Craigan failed to make the start and Clarkson was recalled to an eleven which boasted four strikers. Porter and Sutton lead the line with Murphy and Clarkson filling the wide midfield positions. Hughes and McGarry had the job of commanding the centre. Eddie Thomson remembered
We started brightly and Jamie Murphy caused the Killie defence a few problems. The ball was kept on the deck and we tried to make the best of the pace available on the flanks. A feature of the game was the number of slips players made. Whether a greasy surface or poor choice of footwear was the cause is uncertain but a surprising number of unforced errors resulted from poor grip. Hughes had his moment in ten minutes but his blushes were saved when Smith covered.
The keeper produced a cracking double stop from Bryson then Invincible when it looked like the home side would open the scoring. Sutton's head was our main threat but Combe was only tested in the forty fifth minute when Murphy forced a save low at the keeper's left post.
Clarkson and Invincible were booked for a squabble and interval soon followed.
Two yellow cards
We had an early chance to break the deadlock when a Sutton shot had to be cleared from the line by Fowler. McGarry collected the loose ball and Combe saved the drilled shot from the edge of the box.
Smith and Wright were awarded yellow cards on the same spot as the earlier double booking and the game developed an edge which had been missing earlier. The temperature was raised further when Quinn's professional foul earned him an early bath. He had tripped Fernandez at the edge of the box and trooped off the park with head down.
Killie pressed home the advantage and Smith was called into action defending shots and crosses. Malcolm and Fitzpatrick came on at the expense of Sutton and Clarkson as we adjusted to the reduced number.
The game deteriorated and became increasingly scrappy as we dug in for the point. The tiring Murphy was replaced by O'Brien with five minutes remaining but we couldn't hang on. Taouil's shot was deflected high and fell to Bryson three yards out. Smith was beaten and the game was lost.