ICT top six bid ended
Jonny Hayes, left, scored against Kilmarnock on Saturday, while goalkeeper Ryan Esson played a key role in the 1-1 SPL draw.
CALEY Thistle’s bid to finish in the top six of the Clydesdale Bank SPL ended with Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock.
Jonny Hayes fired the Inverness side into a 10 minute lead, but Liam Kelly replied swiftly to ensure a share of the spoils.
Terry Butcher’s team had to win and hope Motherwell lost at Hearts, but the Steelmen earned a draw to land that final upper half spot.
Both sides at Rugby Park went out to attack, especially in the first half, and the Highlanders took the lead when Hayes won possession from Garry Hay, cut inside Tim Clancy before firing a fine shot past keeper Anssi Jaakkola into the net.
Kenny Shiels, Killie’s caretaker manager, is hoping that he can lead the team to a strong finish following the departure of Mixu Paatelainen, who is now Finland’s head coach.
He will have been happy with the quick response to this early set-back.
Impresssive midfielder Alexei Eremenko picked out Kelly with a superb pass and Kelly lifted the ball over Esson into the net.
Kilmarnock then had a goal disallowed for offside when Frenchman William Gros thought he’d got the better of the ICT defence.
Esson, though, was in terrific form at the weekend and was keen to ensure Kelly’s goal was the only one he’d concede.
On 29 minutes, he got the better of Gros after he faced him one-on-one.
Rui Miguel for the hosts and then Lee Cox had chances as they pushed to edge their teams ahead.
Home keeper Jaakkola caused a moment of panic when he almost let Aaron Doran’s free-kick from his grasp and spill over the goal-line.
The second half was not as lively as the first, but Esson came to the rescue more than once for Caley Thistle.
He made a fine save from Miguel and then watched the same player lash the ball over the top on 55 minutes.
Gros squandered a golden chance when he missed a back post header from close range, with no marker on hand to halt him.
James Dayton, back from a lengthy spell on the sidelines, tested Esson, but the goalkeeper pulled off another stunning stop.
The former Aberdeen number one then somehow managed to deny sub David Silva a late winner.
So, a decent result for the Caley Jags at Kilmarnock, but the draw was not enough to keep alive their top six challenge.
This Saturday, Hearts are the visitors to Inverness.
Kilmarnock: Jaakkola, Hamill, O’Leary, Clancy, Hay, Kelly, Fowler (Silva 88), Eremenko, Bryson, Gros (McKenzie 58), Miguel (Dayton 71). Subs not used: Letheren (GK), Evans, Pursehouse, Aubameyang.
Inverness CT: Esson, Duff, Hogg, Tokely, Gillet, Hayes, Cox (McDonald 86), Ross, Doran, Foran, Rooney (Morrison 46). Subs not used: Tuffey (GK), Duncan, Munro, Innes, Sutherland.
Referee: John McKendrick.
Attendance: 4,518.
