doolan
Substitutes
- 6Balatoni
- 8Bannigan
- 19Eccleston
- 22Fraser
- 28McDaid
- 30Keenan
- 40Basalaj
- Referee:
- William Collum
- Attendance:
- 4,130
Match Stats
Home TeamKilmarnockAway TeamPartick Thistle
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away6
- Corners
- Home10
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 2, Partick Thistle 2.
Post update
Foul by Manuel Pascali (Kilmarnock).
Post update
(Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Frederic Frans.
Post update
Attempt saved. Kallum Higginbotham (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Foul by Manuel Pascali (Kilmarnock).
Post update
Kallum Higginbotham (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Chris Johnston (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Abdul Osman (Partick Thistle).
Post update
Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Stuart Bannigan (Partick Thistle).
Post update
Foul by Michael Ngoo (Kilmarnock).
Post update
Frederic Frans (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Michael Ngoo replaces Robbie Muirhead.
Post update
Chris Johnston (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Gary Fraser (Partick Thistle).
Goal!
Goal! Kilmarnock 2, Partick Thistle 2. Frederic Frans (Partick Thistle) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Kris Doolan.
Post update
Foul by Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock).
Post update
Stuart Bannigan (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick on the left wing.
