Alan Cochrane @ Rugby Park

In normal circumstances, and without meaning any disrespect to the visitors, the Rugby Park faithful would normally be looking for a victory in games like these. These were not normal circumstances. Our injury problems are well known, and Caley, with Craig Brewster re-installed as boss, have been on something of a roll, with three wins on the spin, completed by a four goal romp against Falkirk. Having to include some young and inexperienced players, and not even being able to fill the bench, must have given the home support some cause for concern. They needn't have worried.

An early goal certainlyhelped, but Craig Bryson and Iain Flannigan in mid-field, urged on by James Fowler sitting in behind them, and Willie Gibson and Jamie Hamill as auxiliary wing-backs, gave Killie an exciting look as they surged towards Michael Fraser's goal at every opportunity. When the Caley keeper misjudged a Bryson knock forward and allowed it to come back off the post, Aime Koudou had acres of space to choose from as he clipped in his first goal for the club. We had played 30 seconds.

Killie's confidence immediately was sky-high, the passing interchanges were slick, and Koudou and Colin Nish were winning lots of head flicks against the big Caley defence. Inverness didn't lie down and did make breaks forward, and while Barry Wilson did have one shot which fizzed wide, Kilmarnock were in control and Fraser was much the busier keeper. It was completely out of the blue therefore when a misunderstanding between Simon Ford and Alan Combe gave Caley an equaliser. A long ball through the middle was nodded back towards his keeper by the centre-back, but Combe had come out for it, and the ball rolled past him slowly and inside the post. David Lilley had the chance to restore the lead before half time with a lash from six yards, but he was off balance and the shot went over, and then Fraser had to make a good save with his legs from a Bryson shot.

Early in the second half, Alan Combe had what could be the save of the season with a great double stop from a point-blank Niculae header, but it was still Kilmarnock who were making most of the running. Ten minutes after the break, Colin Nish got due reward for a terrific afternoon's work, which deservedly gained him man of the match. A long kick out by Combe was misjudged by the Caley defence, Nish ran round the central defenders and bravely got his head to the ball and lob it over the out-rushing Fraser, and took a clattering from the keeper for his trouble. Killie were 2-1 ahead, and Nish was back on the pitch within 60 seconds.

Five minutes later it was all square, and if Caley hardly deserved it for their play, the goal itself was a gem. A doubtful free kick was awarded 22 yards out, but Don Cowie had no doubts as he hit a perfect shot up and over the wall and down into the postage stamp to Combe's left. It was quite simply unstoppable. Before the end a Nish header from a Flannigan cross was tipped over by the keeper, and substitute Ryan Jarvis who came on for the last 20 minutes for Koudou, had probably his best run out for the club. He had a ball whipped off his toe at the vital moment, and then just failed to reach a Nish cross as the ball ripped across the 6 yard box.

Craig Brewster was more than happy to get a point on the day, and was first to say how well Killie's youngsters had done. Jim Jefferies was a happy man, because his re-jigged side had worked exactly as he had hoped. As he said it took a crazy goal for them to equalise the first time, and a wonder goal to draw level the second. He had said to the chairman that he and Billy Brown are trying to build the nucleus of a team for the future by bringing in the likes of Gibson, Bryson and Flannigan, but he hadn't expected to bring them all in together, or so soon. It looks as if the future could be in good hands.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Lilley, Wright, Ford, Nish, Gibson, Koudou (Jarvis), Hamill, Bryson, Flannigan (Locke)

ICT: Fraser, Tokely, Maguire, McBain, Wilson (Hastings), Black, Duncan, Munro, Cowie, Niculae (Bayne), Wyness (McDonald)

Referee: Iain Brines