Kilmarnock 0 Ross County 4

Kilmarnock were left still searching for their first win of the season as they slumped to a heavy 4-0 defeat at home to Ross County in the Premiership. Hopes of a victory at Rugby Park were quickly snuffed out as their visitors netted two early goals through Liam Boyce and Jonathan Franks. Boyce then struck again before Andrew Davies completed the haul in what was a blistering first half from the Highlanders. Player-coach Lee McCulloch made his Kilmarnock debut, while Kris Boyd was drafted into the side after bagging a late leveller against Partick. But it was County who were out of the traps quickly as they raced into a two-goal lead inside four minutes. The match was just 65 seconds old when Boyce collected from Craig Curran and dispatched a low shot that deflected off Lee Ashcroft and past goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald. There was worse to come for the home side when they found themselves further behind in the fourth minute. Boyce had another go with a fierce shot that was cleared off the line by Ashcroft but any relief was temporary as Franks pounced on the rebound to lash home his first goal for the club.

Killie were then dealt another blow when skipper Mark Connolly was forced out of the action through injury after 10 minutes. The home side could have been further behind midway through the half were it not for the heroics of MacDonald.

Franks turned provider with a dangerous ball into the box where Curran was waiting six yards out, but his header was somehow clawed to safety by the keeper. There was another injury blow for Kilmarnock on 25 minutes, this time Darryl Westlake leaving the pitch on a stretcher.

County continued to push forward in search of another goal and they were rewarded for their efforts on the half hour mark. Jamie Reckord let loose with a powerful low drive from the left that was flicked home by Boyce from close range for his second of the day. There was another substitution a few minutes later when Curran was forced out of the action, denying him the opportunity to add to his three goals for the season.

Instead, the scoring honours went to Davies as he claimed goal number four on 35 minutes as jeers from the home fans rang around the ground. Michael Gardyne's corner found Franks and he teed up Davies to lash home from a few yards out.

To complete a dismal first half for shell-shocked Kilmarnock, McCulloch then limped off five minutes before the break. Killie tried to mount some sort of a fightback after the break, and Rory McKenzie could have pulled a goal back when he broke through on goal and tried to chip goalkeeper Scott Fox but he was just wide of target.

County seemed happy to sit back and protect their lead in the second half but, by then, the damage was already done for a sorry Kilmarnock side.