Kilmarnock 1 Inverness CT 2

Billy McKay's brilliant double saw Inverness come from behind to win 2-1 at

Kilmarnock, despite playing with 10 men for half of the Rugby Park contest.

Caley Thistle were up against it when Alexei Eremenko slotted home a penalty

two minutes into the second half after David Raven had been sent off for

bringing down Josh Magennis in the box.

But Magennis soon missed a sitter and the home side failed to make their

numerical advantage count.

McKay levelled in the 54th minute following some great skill and converted

another impressive goal in an 82nd-minute counter-attack to send Inverness into third place in the Scottish Premiership.

Inverness started the brighter team and managed to knock the ball about reasonably well in front of the Kilmarnock back four.

Greg Tansey saw a long-range shot tipped over and McKay had a couple of

openings, firstly seeing a shot well-blocked by Mark Connolly and a glancing

header saved by Craig Samson.

The wind - and snow - then picked up and put Caley Thistle under pressure as

they were playing into the gusts.

However, Killie could only threaten from long range. Eremenko was just over

with two efforts, the first taking a deflection off the head of Inverness

defender Josh Meekings, and Lee Miller then volleyed an ambitious shot not far

wide.

The wind and snow eased just as an unexpectedly open second half began.

The catalyst to the improved entertainment was a Rory McKenzie through-ball which caught the visiting defence flat-footed. Magennis ran on to it and went down under the sliding challenge of Raven, who was already walking towards the tunnel when referee Don Robertson flashed his red card. The right-back had been booked for a wild tackle on Craig Slater but there was no second yellow.

Eremenko took the ball off Magennis before slotting the penalty just inside

Dean Brill's right-hand post, despite the goalkeeper getting a good hand to it.

Magennis soon missed a glorious chance to put the game out of sight after

McKenzie collected a short corner and worked space to drive the ball across

goal. Brill could only palm it up into the path of Magennis but the former

Aberdeen man headed over from six yards with the goalkeeper grounded.

Magennis no doubt felt much worse about his miss moments later when McKay scored a superb equaliser.

The Northern Ireland international got on to Graeme Shinnie's ball down the

right channel and flicked it over the head of a home defender before controlling

and slotting home with his left foot.

Inverness threatened to score two minutes later when Eremenko's misplaced back header sent McKay clear from the centre circle but Lee Ashcroft caught up with the forward and forced him off the ball.

Magennis headed wide with a more difficult chance and then set up another good opportunity as Miller got in front of Shinnie but stabbed the ball just wide.

Kilmarnock manager Allan Johnston was subjected to booing and chants of 'you

don't know what you're doing' when he took off playmaker Eremenko in favour of

Chris Johnston in the 70th minute.

And his side lacked creativity in the final stages as Inverness belied their

man disadvantage.

Samson tipped over a thundering 25-yard strike from Tansey before the visitors

snatched all three points.

McKay picked up the ball just inside the Killie half and ran forward before

playing a one-two with Nick Ross and sweeping the ball into the corner of the

net from 18 yards.