Match ends, Kilmarnock 2, Ross County 2.
KilmarnockKilmarnock2Ross CountyRoss County2
Two Kris Boyd goals earned Kilmarnock a point at home to Ross County, who had Filip Kiss sent off.
Kiss had set up Yoann Arquin to put the Staggies in front after half an hour and seven minutes later Yann Songo'o doubled the advantage.
But Boyd's strike in 47 minutes gave the home side hope and when new signing Alexei Eremenko came on and the Slovak was sent off Killie had hope.
And it was Boyd who scored in injury time at Rugby Park to register a draw.
The Staggies should have scored with only five minutes on the clock. Jordan Slew was played through on goal and, although he tried to pick his spot, he instead fired high and wide.
For Kilmarnock, Rory McKenzie looked lively down the right and, after a one-two with Greg Kiltie, his shot was saved by Michael Fraser.
Soon after a great run from Robbie Muirhead ended with his shot flashing just wide.
Midway through the first half there was a flurry of chances for County.
First, Michael Tidser had his shot from the edge of the area saved by Craig Samson but the keeper failed to hold it and the rebound fell to Richie Brittain, who fired in another shot which Samson saved and spilled.
The ball came back to Brittain, who went down in the box under a challenge, but referee Crawford Allan waved play on.
But Derek Adams' team made the breakthrough on the half-hour mark after a flowing attack.
Kiss provided the killer ball to Arquin just inside the box and the striker coolly guided the ball into the corner of the net past the reach of Samson.
Five minutes later Yann Songo'o brought further cheer to the small band of travelling fans in the awful cold and wet conditions as he steered Brian McLean's shot from the edge of the box into the net.
Two minutes into the second half Kilmarnock pulled a goal back in controversial circumstances.
From a corner the ball appeared to strike Kris Boyd's hand but, with no whistle, the striker played on, turned and fired home.
Soon after a refreshed Kilmarnock almost drew level when McKenzie ran through the middle of the County defence and hit a shot from the edge of the area that cannoned back off the post.
Robbie Muirhead then looked like he had equalised after a great run, but his shot went just wide.
Alexei Eremenko came on for the final quarter of the match to a huge roar from the home fans as Kilmarnock intensified their search for an equaliser.
That was boosted further when Kiss was shown a second yellow and County were reduced to 10 men.
Eremenko then demonstrated his imagination and ability, firing in a shot from 25 yards which went just wide.
County hit Kilmarnock on the break a couple of times without putting the game beyond Killie's reach, and it was Boyd who had the final say.
With time almost up the striker found the net with a header as Kilmarnock rescued a point that helps their push for a top-six place.
Line-ups
Kilmarnock
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Samson
- 5Irvine
- 2TesselaarSubstituted forJohnstonat 83'minutes
- 8ClinganBooked at 40mins
- 30Ashcroft
- 29Pascali
- 36KiltieSubstituted forEremenkoat 68'minutes
- 28Slater
- 9Boyd
- 33Muirhead
- 18McKenzie
Substitutes
- 7Nicholson
- 10Johnston
- 12Reguero Chapinal
- 20Eremenko
- 22Maksimenko
- 25Gardyne
- 26O'Hara
Ross County
Formation 4-4-2
- 20Fraser
- 3Gordon
- 28Songo'o
- 8Brittain
- 21McLean
- 26Oikonomou
- 7KissBooked at 76mins
- 12TidserSubstituted forCooperat 65'minutes
- 27ArquinSubstituted forQuinnat 88'minutes
- 25SlewSubstituted forDe Leeuwat 73'minutes
- 23Carey
Substitutes
- 1Brown
- 2Cikos
- 5Boyd
- 10Quinn
- 11De Leeuw
- 15Glen
- 16Cooper
- Referee:
- Crawford Allan
- Attendance:
- 3,372
Match Stats
Home TeamKilmarnockAway TeamRoss County
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away7
- Corners
- Home10
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 2, Ross County 2.
Post update
Foul by Kris Boyd (Kilmarnock).
Post update
Ben Gordon (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Kilmarnock 2, Ross County 2. Kris Boyd (Kilmarnock) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Chris Johnston with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Melvin De Leeuw (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Rocco Quinn replaces Yoann Arquin.
Post update
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Brian McLean.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lee Ashcroft (Kilmarnock) header from the centre of the box is too high.
Post update
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Ben Gordon.
Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Chris Johnston replaces Jeroen Tesselaar.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alexei Eremenko (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Post update
Robbie Muirhead (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Ben Gordon (Ross County).
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Filip Kiss (Ross County).
Post update
Manuel Pascali (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Filip Kiss (Ross County).
Post update
Attempt missed. Kris Boyd (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jackson Irvine (Kilmarnock) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Ben Gordon.
