(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
A Kevin Holt own goal and an Oli Shaw screamer helped Tommy Wright’s Kilmarnock move one point off the top of the Scottish Championship a 2-0 victory over Partick Thistle.
Thistle started the match very well. They forced goalkeeper Zach Hemming into a save straight from kick-off. Kyle Turner then had a low drive saved while Zak Rudden was inches away from putting the hosts in front and almost won a penalty within the opening ten minutes.
Rudden missed a chance. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group via Getty Images)
Kilmarnock won their own spot-kick five minutes into the second half after referee Willie Collum blew for a challenge on Scott Robinson in the box. However, Thistle goalkeeper Jamie Sneddon denied Shaw from 12 yards and then the rebound from Shaw was ballooned over the bar.
However, a minute later, the visitors had the lead in bizarre circumstances. A cross from the left saw the attempted clearance from Holt sail past Sneddon and into the Thistle net.
The Firhill club didn’t seem to find their rhythm that they had in the opening 45 and it was Shaw who made it 2-0 to the visitors after 65 minutes with a wonderful finish on the half volley into the top corner. The result sees Killie go to just a point behind leaders Inverness. Here are three things we learned.
Shaw netted, eventually. (Photo by Ken Macpherson/MB Media/Getty Images)
Killie’s only loss this season was a 1-0 home defeat to Inverness at the end of August. They have now racked up three wins on the bounce and lie just a point off top. Manager Wright has certainly built a squad of players that are made to be playing their football in the Scottish Premiership next season.
Thistle played some very nice passing football and looked like they have personnel who can really cause defences problems this season, especially in the opening 25 minutes of this match. Although the reality is for all the nice play and crosses into the box, they rarely tested Killie’s goalkeeper Hemming.
Shaw has been with Hibs and Ross County but has never consistently banged in the goals to establish himself as a ‘goal scorer’. However, the summer recruit scored his first goal for the Ayrshire club in emphatic fashion to seal the points in this match just minutes after being visibly frustrated at missing a penalty.
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