Ladbrokes Premiership

KILMARNOCK 5

PARTICK 1

by Stewart McConnell

Pictures: Ross Mackenzie

FREE-scoring Killie racked up their first home win in considerable style at Rugby Park, as they hammered the basement team.

It was remarkably the first time since 2006 they had scored five goals in a league match and victory should surely boost their hopes of assuring survival in the top flight.

The win against the Jags was the second in succession, following their victory against St Johnstone a week earlier.

Manager Steve Clarke was delighted with the performance and said: "It was nice to get a home win. It's been a bit of a hoodoo around us this season.

"It was nice to win back-to-back games, nice to score five goals and be sitting on the bench in the last 10 top 15 minutes comfortable.

"But I thought it was a really good performance from start to finish and I think we were always slightly better. Thistle came here a bit under pressure at the bottom of the league so we felt we could be on the front foot and try and get at them. I felt we did that, the only disappointment is we allowed them back to 1-1 too easily and too quickly."

Veteran Kris Boyd struck an early opener in 12 minutes but Thistle equalised through former Kilbirnie Ladeside man Chris Erskine just four minutes later.

Eamonn Brophy restored the advantage in 20 minutes and netted again in 65 minutes.

Eleven minutes from time Boyd scored his second from the penalty spot to complete a thumping win.

Victory moves Killie seven points clear of the Jags, who have a game in hand.

KILMARNOCK: MacDonald; O'Donnell, Broadfoot, Greer, Findlay, Dicker, Mulumbu, Power, Jones, Brophy, K Boyd. Subs: Thomas, Burke, Erwin, Bell, McKenzie, S Boyd, Taylor.

STARMAN

Eamonn Brophy 3

Kris Boyd 2

Alan Power 1.