Ian Black was booked for flattening Combe in the opening minutes and
that set the tone for what was a bad tempered match, littered with fouls
and hefty challenges.
But it was the visitors who were sharper in the tackle and carried more
attacking menace, so it was no surprise when they took the lead on 14
minutes.
The home side allowed Don Cowie's deep cross from the left to reach the
onrushing Imrie at the back post and the midfielder's shot slammed into
the net via a deflection and the underside of the crossbar.
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies must have been furious at the slipshod
nature of the defending, but nothing could have prepared him for the
shocking circumstances under which the second goal was gifted away.
Eight minutes before the interval, Cowie lofted a hopeful ball into the
penalty box and Wood beat Combe to what looked a routine catch.
The ball simply bobbled off the top of the striker's head and bounced
over the goal-line.
David Fernandez made a rare break forward for Killie, but his shot from
20 yards was comfortably gathered by Ryan Esson.
Taouil drove Kilmarnock on just before the interval and the little
Moroccan came close with a cross from the left that saw Allan Russell
inches away from connecting for a header right in front of goal.
Russell did get his head to a good Craig Bryson delivery early in the
second half, but the striker's effort was blocked by defender David
Proctor, who did not appear to know much about it.
Combe did not return for the second half and his replacement, Damien
Rascle, made a terrific reaction save to keep out a close range header
from Wood.
Not to be outdone, Esson matched his opposite number's acrobatics with
a super effort to scoop away a sharp downward header from Manuel Pascali.
With Taouil at the heart of things, Killie did most of the pressing in
the latter stages, but the visitors remained a threat on the break.
Substitute Andrew Barrowman slid a shot narrowly wide from 18 yards on
one such counter-attack.
The same player had the ball in the back of the net on 80 minutes but
was thwarted by a linesman's flag.
Kilmarnock pulled a goal back on 84 minutes when
Willie Gibson exchanged
passes with Fernadez and drilled a shot beyond Esson from the edge of the
penalty box.
Gibson was then clipped by Imrie to win a penalty, but Taouil sent his
spot-kick into the crowd.
Sandy's Match Pic's are
HERE
